The Kenyan Sahiwal cattle and their crossbreds

The study was conducted to draw together for comparative purposes, empirical measures of performance of Kenya Sahiwal crossbred cattle in different production systems. Two livestock productivity modeling approaches of PRY and Gross Margin analysis were applied. The PRY package was used to obtain herd productivity indices based on demographic parameters and produce related input parameters. Gross Margin analysis computed profitability of different enterprises based on the total monetary value of animal products and the total cost per unit animal per year. The increase in productivity of the Kenya Sahiwal crossbred herds demonstrated that genetic effects can be fully exploited in marginal areas of Kenya by systematic use of crossbreeding systems to achieve a cumulative and permanent genetic improvement in growth potential and milk production. It is important that a robust and efficient breeding programme is developed for sustainable increase of productivity of the crossbreds in the low-input productions systems in Kenya and other areas with similar production circumstances.