Beef Cattle Breeding Program:
Improved Boran Cattle
The Institute has redesigned the breeding program for improved Boran cattle breed for improvement of their genetic potential to enhance meat output and increase their resilience to the changing climate. With the scaled-up breeding programs integrated with optimal use of natural resources and better husbandry practices, farmers have accessed genetically improved breeds. The breeding objective was to improve and conserve Boran cattle for increased meat production through rigorous selection, breed registration and improved management. The other objective was on systematic cross breeding of improved Boran with other adaptable beef breeds with a view to develop composite Kenya beef breed and dual-purpose adaptable beef-dairy breed for ASALs.
Registered Improved Boran Breeding Bulls at KALRO Lanet
Achievements includes developing of improved Boran genotypes with the following attributes;
- High feed conversion efficiency.
- High fertility, ease of calving with good mothering ability.
- Fast growth rates – average daily gain of 500 grams fed on natural grass.
- Average birth weights ranging between 25 – 30 kg.
- Weaning weights averages between 160 – 180 kg.
- Yearling weights average between 200 – 230 kg.
- Steers at 30-36 months can reach weights of up to 400 kg and above.
- High maturity weights bulls can reach 750-800 kg while a mature cow weighs 400-550 kg.
- Good body finish with carcass dressing weight 55% live weight.
- Tolerant to drought and disease.
- Good beef breeds adaptable to ASALs of Kenya.
- Longevity: Boran can live for up to 15 years, with an efficient reproductive age of 10.
- The Boran cow has good mothering ability, feeds her calf well, and safeguards her young one against predators.
Breeding Program for Orma Boran
Orma Boran is an indigenous cattle breed kept by the Orma tribe in Tana River County of Kenya and the smallest of the Boran breeds, averaging at 300 kg. This breed is trypano-tolerant. The Beef Research Institute is hosting a nuclear breeding herd for the purpose of crossing with improved Boran to inject trypano-tolerant gene and improve the body size for meat production. The progenies will then be conserved and supplied to tsetse infected counties in Kenya to increase meat production.
Orma cattle at KALRO-LANET
Achievements includes developing of cross bred progenies with the following attributes;
- Increase in weight of the mature Orma Boran bulls from a range of 250 -395kg to 450-500kg of a cross bred progeny.
- Increases in weight of the mature cows vary from 225 to 355 kg.
- Birth weights averaged 18 kg and weaning weights of 105 kg.
- Orma Boran are Trypano-tolerant i.e. they become less infected particularly with Trypanosoma vivax. The cross breds are yet to be taken to tsestse belts for trial on trypanotolerance.
- Low disease infection and mortality rates compared to other indigenous breeds.
- Good mothering ability.
Cross Breeding Programs
Cross breeding program aims at producing fast growing composite meat breed and terminal heifers for beef-dairy system for ASALs. These includes;
1. Improved Boran X Sahiwal
Achievements include, developing of cross bred progenies with the following attributes;
- Rapid growth rate (700g/day) fed on natural grass.
- Good body conformation.
- Good feed conversion efficiency.
- Slaughter weights (450-600 kgs).
- High killing percentage (50%).
- Ability to withstand drought conditions.
- Highly adaptable to poor quality pasture and rough terrain.
- Improved udder setting and teats.
- Lean meat with even fat distribution.
- Average birth weight are 28.20 kg and average weaning weight of 152 kgs.
2. Boran cow x Red Poll
The main reason for crossing an improved Boran with a redpoll bull is to come up with terminal crosses for milk production and fast-growing steers with high quality meat. The crosses are bred for ASALs.
Cross breed of improved Boran X Redpoll
Achievements includes developing of cross bred progenies with the following attributes;
- Easy to finish intensively within 90 days.
- Adaptable to Arid and semi-Arid areas.
- Early maturity (2.5 to 3 years).
- Slaughter weights (380-500kg).
- High killing percentage (51%-53%).
- Average birth and weaning weight of 23.41 and 120 kg respectively.
- Average daily gain weights 480g/day on natural grass.
For the year 2023/2024 BRI Lanet completed the semen collection structure for collection of 2000 straws of semen.
Semen collection structure at Lanet
Sahiwal Breeding
At the beginning of the year 2023/2024 there was a total population of 82 Sahiwal cattle. However, at the closure of the said year, 9 Sahiwal bulls and 9 breeding cull cows were sold to the farmers. As at 1st July, 2024, the Centre had 75 Sahiwal cattle in total. Further, the Centre received NAVCDP funds meant to facilitate AI activities in Transmara to improve Sahiwal multiplication in the region.
A herd of Sahiwal cattle in Trans Mara Centre
Red Maasai Sheep Breeding
At the beginning of the year 2023/2024 the Trans Mara Centre had a population of 88 Red Maasai sheep. As a transfer of technology, the Centre sold 16 breeding rams to farmers during the year. The exercise is aimed at upgrading the local flock using red Maasai sheep for increased production. At the end of the year the Red Maasai sheep population stood at 96.
