The African Animal Breeding Network as a pathway towards genetic improvement of livestock

Appolinaire Djikeng; Victor E Olori; Isidore Houaga; Samuel E Aggrey; Okeyo Mwai; Eveline M Ibeagha-Awemu; Raphael Mrode; Mizeck G G Chagunda; Christian K Tiambo; Romdhane Rekaya; Oyenkanmi Nash; Zabron Nziku; Oluyinka Opoola; Mapholi Ntanganedzeni; Chinyere Ekine-Dzivenu; Alexander Kahi; Tobias Okeno; John M Hickey; Negussie Enyew; Edward J O Rege

doi:10.1038/s41588-025-02079-4

The African Animal Breeding Network as a pathway towards genetic improvement of livestock

Appolinaire Djikeng, Victor E Olori, Isidore Houaga, Samuel E Aggrey, Okeyo Mwai, Eveline M Ibeagha-Awemu, Raphael Mrode, Mizeck G G Chagunda, Christian K Tiambo, Romdhane Rekaya, Oyenkanmi Nash, Zabron Nziku, Oluyinka Opoola, Mapholi Ntanganedzeni, Chinyere Ekine-Dzivenu, Alexander Kahi, Tobias Okeno, John M Hickey, Negussie Enyew, Edward J O Rege

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Transforming Africa's agricultural production and food systems is an imperative to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and deliver on the Africa Union's 2063 vision, 'the Africa we want'. Transforming livestock systems through genetic improvement will sustainably increase productivity and proffer an inclusive socioeconomic development of farming communities. The African Animal Breeding Network (AABNet) is a platform of highly knowledgeable geneticists, animal breeders and professionals willing to provide information, training, advice and support across the continent. It will leverage available human resources among its members, facilitate partnerships and investment and develop infrastructure for innovative livestock genetic improvement in Africa.

Original language	English
Article number	1115973
Pages (from-to)	498-504
Number of pages	20
Journal	Nature Genetics
Volume	57
Issue number	3
Early online date	10 Feb 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02079-4
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Africa
Agriculture/methods
Animal Husbandry/methods
Animals
Breeding/methods
Humans
Livestock/genetics

Access to Document

10.1038/s41588-025-02079-4

Embargoed Document

Djikeng_et_al_final_Authors_Accepted
Accepted author manuscript, 634 KB
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)
Embargo ends: 10/08/25

A global shared data biological sample resource to support productivity improvement for tropical livestock
Watson, M. (Principal Investigator)
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
1/10/15 → 31/03/23
Project: Research

Cite this

Djikeng, A., Olori, V. E., Houaga, I., Aggrey, S. E., Mwai, O., Ibeagha-Awemu, E. M., Mrode, R., Chagunda, M. G. G., Tiambo, C. K., Rekaya, R., Nash, O., Nziku, Z., Opoola, O., Ntanganedzeni, M., Ekine-Dzivenu, C., Kahi, A., Okeno, T., Hickey, J. M., Enyew, N., & Rege, E. J. O. (2025). The African Animal Breeding Network as a pathway towards genetic improvement of livestock. Nature Genetics, 57(3), 498-504. Article 1115973. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02079-4

@article{fdd5a9cd20b742adbcf225ce49a13825,

title = "The African Animal Breeding Network as a pathway towards genetic improvement of livestock",

abstract = "Transforming Africa's agricultural production and food systems is an imperative to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and deliver on the Africa Union's 2063 vision, 'the Africa we want'. Transforming livestock systems through genetic improvement will sustainably increase productivity and proffer an inclusive socioeconomic development of farming communities. The African Animal Breeding Network (AABNet) is a platform of highly knowledgeable geneticists, animal breeders and professionals willing to provide information, training, advice and support across the continent. It will leverage available human resources among its members, facilitate partnerships and investment and develop infrastructure for innovative livestock genetic improvement in Africa.",

keywords = "Africa, Agriculture/methods, Animal Husbandry/methods, Animals, Breeding/methods, Humans, Livestock/genetics",

