Will selective breeding of Ankole cattle transform the dairy sector?

What the report says

The Observer reports that Uganda’s National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank is trying to build a higher-yielding pure Ankole dairy herd at Nshaara conservation ranch in Kiruhura district. The goal is to improve milk production from within the indigenous breed, rather than replace it with exotic dairy cattle, while preserving the Ankole’s adaptability and genetic identity.

According to the article, the programme began about three years ago with the screening of naturally stronger milk-producing animals and the use of pedigree tracking, performance records and improved feeding. Selection has focused on milk yield, lactation length, udder shape and calving interval, with later breeding choices also guided by the productivity of the cows’ maternal lines. The ranch says it has also used better nutrition, including hay and silage, alongside grazing to support higher output.

The report says the herd’s recorded performance has risen over time. Average milk productivity increased from 5.2 litres per active cow per day in 2023 to 7 litres in 2024 and 8.6 litres in 2025, while annual recorded milk output also grew. Individual cows in the programme have reportedly reached much higher morning yields than traditional Ankole production levels. NAGRC&DB officials say the broader aim is to make these gains repeatable across generations, which could help Uganda’s dairy sector by increasing output from a locally adapted breed.