Rwanda Embarks On Embryo Transfers

RWANDA - Cattle genes in Rwanda stand to be improved with the introduction of the latest bio-technology reports Daniel Karibwije, East African Business Week. This follows 30 cows in different parts of the country having been cloned with embryos from Israel.
calendar icon 5 December 2006
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This is aimed at improving the cattle breeds to produce better quality beef and milk for the growing local and regional market.

Rwanda now joins other African countries like South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria that have already adopted this animal scientific mission.

The process involves extraction of the embryo from highly productive stock such as Friesian cows and implanted into an indigenous breed. The result is a higher yielding disease resistant variety.

The first and successful embryo transfer in the country was performed on Saturday, November 25 in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province. Using the latest innovations, the embryo is transferred from a donor cow seven days after it is formed.

It is later transplanted in the recipient cow seven days after it has received hormones preparing it for the embryo.

This process will help in multiplying offspring of the farmers' best animals without necessarily using the best bull for the best cow procedure.

The embryo transfer process is being pioneered in Rwanda by Dr. David Ditesheim, an Israeli Veterinarian Dr. Vianney Muhinda of Rwanda Animal Resource Development Authority (RARDA) is learning the procedures for dissemination to the rest of the country.

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