author = "Appolinaire Djikeng and Olori, {Victor E} and Isidore Houaga and Aggrey, {Samuel E} and Okeyo Mwai and Ibeagha-Awemu, {Eveline M} and Raphael Mrode and Chagunda, {Mizeck G G} and Tiambo, {Christian K} and Romdhane Rekaya and Oyenkanmi Nash and Zabron Nziku and Oluyinka Opoola and Mapholi Ntanganedzeni and Chinyere Ekine-Dzivenu and Alexander Kahi and Tobias Okeno and Hickey, {John M} and Negussie Enyew and Rege, {Edward J O}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2025. Springer Nature America, Inc.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1038/s41588-025-02079-4",

language = "English",

volume = "57",

pages = "498--504",

journal = "Nature Genetics",

issn = "1061-4036",

publisher = "Nature Research",

number = "3",

}

Djikeng, A, Olori, VE, Houaga, I, Aggrey, SE, Mwai, O, Ibeagha-Awemu, EM, Mrode, R , Chagunda, MGG, Tiambo, CK, Rekaya, R, Nash, O, Nziku, Z, Opoola, O, Ntanganedzeni, M, Ekine-Dzivenu, C, Kahi, A, Okeno, T, Hickey, JM, Enyew, N & Rege, EJO 2025, 'The African Animal Breeding Network as a pathway towards genetic improvement of livestock', Nature Genetics, vol. 57, no. 3, 1115973, pp. 498-504. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02079-4

TY - JOUR

T1 - The African Animal Breeding Network as a pathway towards genetic improvement of livestock

AU - Djikeng, Appolinaire

AU - Olori, Victor E

AU - Houaga, Isidore

AU - Aggrey, Samuel E

AU - Mwai, Okeyo

AU - Ibeagha-Awemu, Eveline M

AU - Mrode, Raphael

AU - Chagunda, Mizeck G G

AU - Tiambo, Christian K

AU - Rekaya, Romdhane

AU - Nash, Oyenkanmi

AU - Nziku, Zabron

AU - Opoola, Oluyinka

AU - Ntanganedzeni, Mapholi

AU - Ekine-Dzivenu, Chinyere

AU - Kahi, Alexander

AU - Okeno, Tobias

AU - Hickey, John M

AU - Enyew, Negussie

AU - Rege, Edward J O

PY - 2025/3

Y1 - 2025/3

N2 - Transforming Africa's agricultural production and food systems is an imperative to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and deliver on the Africa Union's 2063 vision, 'the Africa we want'. Transforming livestock systems through genetic improvement will sustainably increase productivity and proffer an inclusive socioeconomic development of farming communities. The African Animal Breeding Network (AABNet) is a platform of highly knowledgeable geneticists, animal breeders and professionals willing to provide information, training, advice and support across the continent. It will leverage available human resources among its members, facilitate partnerships and investment and develop infrastructure for innovative livestock genetic improvement in Africa.

AB - Transforming Africa's agricultural production and food systems is an imperative to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and deliver on the Africa Union's 2063 vision, 'the Africa we want'. Transforming livestock systems through genetic improvement will sustainably increase productivity and proffer an inclusive socioeconomic development of farming communities. The African Animal Breeding Network (AABNet) is a platform of highly knowledgeable geneticists, animal breeders and professionals willing to provide information, training, advice and support across the continent. It will leverage available human resources among its members, facilitate partnerships and investment and develop infrastructure for innovative livestock genetic improvement in Africa.

KW - Africa

KW - Agriculture/methods

KW - Animal Husbandry/methods

KW - Animals

KW - Breeding/methods

KW - Humans

KW - Livestock/genetics

U2 - 10.1038/s41588-025-02079-4

DO - 10.1038/s41588-025-02079-4

M3 - Review article

C2 - 39930083

SN - 1061-4036

VL - 57

SP - 498

EP - 504

JO - Nature Genetics

JF - Nature Genetics

IS - 3

M1 - 1115973

ER -

The African Animal Breeding Network as a pathway towards genetic improvement of livestock

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

Embargoed Document

Fingerprint

Projects

A global shared data biological sample resource to support productivity improvement for tropical livestock

Cite this