Local Knowledge on Ankole Cattle in Uganda
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE ON ANKOLE CATTLE IN UGANDA
BY
DR BAMEKA, RONALD
Abstract
The study set out to assess the extent to which indigenous knowledge is used in selection of the productive characteristics of Ankole cattle. The diversity of indigenous Ankole cattle breed is being reduced through replacement by indiscriminate importation of exotic breeds of higher economic potential or crossbreeding with exotic breeds. Moreover, such exotic breeds have been selected on the basis of a limited number of traits of commercial interest. This leads to losses of within breed genetic variance and contribute to the erosion of genetic diversity
The study was cross sectional in nature conducted in Kazo and Nyabushozi counties of Mbarara district in South Western Uganda. Pastoralists (Bahima), who have information on indigenous knowledge about Ankole cattle breeds and who use it to select superior bulls and cows, constituted the study population. A total of 167 pastoralists were targeted for the study where a total of 150 responded.
It imaged from the study that the Bahima can easily identify their animals mainly by color patterns, they can also easily tell the relationships of the animal by their structures. More than 90% of the respondents were able tell production traits like growth, high quality meat, resistance to disease, fertility and milk production at birth. Between 88.0 and 97.1% of the respondents were able to tell the significance of some body parts like hooves, tail, testicles and dewlap in production. The findings also indicate that
Intangible non-market values, like beauty often missed by scientific breeding goals are considered when using indigenous knowledge.
It is recommended that more research be conducted in other areas and this knowledge be preserved for future use and the education of the pastoralists should be emphasized. It therefore recommended that another study be conducted in the same area to experimentally vilify the conclusions from this
BY
DR BAMEKA, RONALD
Abstract
The study set out to assess the extent to which indigenous knowledge is used in selection of the productive characteristics of Ankole cattle. The diversity of indigenous Ankole cattle breed is being reduced through replacement by indiscriminate importation of exotic breeds of higher economic potential or crossbreeding with exotic breeds. Moreover, such exotic breeds have been selected on the basis of a limited number of traits of commercial interest. This leads to losses of within breed genetic variance and contribute to the erosion of genetic diversity
The study was cross sectional in nature conducted in Kazo and Nyabushozi counties of Mbarara district in South Western Uganda. Pastoralists (Bahima), who have information on indigenous knowledge about Ankole cattle breeds and who use it to select superior bulls and cows, constituted the study population. A total of 167 pastoralists were targeted for the study where a total of 150 responded.
It imaged from the study that the Bahima can easily identify their animals mainly by color patterns, they can also easily tell the relationships of the animal by their structures. More than 90% of the respondents were able tell production traits like growth, high quality meat, resistance to disease, fertility and milk production at birth. Between 88.0 and 97.1% of the respondents were able to tell the significance of some body parts like hooves, tail, testicles and dewlap in production. The findings also indicate that
Intangible non-market values, like beauty often missed by scientific breeding goals are considered when using indigenous knowledge.
It is recommended that more research be conducted in other areas and this knowledge be preserved for future use and the education of the pastoralists should be emphasized. It therefore recommended that another study be conducted in the same area to experimentally vilify the conclusions from this