Photos of flock of Red Maasai Ewes and Rams respectively in Trans Mara Centre
Galla Goats Breeding in Trans Mara Centre
The year under review began with a total of 67 Galla goats. The Centre sold 9 breeding bucks and 24 cull breeding does to the local farmers during the year. At the end of the year the total population was 41.
A photo showing a flock of Galla Goats
KALRO Mariakani currently has 139 cattle, SahiwalxBoran breeds, 54 Dorper sheep and 17Galla goats. During the year 2023/2024 the Centre availed 2 bulls SahiwalxBoran to farmers and 5 cows for technology transfer. The Centre availed 54 Dorper sheep to farmers for technology transfer. The Centre also disposed of 31 cows through auction to farmers.
Dorper sheep SahiwalxBoran cattle
Camel production for research and development
Beef Research Institute also has a long-term breeding program for camels and aims at improving meat and milk output. Breeds include Somali and Pakistan crosses.
The achievements include an increase in germplasm from 11-23.
The Institute targeted to avail 5 camel breeding bulls to pastoral communities. There are already identified 3 bulls ready for availing to farmers in Isiolo
Camel herd in Ol-magogo
Pasture and Fodder Research
Brachiaria Grass Research
Vigorous selection of various local Brachiaria grass species is ongoing at Lanet. The objectives were to produce Brachiaria varieties with superior resilience, high productivity potential and are climate smart that will lead to improved livelihoods for beef farmers. Preliminary research efforts show promise for improved rangeland production in beef cattle systems through development of indigenous Brachiaria grasses based on their superiority in biomass yields/quality considerations and the ability to sustainably utilize natural resources. Unlike hybrid varieties, the local cultivar produces abundant and viable seeds.
Achievements
The Released varieties, B1 (Busia variety) and K1 (Kisii variety) are under white label acquisition under NAVCDP project. The project is underway towards the achievement of breeder seed for commercialization. The varieties have the following attributes:
- They are highly nutritious. The crude protein is around 14-16% compared to Napier grass whose crude protein is 7%.
- They produce seeds.
- Tolerant to spider mite attack.
- Drought resistant and therefore farmers who come from dry parts of Kenya can grow it to mitigate drought.
- Brachiaria a climate smart grass because of its ability to trap carbon from the atmosphere and clean the environment.
- It has a shorter maturity period of around 3-4 months.
- Regenerates quickly after the first cut.
- Resistant to diseases hence easy to be managed by farmers.
Improved Indigenous Brachiaria with high seeding and herbage using mutation breeding carried out in Lanet.
Forage sorghum research
BRI Lanet and Mariakani continue to carry out research on adaptability of the five sorghums that are forage Sorghum E6518 and dual-purpose sorghums E1291, Ikinyaruka, BM 30 and BJ 28 in various counties of Kenya.
Achievements
During the year 2023/2024 the sorghum seeds were sold to various farmers across the country. In addition, the two sorghums (E6518 and Ikinyaruka) are now under white label to attain breeder seed for commercialization.
Ikinyaruka variety in Mariakani E6518 variety in Lanet
Fodder trees
BRI Lanet has developed and promoted fodder tree practices to farmers so as to provide alternative sources of proteins during the dry seasons. The fodder trees include Calliandra, tree Lucerne, Leucaena spp and Sesbania sesban.
Tree Lucerne and Calliandra at the Field in Kalro Lanet
Achievements
The fodder trees were promoted to various farmers across the country who visited the centre. This includes farmers from Tana River County, Marsabit and Isiolo. For the year 2023/2024 Lanet has developed seedlings for tree lucerne using the seeds collected in the field and are now under observation in the nursery beds for germination.
Sweet Potato Vines
KALRO Lanet has in the past selected and developed three forage varieties of sweet potato vines to be utilized as animal feed. The vines are high in protein and highly palatable. They are also easy to grow and manage. These varieties include Wagabolige, Marooko and K158. The research on adaptability of sweet potato vines is ongoing in ASAL Counties of Kenya
Achievement
For the year 2023/2024 up to 15,000 of these varieties have been distributed to farmers around the country.
Sweet potato vines at Kalro Lanet
Feed Ration Developed
Small ruminant feedlot finisher rations are lacking in the Kenyan markets. The weight target is currently achieved within a longer period of approximately 2-3 years in pastoral livestock production systems. KALRO Mariakani is one of the KALRO Centres who benefited from EU AgriFI CS APP funding to develop, test, validate and commercialize feedlot finishing rations for small ruminants. The new ration innovation is aimed at reducing the rearing period from 3 years to only 7 months to reach market weight. Finished product certification process with KEBS is 60% complete. Various product descriptors are now available for product certification and commercialization.
Natural Resource Management
During the year 2023/24, the Institute committed to fully support the implementation of the Presidential Directives of ‘Jazamiti’ program by planting over 5000 trees across all the Centres.
Tree planting in Trans Mara Lanet
Mariakani Centre
Research Act 2013. The Institute is located at Garissa in County. It was created to provide operational autonomy to support the Beef sector through focused and efficient research.
Excellence in beef research towards transformed livelihood.