Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #29

From instances and more break down broader view, breeding is the science behind the hybrid corn in the U.S. that doubles productivity or the high-yielding dairy cattle in the Netherlands. In my country Nigeria, breeding is what my neighbor, Mr. Okon, does when he selects only the viable, fastest-growing cassava stems from his last harvest to plant in the next season. Mr. OKON is not a geneticist, but through many season of cultivation and observation, he knows that selecting the best gives better results. That’s practical breeding in action.

2 Discuss on the Breeding Types

I grew up in rural environment and I witnessed different breeding types before I even get to study them in school. Let's say, school taught me the names of practical things I knew.
To continue, there are several breeding types and each has its purpose depending on the desired outcome. I will do my discussion breakdown using Nigerian illustrations:

a. Inbreeding

Inbreeding is suitable for preserving certain animal trait and this involve the mating of closely related organisms, often used to preserve such animal traits. It's common among indigenous chicken keepers in rural Nigeria who breed from the same family stock. For instance, there is a man, in my village, who uses eggs laid by her healthiest hen to raise new chicks. While this can maintain hardiness, too much of it over time leads to weak birds and low egg production which was a reason why his business almost collapse because the gene pool becomes too narrow.

b. Outbreeding (Crossbreeding)

This aspect is just kind of opposite of inbreeding. Outbreeding involves breeding unrelated individuals to combine strengths and many individual crossbreed for viability. It’s widely practiced across Nigeria. For example, a poultry farmer might cross Noiler chickens (from a hatchery) with local breeds to create offspring that grow faster and still withstand local diseases. My cousin, Idongesit did this and now sells large birds in eight weeks instead of five months and he still practice this till date.

c. Line Breeding

This will be a bit different but relatable. This is a more controlled form of inbreeding, used when farmers want to keep a desirable trait like disease resistance in pigs or goats. A key aspect to look into is the commercial hub breeders who often use line breeding for large white pigs to improve weight gain and feed efficiency.

d. Self-breeding (Self-pollination)

Tomatoes, beans and rice are typically plants self-breeding naturally occur in. This could be like where a single plant fertilizes itself. Agricultural researchers often use this to create pure lines before developing hybrids. It’s less common at the local level but used in seed companies.This one is what I did learn in school though I am looking forward to applying this knowledge.

e. Artificial Insemination (AI)

I witnessed this when I travel to meet with my uncle in northern part of Nigeria were cows are raised and breeed in large quantities.Though not a breeding type, this is a method of breeding. Cattle farmers in parts of Oyo and Kano now use this method to introduce exotic dairy genes into their herds without transporting bulls. It reduces cost and enhances safety.

3 Benefits of Breeding

Just like every other thing has their benefits, breeding plays a vital role in transforming, smallholder and commercial agriculture into more productive field. Here are some major benefits, with everyday Nigerian examples:

a. Improved Yield

Breeding makes it possible to have more production or meat per animal. My neighbor, who once harvested six bags of maize, now gets ten from the same plot after switching to an improved seed through breeding.

b. Resistance to Pests and Diseases

Improved cassava varieties like TMS 419 which are popular in Edo state and Benue state are bred to resist mosaic and bacterial blight. It means less chemical spraying and less crop loss.

c. Faster Growth and Maturity

Source

Imagine without crossbred broilers in Nigeria with her demanding high population. Crossbred broilers can reach market weight in 6 weeks, while local chickens may take 5 months. For vegetable farmers, hybrid okra and pepper reach harvest in 40 days boosting market turnover and ease demand chain.

d. Adaptability to Local Conditions

Through breeding, crops like drought-tolerant maize or salt-tolerant rice are now available. In Kano, farmers use early-maturing millet varieties to cope with shorter rainy seasons caused by climate change.

e. Cost Efficiency

Breeding reduces losses and dependence on chemicals, improving profit margins. A fish farmer who uses fast-growing hybrid catfish spends less on feed and gets better returns in 3 months.

f. Income Boost and Economic Empowerment

Higher productivity leads to more food and income. My aunt, who switched from local to improved yam seedlings, now supplies tubers to a school canteen contract in Uyo, something she couldn’t have done before.

4 What are the Applications of Breeding

Breeding has both scientific and practical applications, and here are key areas where it is changing agriculture:

a. Livestock Improvement:

Source

Breeding has helped upgrade the productivity of Nigerian livestock. The introduction of crossbred goats (e.g., Sokoto Red with Boer goat) results in kids with faster growth rates and better meat quality.

b. Crop Variety Development:

Agencies like IITA and National Agricultural Seed Council develop new crop varieties through breeding. Farmers in Nasarawa now plant flood-resistant rice because breeders responded to climate challenges.

c. Fish Farming (Aquaculture):

Breeding is used to select catfish or tilapia species with rapid growth and high feed conversion. My neighbor who bought hybrid fingerlings from a reputable hatchery now records better survival rates and more uniform sizes.

d. Poultry:

In Nigeria’s South-West, AI and selective breeding have produced layers that give 300+ eggs per year. Local hatcheries now supply improved chicks tailored to regional preferences.

e. Climate Resilience

With unpredictable weather patterns, breeding has created crops like drought-tolerant maize or heat-resistant tomatoes. It’s the reason farmers in Zamfara are able to grow maize with minimal irrigation.

f. Disease Resistance
Instead of relying heavily on pesticides, breeding provides natural solutions. For instance, tomato varieties resistant to blight are now available to farmers in Jos and Ibadan, where outbreaks used to destroy hectares.

g. Biodiversity Conservation

Breeding also helps preserve unique Nigerian species. NGOs working with Fulani herders use controlled breeding to conserve native cattle breeds without losing productivity.

I invite on @spektro224 @goodybest @ngoenyi
To participate in the contest.

Best Regards @berda01