Mr. Ridwan Ahmed, a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland USA, in this interview with DAVID OLAGUNJU, highlights the transformative role of genomics in Nigeria’s livestock industry. His research on genetically improving aquaculture strains sheds light into how genomics can be used to achieve rapid genetic gains and improve livestock and aquaculture productivity:
Tell us about your current research at the University of Maryland, specifically focusing on the use of genomics in livestock development.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) projects a 70 percent increase in demand for animal-based protein by 2050. It is the responsibility of research scientists to make these protein sources available without necessarily having to double the number of animals on the farms. Fish is one of the cheapest and most available sources of protein for people around the world. One major constraint to increasing the production efficiency of the United States’ aquaculture industry is the lack of genetically improved strains of fish for aquaculture. The majority of aquaculture production is based on genetically unimproved stocks. The benefits of selective breeding, especially with the use of genomics are only recently being appreciated in aquaculture. There is limited genetic information on traits that could enhance production efficiency and yield better-quality fish. My research focuses on Identifying and characterising the genetics of aquaculture production traits. I am particularly interested in exploring the causative connections between genotypic and phenotypic variation in several economically important traits, such as fillet yield and fillet quality. I work on identifying and developing genetically improved strains of rainbow trout and provide science-based recommendations to farmers and hatchery managers to increase aquaculture production efficiency.
What inspired you to pursue a career in agricultural and animal sciences and how did your interest in genomics develop?
I was already exposed to subsistence agricultural practice at a very young age. My father, although a land Surveyor, would cultivate maize, cassava, yam, plantain and other crops yearly in our compound and nearby fallow lands. Also, we raise local chickens and goats in an extensive manner. I suspect that these home-farming practices subconsciously grew the love of agriculture in me. Even with this, I did not pick agriculture as a first-choice course on my JAMB UTME form, but at the slightest opportunity of not meeting the cut-off mark for medicine and surgery, I changed the course and picked agriculture.
With regard to genomics, I believe selective breeding with genomics is the most sustainable means of increasing livestock productivity; hence, I decided to specialise here.
In your opinion, what are the most pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s livestock industry today, and how can genomics provide solutions?
In my opinion, the most pressing challenge is the lack of coordination. I am not sure there’s an accurate database of farms and their production systems. The Nigerian livestock industry is still very fragmented and individualistic. Implementing genomic selection and breeding in such a production environment will be hard. I am aware that there is the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) and Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) that Nenture to coordinate the activities of livestock farmers. There’s a need for more effort and government backing to actualise the required coordination. There are NIAS regulations guiding livestock production in the country, but how many farmers adhere to them? That is where government backing comes in, and it cannot be by compulsion. When the farmers realize what they stand to gain from the government by adhering to regulations, they will fall in and comply. It is only when we achieve such that a nationally or regionally coordinated breeding programme can succeed.
Another big challenge is the low productivity of our animals. For example, the average daily milk yield from our local White Fulani cow is less than three litres per day, while Holstein cows in the more developed countries produce an average of 35 litres per day. This huge gap is because of the lack of genetic improvement of our animals and this gap can be bridged with the use of genomic breeding. I will emphasise again that initial investment is needed.
How do you see the role of the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development in Nigeria in fostering the adoption of genomic technologies?
I believe it is a development in the right direction. The crop sector has always gotten the most attention, leaving livestock development sidelined. We can only hope that the new ministry is well-funded and the intended programs are well-implemented. The team the President appointed to pilot the affairs of the new ministry is full of professionals at the highest level. If well piloted, the new ministry can help solve two problems simultaneously: develop the livestock sector and reduce the recurrent farmers-herders’ conflicts. The presidential team needs to draw a framework for the adoption of livestock breeding and genomics in Nigeria. This can herald great things for the country.
Can you share examples of successful applications of genomics in livestock development from other countries, and how can Nigeria replicate these successes?
Especially in the cattle and poultry industry, genomics has been successfully applied in several developed countries to achieve rapid gains in selective breeding. For example, in the United States, even with a zero or minimal increase in the number of dairy cows, the introduction of genomic information into dairy cattle breeding in 2008 has led to 19% more pounds of milk and 32.2% more pounds of milk butterfat resulting in an average of $83 yearly increase in profit per Holstein cow. Another popular application of genomic selection is its use to reduce the incidence of infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) disease in Atlantic salmon within the UK. Genomic selection was used to develop Atlantic salmon fish families resistant to the disease.
What specific genetic traits should Nigerian livestock breeders focus on to improve productivity and resilience in local breeds?
Interesting question. For now, I believe yield and health traits are the two most important traits that need attention. Yield can be in terms of milk yield from cows, body weight from chickens, or fillet yield in fish species. Health traits are important because only a healthy herd can be productive. In the future, other traits like protein percentage and omega-3 fatty acid content can be introduced.
How can smallholder farmers in Nigeria benefit from genomic advancements, and what steps can be taken to ensure these technologies are accessible to them?
It will be difficult for smallholder farmers, by themselves, to benefit from genomic advancement because of the initial investment needed. It has to be a government-sponsored initiative through its research agencies. The first requirement is the identification of all the available small-scale farms and records of their stock’s genetic information. This will include sample collection, obtaining DNA information from each animal, and their production record. This information will then be collated together to make informed decisions about the rankings of these animals in terms of their genetic potential. The best animals, especially the male semen, can then be distributed across these individual smallholder farms to serve as the parents of their next-generation herd. Private sector investments will surely come in once they have seen the prospect of making money.
What challenges do you foresee in implementing genomic technologies in Nigeria’s livestock sector, and how can these be overcome?
As I mentioned earlier, the two most important challenges will be the lack of Investment and data. Will the government go all the way to put its money where its mouth is? Considering that the benefit of genomic selection could take time to manifest, will the government and the farmers be patient enough? Another big problem is data collection and coordination. We have to identify and register all farms. Periodic data collection regarding productivity parameters like milk yield and body weight is a must. It will take time, effort, capital investment, and the recruitment of experts to achieve this.
Given the current state of research and development in Nigeria, what are the immediate actions the government needs to take to integrate genomics into livestock development?
We are far behind. We need to aggregate experts, develop a comprehensive plan, invest in genomic labs, and provide professional training to livestock geneticists nationwide.
As a researcher with global exposure, how do you envision your contributions influencing policies and practices in Nigeria’s livestock industry in the coming years?
That is why I am granting this interview. We all have to make contributions to developing our country. I envisage my contribution will be either to have personal farms and contribute to food security or to support the government in policy implementation.
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