NAGRC breeds Ankole cattle for more milk without losing their identity

What the report says

Scientists at Nshaara Conservation Ranch in Kiruhura District are selectively breeding Uganda’s indigenous Ankole Longhorn cattle to raise milk output while keeping the breed’s genetic identity, resilience and adaptability intact, Nile Post reported. The work is being led by the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) as part of a programme that has been running for about three years.

According to the report, the initiative focuses on identifying Ankole animals that already show stronger dairy traits, rather than introducing genetics from exotic dairy breeds. Researchers are selecting cows and bulls using measures such as milk yield, lactation length, udder conformation, calving interval, body structure and fertility. The herd has also drawn on selected Ankole genetics from recognised sources such as the Kisozi conservation and improvement herd.

Nshaara manager Dr Innocent Tuwangye said the aim is to multiply superior traits within a pure Ankole population. NAGRC&DB Executive Director Dr Peter Beine said the programme’s success will be judged by whether higher milk production can be sustained across generations, not by the performance of a single exceptional animal.

Nile Post said the herd’s output has risen over time, and the project could offer farmers an indigenous alternative to dairy systems that rely heavily on imported breeds. More broadly, the effort highlights a wider question in livestock development: whether local breeds can be improved for commercial production without losing the traits that help them thrive in Ugandan conditions.