TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: ZAGP CROSSBRED STANDARDS FOR GOATS

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
ZAGP VALUE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OF CROSSBRED STANDARDS FOR
GOATS

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

In response to the ZAGP VALUE’s advertisement for a consultant to develop breed standards
for (F1, F2, F3 and F4) offspring coming from cross-breeding exotic Boers Goats (BG) and
Kalahari Reds (KR) with the indigenous Mashona and Matabele goats we are expressing our
interest to provide the vital service. The expression of interest is comprised of the Technical
Proposal, the Financial Proposal and Consultants’ CVs.
We (Dr Fortune N. Jomane and Mr Boat Sibanda) are a consulting team composed of a
livestock breeding expert and livestock management specialist based at Lupane State
University. Dr F.N Jomane has worked on improving performance and progeny testing
programmes of livestock since 2011. He crafted a Matabele goat genetic improvement
programme which is being done at Lupane State University with the support of the Research
Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ). Mr B Sibanda has worked in various livestock breeding and
production enterprises with profound experience in livestock husbandry and nutrition. Some
of his previous consultancy work include SMART livestock production with Pro Africa and
LEGs with Save the Children.
Consultants
Name of Position Contact details Qualifications
Officer
Dr Fortune N. Lead fnjomane@lsu.ac.zw PhD Animal Breeding and
Jomane Consultant fortunejomane@yahoo.com Genetics, UOM Japan
Cell:0785523193 MSc Animal Science, UOM
Japan
BSc Animal Science (UZ)
Mr Boart Livestock boesibanda@gmail.com MPhil Animal science (UZ),
Sibanda specialist bsibanda@lsu.ac.zw BSc Animal Science (UZ),
Cell:0772 831 944 Diploma Agric, (Rio Tinto),
Cert Agric (Esigodini)

1 Introduction
The smallholder sector which holds the majority of the livestock including more than 90% of
the goats is characterised by sub optimum productivity. Among the reasons for the low
productivity is poor breeding practices as there is no organised genetic improvement
programme. This leads to the propagation of poor performing stock as part of the population
hence there is no positive change in the population. Besides, it is common to have the same
buck breeding with the same does for generations leading to inbreeding and consequently
inbreeding depression. One of the ways of genetic improvement is crossbreeding.
 TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: ZAGP CROSSBRED STANDARDS FOR GOATS

Government and development partners have encouraged this approach. In the ZAGP VALUE
project, new genetics were introduced by crossing the indigenous goats with the exotic Boer
and Kalahari goats. There is, however, need to document the performance of the crossbreeds
and come up with the expected standards for stakeholders to adhere to in evaluating the
crossbred stock. It is against this background that this technical proposal was crafted.

2. Assignment Objectives
Develop 16 breed standards for (BG x Mashona Goats F1, F2, F3, F4); (BG x Matabele
Goats F1, F2, F3, F4); (KR x Mashona Goats F1, F2, F3, F4) and (KR x Matabele Goats F1,
F2, F3, F4} (F1, F2, F3 and F4) which will include to general appearance and type, head,
neck and forequarters, barrel, hindquarters, legs, skin and covering, sexual organs, quality,
size, tail, pigmentation, horns, body characteristics, possible colour patterns, conformation.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1 Animals and traits

The consultants will obtain critical data from crossbred animals from ZAGP VALUE project
partners Michview and Zvikomborero Farm, and any other farms with crossbred goats
covering the respective generations (F1-F4). It will be ideal to have 100 animals for each
breed class and generation class e.g. BG x Mashona Goats F1 = 100 goats, F2 = 100, F3 =
100, F4 = 100. The same applies to other three breed classes (BG x Matabele Goats, KR x
Mashona, KR x Matabele Goats) and the respective F1 to F4 generations. This will give a
total of 1 600 goats (16 x100) for the data set. Animals to be used will include both males and
females. The age will range from 1 month to 4 years.
To come up with expected growth standards, growth curves will be drawn based on body
measurements as indicated in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1. The positions for body measurements

Wither height (WH): A to B Chest girth (CG): ADCE
Hip height (HH): F to G Chest width (CW): E to D
Chest depth (CD): A to C Hip width (HW): H to I
Body length (BL): L to D Thurl width (TW): J to K
Rump length (RL): L to H Pin bone width (PBW): L to M
 TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: ZAGP CROSSBRED STANDARDS FOR GOATS

Weight will be measured with a scale, while linear measurements will be measured with a
tape, a ruler and a calliper. Qualitative traits to be evaluated are general appearance and type,
head, neck and forequarters, barrel, hindquarters, legs, skin and covering, sexual organs, tail,
pigmentation, horns, body characteristics, possible colour patterns, conformation.

3.2 Statistical Analysis

Growth curves will be estimated using an application for statistical analysis (Stat Proc
Version 2 , Year). The growth curves will be estimated using four models but ultimately one
will be used for final standard growth curves based on goodness of fit. The models to be used
are: Logistic: y = A/(1+ λ exp( βt )); Brody: y = A/(1- λ exp( βt )); Bertalanffy: y = A/(1- λ exp( βt
))3 and Gompertz: y = Aexp(- λ exp( βt )). The growth curves will be part of the breeding
standards.

4. Timeline

Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Contract Signing,
Inception meeting,
Procurement of
Equipment and
Consumables

Data Gathering

Stakeholder
Consultation

Data Analysis and

Draft Standards
Compilation

Validation Workshop

Finalising Breeding
standards and
Submission