dc.contributor.author | Mutembei, Henry M'ikiugu | |
dc.contributor.author | Tsuma, Victor Trevor | |
dc.contributor.author | Muasa, Brigit Syombua | |
dc.contributor.author | Muriga, Erastus Riungu | |
dc.contributor.author | Muruya, Joan | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-12-23T05:54:04Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-12-23T05:54:04Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2014 | |
dc.identifier.citation | African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11295/78288 | |
dc.description.abstract | The Boran breed is mainly kept by pastoralist communities as a source of both milk and beef, and by
commercial beef ranches mainly for beef production. Although this breed Boran may seemingly be
low valued, it can be raised to higher reproductive potential using current reproductive technologies
such as in-vitro embryo production and embryo transfer. In this author's literature search there was
lack of locally optimized procedures te for boosting the reproductive potential of the Boran cow
using such technologies. This paper discusses simplified methods used for in-vitro embryo
production and embryo transfer that have been tested and optimized for the Kenyan Boran cows as
described in text. This article provides the reader with technical procedures, the outcomes and the
challenges experienced during use of the technotogies. The results of the reported in vitro embryo
production obtained an oocyte maturation rate of over 90%, over 70~-ocleavage rate and an embryo
output of 30-50'% blastocyst rate. Embryo transfer had a conception rate of 45-50%. All the 17
calves born out of this work have since attained puberty without any abnormalities. This research
was the first to produce a "test tube" calf in Kenya and built the capacity of 57 staff on these
technical procedures within East Africa. Utilization of the in vitro embryo production technology in
Kenya can be used to do value addition to indigenous cows and improve household incomes and
food security. This avenue can be used to raise household revenues and attract many more fanners
to engage in farming leading to improved national economic and food security. Kenya can utilize
reproductive technologies in the dairy sector due to the massi ve potential benefits to revolutionize
the sector for enhanced food security by increasing cattle productivity. The paper highlights
practical ways of applying the technologies discussed therein to help raise the economy of the
Kenyan livestock farmers and boost their food security. | en_US |
dc.description.sponsorship | University of Nairobi | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi | en_US |
dc.title | Bovine in-vitro embryo production and its contribution towards improved food security in Kenya | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |
dc.type.material | en | en_US |