Breed functional efficiency, an important consideration for livestock farmer going forward

ONE of the points of disagreement between livestock scientists and livestock farmers is that of genetic preservation versus animal production as a business. Animal scientists and genetic preservation supporters are primarily focused on making sure some breeds especially indigenous breeds do not disappear and become extinct as they are selected out in preference of better economic performing breeds.

On the other hand, livestock farmers especially those that look at livestock production as a business are concerned about the return on investment.

In otherwise they are looking for the breed which will give them the best in the market and they are willing to do what it takes to raise that animal.

Their argument being that as farmers they are not raising animals for nostalgic purposes and aesthetic gratification from a preserved by poorly remunerating indigenous breed.

We are in it for the economic benefit they say. Those that support genetic preservation will argue that breeds that are natural inhabitants of the area are better adapted, hardy and very fertile and therefore good for smallholder farmers who have no means nor the ability to invest in raising an animal until it is ready for the market.

They argue that with the rising human population numbers, shrinking rangelands and the changes in climatic conditions, large framed animals that consume a lot are not sustainable.

It is against this background that this week we want to look at the concept of functional efficiency with regards to livestock production.

Functional efficiency looks at how suitable and adaptable the animal is to the environment such that the cow can raise and wean its calf at more than 50 percent of its mature body weight.

In other words, a functionally efficient cow weighing 400kg will raise and wean its calf at above 200kg within the expected weaning time.

This means the cow is adapted enough to efficiently convert feed to grow the calf during gestation and to produce enough milk to feed the calf during lactation so that the calf will grow and attain the said weight within the expected time frame.

Functional efficiency also looks at the conformation, teats size and sheath size for bulls.

There are a number of parameters that define functional efficiency in cattle and we may not discuss them all on this platform.

However, it is important to note that in recognition of the changing climatic conditions and dwindling rangelands, breeders are now selecting for and producing medium framed animals that will produce a decent carcass for the market while at the same time consuming less to make it suitable for smaller rangelands.

They are also selecting for hardy animals that can withstand the subtropical conditions. It is that balance between producing what costs you less and can survive in your environment and producing an animal that provides a decent carcass size that animal scientists and livestock farmers, should find.

Large-framed animals are simply no longer tenable in the obtaining conditions but so is smaller framed, highly inbred indigenous breeds. Scientists need to find that animal that ticks all the right boxes for the livestock farmerthat is good carcass size, general hardiness, good fertility and scores good on all production traits. It may not be a perfect match animal but should score well in most of the important production traits.

Failure to be deliberate about finding that animal will definitely lead to the extinction of smaller framed indigenous breeds as natural farmer preferences select these out. Animal scientists especially breeders need to work with livestock farmers to find out what the market wants and what the environment is able to raise, and produce that animal.

Admittedly there is no one size fits all in this situation because we have different rangeland conditions, for example the sweet versus the sour veld. These have a bearing on the carrying capacities and the quality of animals that can be raised.

The bottom line is we need to produce a functionally efficient animal to address both the concerns of the livestock farmer and at the same time preserving some of the genetics with important survival traits.

Which livestock breed do we have in our market at the moment which has that functional efficiency that farmers in poor, marginal and smaller rangelands can adopt? UyabongaumntakaMaKhumalo.

Mhlupheki Dube is a livestock specialist and farmer. He writes in his own capacity. Feedback mazikelana@gmail.com cell 0772851275