Characterisation and conservation of indigenous animal genetic resources: assessment of the genetic diversity in Ethiopian sheep populations (Ethiopia)

This project aims to assess and to quantify the morphological and genetic diversity, differentiation and relationships of indigenous Ethiopian sheep populations in order to facilitate their rational development, utilisation and conservation. In this perspective, the project will evaluate the diversity within and between 12 different populations of sheep in Ethiopia. Agro-ecological information, morphological characters and molecular data will be combined into novel tools to support the management of genetic resources. The molecular data and the molecular indexes of breed differentiation will provide the baseline against which morphological and agro-ecological criteria for classification will be assessed. Strategies to maximise the conservation of diversity of Ethiopian breeds will then be proposed. The identification and proper use of indigenous sheep breeds will contribute to improved food security. The use of adapted sheep breeds will help to reduce external inputs in feeding and health care of the animals and hence could increase the benefit margin of smallholder farmers. At higher level, this project contributes to conservation of farm animal biodiversity by facilitating the recognition and maintenance of unique indigenous gene pool for current and future generations. Improving the use of local genetic resources will help to reduce the pressure on the environment. The project is relevant for the national and regional development programmes that aim at contributing to safeguarding genetic diversity (in other terms the genes pool) of indigenous animal populations, which is one of the most important recommendations of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (http://iisd1.iisd.ca/rio%2B5/agenda/). The project includes three phases: (1) a field survey phase in Ethiopia to record breeding structure of the populations, economic parameters and phenotypic traits including the documentation of particular adaptive and productive attributes of the sheep breeds. During this phase the agro-ecological information will also be reviewed, and blood sampling will be performed for DNA analysis; (2) a genetic characterisation phase using microsatellite DNA markers conducted in the laboratories of ILRI in Nairobi; and (3) based on the results and information of the first two phases breeding tools and guidelines will be developed to facilitate breed choice for each agro-ecological zones in order to maximise genetic conservation and utilisation. Data analysis and write up of thesis and articles will be performed at ILRI Nairobi, ILRI Addis Ababa, and at Wageningen University.