Animal Genetic and Feed Resources Research Lab.-The National Institute of Agriculture of Tunisia (INAT)

An Overview Of Our Solution

The Black Thibar sheep breed was created in the 20th century to deal with the problem of the poisoning caused by a weed (Hypericum perfoliatum) containing hypericin that causes a photosensitive anaphylactic reaction in animals with white colored skin resulting in high mortality. Due to inbreeding and the absence of a reliable genetic scheme, the white color is reappearing again in the breed. A Breeding Scheme was developed and implemented step by step by the University with the involvement of livestock keepers from the beginning. An association of the breed is now leading the scheme empowered by science and government backup. The cooperative effort is generating interest to work together to save and promote the Black Thibar breed for its uniqueness as a photosensitive resistant and secure descent revenues to its owners.

Who is this solution impacting?

Community Type

Rural

Organization type

Government

Ecosystem (select all that apply)

Grasslands

Population impacted

12 000 to 14 000

Size of agricultural area

Beja and Bizerte in Northern Tunisia (8000 km**2)

Production quantity

70 000 ewes

People employed

6000 to 7000 people

Describe your solution

The Black Thibar sheep breed was created to solve a crucial problem that sheep farmers in North of Tunisia were facing. Their animals with white skin went blind and flocks fertility decreased because of a photosensitive anaphylactic reaction, caused by a weed that grows in cereal fields, in animals with white skin. Even though the breed represents 2.1% of a total population size of 4 million sheep, it is the unique breed that is photosensitive resistant. Since more than a decade, the white color started appearing in many flocks due to inbreeding. The challenges were 1) how to bring back the Black Thibar to reproduce for pure black progenies and 2) improve its performances through a suitable breeding scheme with the involvement of farmers. The University chose to empower breed owners by working with them step by step to develop a reliable breeding scheme including specific breeding objectives, a simplified recording system, accurate genetic evaluation methods and dissemination pathways of improved animals within the breed population. A full strategy with organizational and technical components to promote Black Thibar is being put in place led by farmers and backed up by research and policy makers.

Describe your implementation

Farmers of Black Thibar, a native sheep breed in Northern Tunisia, raised concerns of problems faced by their breed due to inbreeding and the weak role played by the governmental national sheep improvement program. A group of six sheep farmers decided to form an association (GDA) to better serve their members and promote their breed. I was invited in April 2016 by this group to see their new system of animal identification. The system relied on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Around 70 farmers were present that day. They discussed nutrition, health and reproduction. Being aware of the breeding aspects as their weak point, they asked the University for help. In May 2016, members of the GDA were invited to visit the University to meet livestock scientists and get acquainted with their research programs. The impression I got that day was that my guests were not aware of the main ingredients needed for genetic schemes. Convinced that animal genetic resources in developing countries need the participation of the private sector as well as government back up, I played the mediator to bring together the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) (government) and the GDA group in setting up a breeding scheme for Black Thibar. In November 2016, a workshop was held on the identification of selection objectives for the Black Thibar breed. The workshop was attended by Black Thibar GDA Farmers, Research and the NSIP officers. Selection objectives for the breed were agreed on by all participants including government officers. In January 2017, a Genetic Road Map led by the GDA and backed up by research and government was presented and discussed. It included a complete breeding scheme and the organization of flock owners into a stronger association. The NSIP agreed to invite 30 new flock owners to join this effort. In March 4, a total of 44 young rams were selected by a commission represented by the GDA, the NSIP and research to improve the breed.

External connections

Native animal breeds are a rich biodiversity reservoir. If farmers are not organized around their breed and if reliable breeding schemes are not established, genetic erosion due to inbreeding and unjustified crossings will constitute real threats to this valuable biodiversity. In developing countries, development policies relative to animal genetic resources management should seek to promote coordination among livestock keepers through creation and empowerment of cooperatives or associations. For these reasons, I tried to facilitate connections among the GDA of Black Thibar, the NSIP (government) and the research lab. The key players in this work in progress were: 1)Farmers themselves, they are decided to move on with their breed until a complete labeled lamb chain production is established; 2) A retired professor in Information technology who is helping the GDA group to develop an automatic system based on information gathering and processing; 3) A research lab that believes that the challenge in research is to help solve problems that livestock sector is facing; 4) A national sheep improvement program that found in the GDA a new approach of collaboration with organized farmers and research. The GDA is linked to CONECT:A trade union organization that brings together small businesses; medium and large private and public enterprises, Tunisian and foreign of all the regions of the country exercising in the different sectors of the Tunisian economy.

What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?

In Northern Tunisia, cereals and livestock are major components of agriculture. When cereals are harvested, the majority of sheep owners rely mainly on grazing the stubble of cereals during summer. The ingestion of a weed (Hypericum perfoliatum), a spontaneous plant very widespread in these regions, causes a photosensitive anaphylactic reaction causing a high seasonal mortality of the animals with white colors. This plant contains hypericin, a chemical substance that is activated by solar radiation on unpigmented or uncoated regions of the animal skin. The Black Thibar breed was created by the "White Fathers" in the 20th century in Northern Tunisia to deal with the poisoning caused by Hypericum perfoliatum. The absence of a reliable breeding scheme for the breed has led to inbreeding and the appearance of animals with white color sensitive to hypericin. The breeding scheme will allow to eliminate white spots in the breed while improving its meat production and farmers revenues.

