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Breeding goals for the Kenya Dual Purpose goat. I. Model development and application to smallholder production systems

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Abstract

A deterministic model was developed and applied to evaluate biological and economic variables that characterize smallholder production systems utilizing the Kenya Dual Purpose goat (KDPG) in Kenya. The systems were defined as: smallholder low-potential (SLP), smallholder medium-potential (SMP) and smallholder high-potential (SHP). The model was able to predict revenues and costs to the system. Revenues were from sale of milk, surplus yearlings and cull-for-age animals, while costs included those incurred for feeds, husbandry, marketing and fixed asset (fixed costs). Of the total outputs, revenue from meat and milk accounted for about 55% and 45%, respectively, in SMP and 39% and 61% in SHP. Total costs comprised mainly variable costs (98%), with husbandry costs being the highest in both SMP and SLP. The total profit per doe per year was KSh 315.48 in SMP, KSh −1352.75 in SLP and KSh −80.22 in SHP. Results suggest that the utilization of the KDPG goat in Kenya is more profitable in the smallholder medium-potential production system. The implication for the application of the model to smallholder production systems in Kenya is discussed.

Objectifs d’élevage pour les chèvres de races mixtes au Kenya I. Développement d’un modèle et application aux systèmes de production de petits éleveurs

Résumé – Un modèle déterministe a été développé et appliqué afin d’évaluer les variables biologiques et économiques qui caractérisent les systèmes de production de petits éleveurs en utilisant les chèvres de races mixtes kenyanes (KDPG) au Kenya. Les systèmes ont été définis comme étant : petit éleveur à faible potentiel (SLP), petit éleveur à potentiel moyen (SMP) et petit éleveur à potentiel élevé (SHP). Le modèle a réussi à prédire des revenus et des coûts pour le système. Les revenus sont venus de la vente de lait, des chèvres de l’année en excédent et des animaux éliminés en raison de leur âge tandis que les coûts ont inclus ceux encourus pour l’alimentation de moulées, l’élevage, le marketing et les immobilisations (coûts fixes). Sur les rendements totaux, le revenu provenant de la viande et du lait respectivement a rendu compte d’environ 55% et 45% respectivement pour les SMP et 39% et 61% pour les SHP. Les coûts totaux ont principalement consisté en coûts variables (98%), les coûts d’élevage étant les plus élevés pour à la fois les SMp et les SLP. Le profit total par femelle par année a été de 315.48 KSh pour les SMP, de 1352.75 KSh pour les SLP et de 80.22 KSh pour les SHP. Les résultats suggèrent que l’utilisation de chèvres KDPG au Kenya est plus profitable dans le système de production de petits éleveurs à potentiel moyen. L’implication de l’application du modèle aux systèmes de production de petits éleveurs au Kenya fait l’objet d’une discussion.

Objetivos de reproducción y crianza para cabras de doble propósito de Kenia I. Desarrollo y aplicación del modelo para sistemas de producción de pequeños granjeros

Resumen – Se desarrolló y aplicó un modelo determinista para evaluar las variables biológicas y económicas que caracterizan a los sistemas de producción de pequeños granjeros que utilizan a la cabra de doble propósito de Kenia (CDPK) en Kenia. Los sistemas fueron definidos como: sistema de bajo potencial de pequeño granjero (BPPG), de potencial medio de pequeño granjero (PMPG), y de alto potencial de pequeño granjero (APPG). El modelo fue capaz de predecir los ingresos y costes del sistema. Los ingresos provenían de la venta de leche, del excedente de cabritillas de 1–2 años de edad y de animales sacrificados por motivo de su edad, mientras que los costes incluían aquellos debido a alimentos, a cultivo y crianza de los animales, a marketing, y a bienes fijos (costes fijos). De las producciones totales, los ingresos debido a la carne y la leche equivalían aproximadamente a un 55% y 45% respectivamente en los sistemas de PMPG, y a un 39% y 61% en los sistemas APPG. Los costes totales comprendían principalmente costes variables (98%), con los costes debido al cultivo y crianza de animales siendo los más altos tanto en sistemas PMPG como en PBPG. El beneficio total por cabra hembra y por año fue, en términos de chelines kenianos (KSh), de 315.48 en PMPG, −1352.75 en PBPG y −80.22 en PAPG. Los resultados sugieren que la utilización de la cabra CDPK en Kenia es más provechosa en el sistema de producción de potencial medio de pequeños granjeros. Se discute también la implicación para la aplicación del modelo a los sistemas de producción de pequeños granjeros.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya

    R. C. Bett, I. S. Kosgey & A. K. Kahi

  2. Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya

    B. O. Bebe

  3. Laboratory of Animal Husbandry Resources, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    A. K. Kahi

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  1. R. C. Bett
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  2. I. S. Kosgey
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  3. B. O. Bebe
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  4. A. K. Kahi
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Correspondence to A. K. Kahi.

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Bett, R.C., Kosgey, I.S., Bebe, B.O. et al. Breeding goals for the Kenya Dual Purpose goat. I. Model development and application to smallholder production systems. Trop Anim Health Prod 39, 477–492 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-007-9015-3

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