Assuming that all the technical problems of artificail insemination (AI) or embryo transfer (ET) are surmounted, the central questions still remain:
1) How does the technology transfer agent provide the best information to the client agriculturist for his decision or
2) Does the best advice necessarily fit the existing environment or that most likely to obtain in the immediate future resulting from the interference introduced by this technology, a presumption of the technologist ?
Ron Sato
Avi Biopharma,
USA
satori@avibio.com
[To contribute to this conference, send your message to biotech-room3@mailserv.fao.org For further information on the Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture see http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp ]
-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod3
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2000 10:42 AM
To: 'biotech-room3@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: Reproductive biotechnologies/breed improvement/sub-saharan Africa
Following several requests to make my contribution, posted in French on 3 July , available in English, I try it. Please find hereunder the English version of my message.
I'm Dr. Adama Traoré from Mali. I am a veterinarian and a specialist in animal reproduction. I have been involved for several years in research into reproduction and genetic improvement in Mali, before joining ILCA (what is now the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)) and FAO, where, while involved in other areas of research, I kept myself informed on progress in biotechnological methods of reproduction and the oppurtunity they offer for the improvement of breeding systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
Back in Mali since 2 years, I've had the pleasure to note some good progress but unfortunately also the persistance of a good number of constraints to the exploitation of these methods. Therefore, I thank for the opportunity offered by this conference to react to some of the issues raised in the excellent Background Document and to some contributions posted in the conference so far.
In the field of biotechnology, my experience in particular is in heat synchronisation and artificial insemination (AI) of cattle of local breeds. It consists primarily of the use of these biotechnology methods in the application of genetic improvement programmes of cattle from local breeds in carrying out crossbreeding programmes betwen local breeds and exotic breeds, commonly considered to be of better performance, in particular for milk production.
From my point of view, despite the numerous difficulties that developing countries face regarding the improvement of their animal production system, the use of biotechnologies in reproduction and genetic improvement is still a potential development factor that needs to be considered, as it can contribute to achieving faster some development goal. Having said this, one should not try to generalise the application. At the present status, it is out of the question to consider AI as an alternative reproductive method to natural service (as is often the case in developed countries today) ! The justification of AI in some of our breeding systems is mainly linked to the implementation of breed improvement programmes involving crossbreeding with exotic breeds. Those that are thus primarily concerned are the areas of intensification of production where there is a socio-economic environment that offers sufficient incentives to justify the crossbreeding operation, such as in peri-urban milk production systems. In Mali, AI and the crossbreeding practice were only really developed after the liberalization of milk prices, the setting-up of small units of milk transformation and the appropriation by the animal owners themselves of the crossbreeding initiative !
But, AI is still facing lots of problems because of the cost for liquid nitrogen (which has not ceased to increase) and real problems of heat detection, which most often make the need for heat synchronisation necessary. The expences for the AI approach are still relatively high and not within the reach of many breeders. In addition, the application of AI as a lucrative activity remains questionable if it is not linked to some other activities, such as health care and advice on animal husbandry practice. There is still an important need for State support, but our States are in the new policy of disengagement from activities of a commercial nature.
What about embryo transfer (ET) ? We must recognize that the exploitation of this technology has, since the beginning, been too directed towards the transfer of purebred genetic material for commercial production aims ! Except for some climatic zones of high potential, ET remains less competitive in comparison to AI, because through AI the farmers are dealing with crossbreeds that are clearly more adapted. The problem of adoption of ET is that it does not correspond to an actual demand ! ET can be helpful for the conservation of endangered local breed. ET can be used in addition to some crossbreeding programmes for disseminating the terminal genotype in very fast manner; it can help to face the frequent situation of obtaining just in a very limited number the targeted genotype! Used in the Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET) concept, maybe with the use of prepubertal heifers, ET can contribute to reduce generation intervals and to reach faster the breeding objective.
With the current advances in reproduction and genetic biotechnologies, I am convinced that researchers in developing countries have a lot to gain from participating in the debate and in joining in a fertile co-operation with research teams in developed countries in order to appropriate and to adapt more these technologies to their own needs. ET as it is proposed does not seem to respond to an immediate need except in the area of conservation of genetic resources seriously threatened. Contrary to AI, ET will still belong for a long time to the field of research.
As said by several contributors, the use of biotechnology in reproduction and breed improvement needs an emphasis on investment in information and training and also in research.
Dr Adama TRAORE
Chairman of the National research council for agricultural research
CNRA Bamako (MALI) tel /fax: (223) 22 71 65
atraore@spider.toolnet.org
[To contribute to this conference, send your message to biotech-room3@mailserv.fao.org For further information on the Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture see http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp ]