Scientists from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) have embarked on a research to achieve insemination in goats and chickens.
The lead researcher in the project, Professor Timothy Gondwe, says cross-breeding in both goats and chickens is lacking control that leads to erosion of indigenous genetic breeds.
He cited the black Australorp in chicken as an example saying that they no longer there after being cross-bred with local chickens.
“The black Australorp get lost after sometimes and that is even the case in the goats once crossbred with Boers. And this is why we have introduced the biotechnology of artificial insemination,” said Gondwe.
The project received support from the National Council for Science and Technology which supports scientific innovations in provision of solutions to emerging issues. It has received a grant of K22 million from the council on this ambitious project.
In a written response Gondwe said that the study found out that artificial insemination has an advantage in terms of ease of storage as semen can be safely stored in laboratories for future use unlike cross-breeding.
The project is underway at the three sites of Bunda and some farms in around Mpingu and Mpenu EPA which has been integrated with government ASAPP project.
According to Gondwe the project will be done with the involvement of scientists from Lupane estate, University of Zimbabwe under the theme of “Artificial insemination in goat and chicken”.
Extension officer at Mpenu Aubrey Mgala says the project is a solution to failure of the 1993 government policy to ensure the continual of improved goats and poultry production.
“Livestock is staying behind in the era of technology and this is because government from around 1994 has been injecting little resources towards research to replace old ways through