agriculture 29 September 2026 Howwe Entertainment
Uganda Enhances Ankole Cattle for High Milk Yields at Nshaara Ranch
The National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) is systematically improving the indigenous Ankole cattle breed for higher milk production at Nshaara Conservation Ranch, focusing on genetics within the breed itself. Source: https://www.howwe.ug/news/national/43768/nagrcdb-develops-high-milk-yielding-pure-ankole-dairy-cattle-at-nshaara-conservation-ranch.
Uganda’s renowned Ankole Longhorn cattle are undergoing a significant genetic enhancement at the Nshaara Conservation Ranch. The National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) has initiated a program to develop a high-milk-yielding pure Ankole dairy population by leveraging systematic genetic selection, pedigree management, and improved nutrition.
The initiative, which began approximately three years ago, focuses on identifying and breeding superior Ankole cattle that possess natural milk production potential. Instead of introducing exotic breeds, NAGRC&DB is concentrating on the existing genetic variations within the Ankole breed to enhance dairy traits. This approach aims to maintain the breed’s inherent adaptability and resilience while boosting milk output.
Selection criteria prioritize milk yield, lactation length, udder conformation, and calving interval. This meticulous process identifies cows with superior dairy characteristics, and replacement heifers are chosen based on their dams’ performance and physical attributes. Similarly, breeding bulls are selected from high-performing maternal lines, ensuring that desirable milk-production traits are passed down through generations.
“We are identifying superior dairy traits that already exist within the pure Ankole population and systematically selecting and multiplying those genetics,” explained Dr. Innocent Tuwangye, Manager of Nshaara Conservation Ranch. “The objective is to develop an Ankole animal that produces more milk while retaining the adaptability, resilience and genetic identity for which the breed is known.”
The program has demonstrated notable success. By December 2025, average milk productivity had increased to 8.6 liters per cow per day, with an annual recorded production reaching approximately 168,285 liters. This represents a significant improvement over traditional yields, with selected cows now producing 5-10 liters per milking session, compared to the average of 2 liters previously. The success is attributed to a combination of genetic selection and enhanced nutritional management, including supplementing grazing with hay and silage.
NAGRC&DB’s Executive Director, Dr. Peter Beine, emphasized the importance of integrating breeding and feeding strategies. “Selection identifies the animal with superior genetic potential, but nutrition determines how effectively that potential is expressed,” he stated. The program is now focused on consolidating superior performance across families and generations, aiming for consistently reproducible milk production.