Genetic improvement of cattle in Zimbabwe utilising advanced breeding technologies

基因改良对于提高发展中国家牛奶和肉类生产的效率、改善健康营养食品的供应、最大限度地提高饲料效率和最小化环境影响至关重要。利用基因组选择、取卵（OPU）和体外胚胎生产（IVP），加速了常规选择和育种-没有基因被修改。因此，非常理想的英国遗传特征可以被送到津巴布韦，成本效益高，最大限度地减少生物安全风险，并允许小牛从出生开始适应环境。这项育种计划将利用多排卵胚胎移植（MOET）在当地繁殖这些遗传学，开发一种基因组指数来重新选择，重新扩增和快速加速遗传增益。有三个主要目标：1。研究将英国OPU/IVP生产的牛胚胎移植到津巴布韦本地牛的可行性; 2.在津巴布韦开发和优化胚胎生产和转移平台，将进口的遗传基因扩增到更多的牛群中;以及3.发展一个新的兽医主导的动物健康服务，促进建立一个实践，支持当地奶牛场主提供高质量的兽医护理和健康管理，包括生殖技术。

Genetic improvement is imperative to increase the efficiency of milk and meat production indeveloping countries, improving the availability of healthy nutritious food, maximising feed efficiencyand minimising environmental impacts. Utilising genomic selection, ovum pick-up (OPU) and in-vitroembryo production (IVP) routine selection and breeding is accelerated - no genes are modified. Sohighly desirable UK genetic traits can be sent to Zimbabwe cost effectively, minimising biosecurity risks,and allowing calves to adapt to the environment from birth. This breeding plan will then multiply thesegenetics locally utilising multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET), developing a genomic index toreselect, reamplify and rapidly accelerate genetic gain. There are 3 key objectives: 1. To investigate thelikely performance of implanting selected bovine embryos produced by OPU/IVP in the UK intoindigenous cattle in Zimbabwe; 2. To develop and optimise an embryo production and transferplatform in Zimbabwe to amplify the imported genetics into more herds; and 3. To develop a newveterinary-led animal health service, facilitating the establishment of a practice supporting local dairyfarmers with high quality veterinary care and health management including reproductive technologies.