The new Sudan map
Sudan is considered one of the most African countries rich with its wide range of genetic resources diversity There was no animal census carried since 1976 but this year 2013 there is a money allocated In the budget for the census So the estimated animal population is :- ( cattle 29840000,sheep 39484092,goats 30836670,camels 4751000) the total is 104911762
Estimates of Animal Population (2012) Sheep 39484092 Camels 4751000 Total: 104911762 ( Statistical Bulletin for Animal Recourses, Issue No 20 --2011 Cattle 29840000 Goats 30836670
CattleBreeds Kenana Butana Foja Airashy Buggara
Sudan Desert sheep Constitutes 65% of the sheep population in the udan. 4 sub-types of Desert sheep are: Kabashi (Hamari) Dubasi Ashgur
Goat Breeds
We start to implement agene bank to keep our genetic resources We also start surveys to collect data from the field for the genetic resources registration Animal identification & trace back programs had been carried for some Sudanese dairy breeds last years This year we program to do surveys for the rest of the breeds (cattle, sheep, goats etc.)
We establish a well equipped semen processing unit with highly advanced technology Beside keeping our genetic resources this unit can serve as a regional lab. To supply the neighboring countries with their needs from high quality semen from internationally known sires More over we establish a regional animal genetic training centre in collaboration with the French artificial insemination school
During the past years almost 700 vets & animal production graduates have been trained in artificial insemination techniques & pregnancy diagnosis locally About 25 others get training in embryo transfer techniques in Egypt
Sudanese French AI institute
This centre is now ready & it will award different levels of training in the most advanced goals of artificial insemination & embryo transfer techniques it will serve as regional institute for training to satisfy the needs of the Sudan & other African countries The staff of this institute is from both French & Sudanese trainers with high qualifications
In addition to the above mentioned there are 7 specialized animal production research centers These centers are specifically for diary cattle research,beef cattle research,diary &meat goats research, camel research, sheep production research &fisheries research.
For genetic improvement we apply both natural selection techniques in the herds &improvement by foreign breeds blood that is by using imported males or frozen semen by artificial insemination techniques.
In Sudan the ministry of animal resources,fisheries & rangelands is fully responsible for all activities of livestock programs The policy in the genetic improvement includes applying both natural selection within the flocks or injection of foreign blood that is by artificial insemination or embryo transfer techniques The genetic improvement policy in Sudan stated that the level of the foreign blood should be 50%for sheep,goats & dairy cattle & should not exceed 62% there are federal legislations control all these activities ( the animal production act. )
To improve our beef cattle productivity we use frozen semen from the Brazilian Red angus & semental breeds cross with our local breeds & the F1 generations show excellent results ( birth wt, gain rates & maturity wts ) With goats we import Red Kalahari & Boer goat breeds from South Africa & cross bred them with our local breeds & also show good results The sheep we use the Brazilian san-inas with our desert sheep & the results are fine The camels we natural selection methods for improvement
The private sector in the Sudan have Avery clear finger prints in the activities of genetic improvement under the umbrella of the ministry of animal resources, fisheries& rangelands There are some private sector companies strongly contribute in this activity by importing & distribute high quality semen for both beef & diary cattle KUKU GENETIC group, jaro-vet & prosperity are the private sector partners in addition to others as producers namely the Sudanese diary chamber, pastoralist union & the beef producers chamber