Describe the context in which you are operating

From an original flock of about 500 ewes of a thin tail breed (Queue Fine de l'Ouest) common to Tunisia and Algeria, Father Novat (of Dutch origin) initiated a crossbreeding program in 1912. He crossed a black-colored Merino-type with QFO ewes and pure merino rams with black QFO ewes. With these two types of crossing, he obtained progenies with varied colors from brown to black well adapted to graze in cereal fields without any sensitivity problem. Selection on the quality of wool and the black color continued until 1924 when the breed was fixed. In 1945, the Black Thibar had its registered "Flock Book". The breed has played key roles in food security, wool production and secured revenues of more than 6000 small sheep owners. The total breed size has reached 70 000 ewes. Since the 1980s, several problems have appeared in many flocks of this breed, in particular the appearance of the white color due to inbreeding and the absence of a reliable genetic scheme. Attempts were made to overcome these constraints by the infusion of genes from Black Swiss rams, but failed. In 2003 a breed association was formed to promote the breed. In April 2016, the association sought advice from the University for a sustainable breeding strategy to save and promote the Black Thibar breed.

How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?

The Black Thibar is a unique native sheep breed in Tunisia. It is photosensitive resistant to a weed that grows in cereal fields where sheep flocks graze. Inbreeding, lack of a suitable breeding scheme and the absence of farmers organization are real constraints. The approach taken is based on needed technical ingredients to promote the breed and farmers organization. Having the breeding strategy being led by the GDA group and backed up by science and the government sheep program is essential for the sustainability of this work. Participative approaches used in workshops and at the flock level are helping in building the capacity of the black Thibar owners. Tunisia, through the GDA of Black Thibar, is building a model on how to save and promote animal biodiversity for food and agriculture. They were six farmers. They are now going to be 36 farmers. The GDA was alone in its efforts. It is now leading a program for their breed, backed up by research and the government.

Language(s)

Arabic + French

Water

Sheep and mainly native breeds are less consuming in water and resistant to high temperatures.

Food Security/Nutrition

The breed population size is approximately 70 000 ewes. With a fertility rate of 90% and an average prolificacy rate of 130%, Black Thibar is an excellent and a sustainable meat production source for the region and the country. It is a breed that transformed feed resources not eatable by man to high quality food for Man. In these regards, native breeds well adapted to harsh conditions should be saved and promoted.

Economic/Sustainable Development

The sustainability of animal genetic resources management depends largely on the participation of a range of stakeholders, both public and private (FAO, 2015). The breeding strategy of the Black Thibar led by a group of farmers and backed up by science and policy makers is responding to this requirement. Quantifiable genetic progress will be generated in Black Thibar flocks and income improved. Empowering Farmers to save and promote their breeds is a way to save and protect biodiversity.

Climate

In both regions (Bizete & Beja), the climate is temperate in winter and hot in summer.

Sustainability

The cooperative work between the Black Thibar association, the research lab. and the National Sheep Improvement Program is essential for the sustainability of this work. In coming together for the Black Thibar breeding strategy, every partner contributes by little and little with little becomes sufficient enough to do the job. Aware of this reality and convinced to make the program sustainable, memorandums of understanding were signed by the three stakeholders and between the GDA and its members to share responsibilities. Culling and replacements operations are annual tasks in Black Thibar flocks. The cooperative work will reduce costs and increase benefits shared through superior genes.

Return on investment

Animal breeding strategies need stakeholders to join efforts together. In developing countries this rule holds true and should be a MUST. Breeders and livestock owners should be backed up by research and government to save and promote native breeds. Breeding strategies include identification of animals, recording of performances, data editing and genetic evaluation methods, young rams centers and dissemination of superior genes. The Black Thibar association is paying for the RFID (5 $/animal) and animal recording is covered by the government. Genetic evaluation is done by the university. This collective work is considerably reducing operational costs. Saving biodiversity should not be measured in money.

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How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?

A previous experience on a native dairy Sicilo Sarde sheep helped to deal with the Black Thibar breed case. The Sicilo-Sarde, the only native milking sheep in North Africa has undergone a considerably population reduction from 200,000 ewes in 1995 to 25,000 ewes in the year 2000. Low sheep milk price and a shift to dairy cattle were among the reasons for this decline. Having at the grassroots a “pioneer” who chose to form the Sicilo-Sarde breed association was a key ingredient in the process of saving this breed from disappearance. Quick steps were first taken: Selling milk through the association allowed doubling its price in one year. The trilogy principle followed was very helpful where breed owners, researchers and policy makers interacted together to find optimum solutions for breed owners needs. A budget of 250 000 US $ for five years will allow the Black Thibar's road map to be realized, incomes improved, biodiversity saved and young people to take over the experience.

Overview