Zambian National Strategic and Action

Plans on AnGRStatus, Challenges and Opportunities

AnGR Training on the Development of National Strategies and Action Plans for Animal Genetic Resources

Contents• Background• Priority Areas• Status• Challenges• Opportunities

Background• Agricultural production in Zambia is patterned along the dualistic

agriculture of communal agricultural lands (traditional) and titled commercial sector. • The agricultural sector contributes between eleven and sixteen

percent to country’s GDP. • The sector comprises about 85% small-scale farmers who utilise

about 75% of the cultivated land and about 15% commercial farmers who utilise the remaining 25%. • The livestock sector contributes around 35% to the agricultural GDP in

Zambia.

BackgroundPopulation Trends

Background

Priority Areas• Characterization of Indigenous breeds of major livestock species• Development of Livestock Breeding Policy• Monitoring of Trends on AnGR• Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of AnGR• Improvement of Performance of Indigenous Breeds through

crossbreeding and selection within breeds• Development of Livestock Infrastructure – Livestock Service Centres• Improve the capacity of human resources trained in management of

AnGR

Status on Management of AnGRCharacterizationA. Phenotypic Characterization- Only the Angoni and Barotse breeds of cattle characterizedB. Molecular characterization⁻ Genetic characterization on 4 indigenous cattle breeds to determine relatedness⁻ Collection of blood samples from some populations Cattle andGoats is on-going done

Inventory and MonitoringLivestock Breed Surveys⁻ National breed survey done 15 years ago⁻ Pilot livestock census done 4 years ago (Only in 3 districts), planning to have a holistic census in

2016

Status on Management of AnGRA. In-vivo Conservation On-station conservation of Tonga Cattle On-station conservation of strains of chicken – frizzle feathered, short-

legged, Zambi and naked neckedB. Ex-situ ConservationCryo-conservation of semen from Angoni and Baila breeds of cattle at the A.I centre

Status on Management of AnGRStrategies and Institutional framework National Focal Point in place since 1999 Allocation of budgetary component on AnGR Draft Livestock Policy developed and by end of year develop:- Draft Livestock Breeding Policy (Characterization, conservation and

sustainable utilization)- Draft Marketing Policy on Livestock

Status on Management of AnGRStrategies and Institutional framework Livestock Service Centres established across the country Livestock breeding centres set at various points Liquid nitrogen plant installed at the A.I centre Development of Satellite A.I centres Processing of semen collection and packaging at the A.I. centre for

Improvement of Local breeds of cattle Development of Gene Bank for preservation of Semen at the A.I

centre (Baila and Angoni breeds of cattle)

Challenges and opportunitiesA. Challenges• Lack of Infrastructure for breeding purposes• Lack of suitable subpopulations or lines for crossbreeding• High cost of genetic material from exotic breeds• Poor animal recording among smallholder livestock keepers• Very small number of stud breeders• Low capacity of human resources in trained in Animal Breeding at

higher levels

Challenges and opportunitiesB. Opportunities• Great opportunity for collaboration especially on transboundary

breeds• Great opportunity for studies on indigenous livestock e.g.

characterization

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