About this Research Topic
Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) are home to diverse populations of livestock species adapted to various agro-ecological zones, production systems, and harsh environmental conditions. However, the livestock in LMICs have not been systematically improved and current low levels of productivity do not meet the demand for livestock products by a growing population. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing and genotyping technologies have enabled the application of genomic selection in various livestock species in some western countries with great success. Despite the low adoption of genomic breeding in LMICs livestock industry, various studies and programs were initiated and some are still ongoing. Furthermore, community-based breeding programs (CBBP) have been initiated in many LMICs with great benefits for smallholder livestock farmers. CBBPs are based on the active participation of farmers from inception through to implementation and consider their needs, views, decisions, breeding objectives, and available infrastructure. In Africa for instance, small ruminants CBBPs have generated substantial genetic gains and socioeconomic benefits for rural poor farmers. However, the current challenges affecting the data recording and genetic evaluation of the CBBPs in LMICS are yet to be fully reported. Furthermore, the CBBPs are yet to integrate genomic selection in their breeding strategies.
For sustainable livestock breeding in LMICs, there is a need to assess the current status of livestock genomics and community-based breeding strategies to identify the challenges and suggest mitigating strategies and future improvement strategy plans. In this Research Topic, we aim to collect findings from past and current livestock genomics and community-based breeding programs, the challenges, the lessons learned, the opportunities, and future perspectives.
We welcome submissions of original research, systematic reviews, methods, mini-reviews, reviews, case reports, opinions, and perspectives. Topics include (but are not limited to) preliminary studies for the establishment of CBBP, genomic selection, genome-wide association studies, quantitative and statistical genetics, breeding program design and optimization; and case studies on past and current attempts to enhance production and resilience capacity of livestock species in LMICS.
For sustainable livestock breeding in LMICs, there is a need to assess the current status of livestock genomics and community-based breeding strategies to identify the challenges and suggest mitigating strategies and future improvement strategy plans. In this Research Topic, we aim to collect findings from past and current livestock genomics and community-based breeding programs, the challenges, the lessons learned, the opportunities, and future perspectives.
We welcome submissions of original research, systematic reviews, methods, mini-reviews, reviews, case reports, opinions, and perspectives. Topics include (but are not limited to) preliminary studies for the establishment of CBBP, genomic selection, genome-wide association studies, quantitative and statistical genetics, breeding program design and optimization; and case studies on past and current attempts to enhance production and resilience capacity of livestock species in LMICS.
Keywords: Livestock Genomics, Community-based breeding programmes, Sustainability, Low-and-middle income countries, breeding goals.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
