Animal Genetic Resources Department
The diversity of farm animal species represents an irreplaceable source of traits for livestock development in response to changing environmental and human needs. However, these animal genetic resources are being eroded as a result of changing agricultural, economic and environmental practices. As such, these genetic resources need to be conserved in the face of the increasing anthropogenic factors which may drive the animal breeds to extinction if attention is not given to them. Therefore, the need to reduce the degradation of farm animal genetic resources and establish programmes for their conservation and sustainable use is of utmost importance.
In line with the aforementioned reasons, AnGR unit of NACGRAB was established in the year 2004 as one of the core Units of the Centre and currently has the following sections: poultry, fishery, snailry, small ruminants, cane-rat and rabbitry.
Animal breeds currently conserved Ex-situ (live) on the AnGR Farm
– Ex-situ (live) conservation of indigenous animal breeds.
– Preservation of animal germplasm materials – DNA sample of chickens, rabbits, goats (WAD) and turkey are kept in the DNA repository (-200C).
– Cryopreservation of Catfish (Clarias spp) semen in collaboration with Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria at Ile – Ife.
– Making accessible the indigenous Animal Genetic Resources for research and development by students and researchers in Nigeria.
– Hosting of an International workshop on the Genetic characterization of locally adapted poultry breeds of West African and Brazil in March, 2013.
– In-vitro studies of different foliages from several trees and shrubs as feed resources for West African Dwarf goats.
– Morphometric and molecular characterization of Freshwater fishes in Nigeria.
– Establishment of a mini fish museum of fresh water fishes of Nigeria.
– Training of students on animal genetic resources conservation, management and utilization.
– Utilization of AnGR facilities for Research Development by collaborating institutions.
Phenotypic characterization Shika-Brown chicken in
– Comprehensive molecular characterization of locally adapted chicken breeds of Nigeria and Brazil.
Poultry
– Yoruba Ecotype (Frizzle feather, Naked neck, Smooth feathered, Frayed feather) chicken
–Fulani Ecotype( smooth feathered ) chicken
–Shika-Brown chicken – Improved breed of chicken from NAPRI (National Animal Production Research Institute,Zaria). A product of 15 years of selective breeding work. Named, registered and released by NACGRAB in year 2000 under the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock/Fisheries.
–Local Turkey
Snails
–Archachatina marginata
–Achatina achatina
–Achatina fulica
Rabbits
–Cross bred
Sheep and Goats
–West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep
–West African Dwarf (WAD) goats
–Red Sokoto (RS) goats
Fisheries
–Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
–Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Grass-cutter – (Swinderianus thryonomys)
On – going R & D
– Molecular characterization of freshwater fishes in Nigeria.
Future Plans
– Establishment Community – based animal germplasm bank.
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