Genetic Trends for Growth in a Selection Experiment Involving Purebred and Two-Breed Synthetic Beef Breed in a Tropical Environment

Cattle production in Cameroon is essentially under a traditional small-scale husbandry management system. The resultant effects are high inbreeding, low fertility, high mortalities of about 5-10% in adult cattle and 20% in calves (Tanya, unpublished results). In an effort to change the situation, the government has put in place a number of programs for cattle production improvement. In 1952 a program code-named “Wakwa” was launched (24). This program developed a two-breed synthetic beef cattle, the Wakwa, from mating the American Brahman to the local Gudali and continuing with the first filial generation (33). In 1969, another program, the Gudali (Ngaoundere), was launched (22). This program was geared towards the systematic improvement of the indigenous Gudali through selection without crossbreeding. Much data on growth traits have accumulated over the years since the inception of the two programs. An evaluation of these data, in the form of an assessment of genetic progress attained, is imperative in an effort to identify problems to be expected for possible remedial actions.