Livestock in Egypt
The majority of livestock integrates with crops in small holding that represent approximately 85%of its total population. the average farmer owns 1.02 buffalo cows, 0.53growing buffalo calves, 0.94 bovine cows, 0.51bovine calves, 1014 sheep 1.06 goat, number of different poultry of different species plus donkeyes and camels / or horses. The evolutionary forces of mutation, selective breeding, adaptation, isolation and genetic drift have created an enormous diversity of local populations. Livestock provide meat, milk, eggs, fibers, skins, manure for fertilizer and fuel, draught power for cultivation and transport, and a range of other products and services. Livestock biodiversity is essential to food and livelihood security, particularly in the developing world.
Animal production systems in Egypt
- Semi intensive / intensive system (delta and Nile valley) mainly large ruminants, small ruminants, a number of different poultry of different species pluse donkeys and camel and / or horses.
- Intensive system (poultry and dairy cattle).
- Zaraba (around cities) dairy buffalo and goats.
- Extensive system (Sinai, north western coastal zone, halaieb and shalatein mainly small ruminants and camels.
The states of breeds at risk
- Population size of local cattle and buffalo breeds are quite stable and no indication that one of these breeds is at risk. Except Domiati cattle which could be at risk according to decrease of its population.
- The major local breeds of sheep and goat do not seem at risk. The exception is zaribi breed which could be at risk as all available reports indicate deceasing of its population. The breeds of camel, horse, donkey, chicken, duck, goose, are not at risk.
- Two local breeds of rabbits have already become extinct, Giza White and Baladi White and two more are endangered, Baladi Red and Baladi Black.
Main constraints facing establishment of national conservation program
- Fragmented ownership of livestock.
- Lack of recording of animal pedigrees / performance
- Lack of applying uniform protocols for collection of germplasm and cryopreservation programs in each breed.
- Lack of the accurate information about genetic characterization of our native breeds.
- Lack of public understanding and awareness of the role and values of AnGR.
- Lack of legislation and regulation affecting the maintenance of AnGR.
The main objective of the department
- Genetic characterization of our native breeds.
- Standardization of protocols for collection of germplasm, through well- defined and sound cryopreservation programs for each breed.
- To rescue and increase the population of endangered breeds.
(Red and Black rabbit and Zeraibi goats)
- Establishing data base system for information on native breeds characterization.
- This includes information on breeds population, description and qualifications.
- Emphasis will be on traits related to meat quality, mothering ability and adaptation to harsh climate and poor environmental conditions.
- Increasing the awareness of public for the importance of our rescue mission and to the necessity of maintaining these breeds as a gene pool for future use in rapidly changing world.
- The magazine published by the Gene Bank.
- Pamphlets published by Gene Bank.
- Publication in the newspapers.
- Publication in the agricultural magazine.
Current activity
- Genetic characterization of Sohagi sheep, Barki Sheep and buffalo.
- Cryopreservation studies for semen of chicken, Ducks, Turkey and Camel embryo.
- Determining some genetic loci of productive traits in some indigenes chicken breeds using microsatellite markers.
- 4-National gene bank performing of project based on integration of genetic resources management in western desert communities including farm animal genetic resources (Genetic characterization for wild-type of cattle, sheep and goats) in four oases namely El-Kharga, El-Dakhla, El-Farafra and Siwa.
Achievements of Animal Genetic Resources Department
- Genetic characterization of chicken breeds and development strains:
Among Fayuomi breed (PP, GG and RR).
Fayuomi breed
Dandarawi breed
Gimiza strain
Inshas strain
Doki-4 strain
Golden Montazah strain
Silver Montazah strain
Mamorah strain
Mandara strain
Bahij strain
Matrouh strain
El-salam strain
Bandarah strain
Sinai strains
- Determining some genetic loci of egg production traits in Fayoumi and Dandrawi chicken breeds using microsatellite markers (Ph.D. Thesis).
- Variation and phylogeny studies of Egyptian River Buffalo by mitochondrial D-loop nucleotide sequences.
- Semen Quality and Freezing of Sohagi Rams in Egypt
Staff
Prof. Dr. Khaled Roushdy Mohamed Mousa
+20 114 331 7188
khromod@yahoo.com
Prof. Dr. Mohammed Ahmed El-sayed Hasan
+20 109 966 1610
m.a.el_sayed@outlook.com
Dr. Alsayed Alsoudy Mohamed Mostafa
+20 155 831 3399
alsayedalsoudy@gmail.com
Dr. Heba Abd EL-Wahab Mahmoud Assi
+20 100 824 5305
Music.art723@gmail.com
