Participatory selection of breeding bucks in community-based goat breeding programs by combining scientific evidence with farmers’ preferences and local knowledge

Authors: OUEDRAOGO, DOMINIQUE - Collaborator; AKOUNDA, BADJIBASSA - Collaborator; BURGER, PAMELA - University Of Veterinary Medicine; Rosen, Benjamin; Van Tassell, Curtis; SOLKNER, JOHANN - University Of Natural Resources And Life Sciences, Vienna; SOUDRE, ALBERT - Collaborator

Submitted to: Discover Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/9/2026
Publication Date: 3/21/2026
Citation: Ouedraogo, D., Akounda, B., Burger, P.A., Rosen, B.D., Van Tassell, C.P., Solkner, J., Soudre, A. 2026. Participatory selection of breeding bucks in community-based goat breeding programs by combining scientific evidence with farmers’ preferences and local knowledge. Discover Agriculture. 4. Article 86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-026-00527-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-026-00527-1

Interpretive Summary: Subtropical livestock production systems are most commonly found in the Southeast region of the U.S. Goat production systems in U.S. tropical territories, are generally small-scale and focus on local markets for meat and milk. These systems thrive on the resilience of the goat to hot and humid conditions. Despite the resilience to harsh conditions and strong resistance to pests and disease, goats remain largely unselected. In many developing rural communities, farmers rely on raising goats for their livelihood and food security. However, without a clear strategy for selecting the best breeding animals, goat herds often don't grow as quickly or produce as much milk or meat as they could. This limits farmers' income and makes it harder for them to support their families and communities. Our work aimed to help these farmers identify and select stronger, more productive male goats to improve their herds. We successfully developed and tested a practical way to help goat farmers in Burkina Faso identify the most promising male goats for breeding. By combining basic scientific measurements with the valuable, hands-on knowledge of local farmers, we created a simple "scorecard" that effectively singles out male breeding goats that are likely to produce healthier, faster-growing offspring. This means we've empowered communities to make smarter breeding decisions, directly leading to more robust and productive goat herds. We found that farmers' instincts for spotting good animals are generally very accurate, and our system confirms their choices while providing an extra layer of confidence. This accomplishment is a direct investment in the prosperity of smallholder farmers and their families. By improving goat genetics, we're not just getting bigger goats; we're increasing the overall productivity of their herds. This means more meat and milk for local consumption, better nutrition for children, and more income for farmers to invest in their families and communities. For the five communities involved in this program alone, impacting hundreds of farmers and thousands of goats, this translates into more resilient livelihoods and a significant boost to their local economies. Over time, as these improved breeding practices spread, this work has the potential to enhance food security and economic stability for countless more families across the region, making a real difference in the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable populations.

Technical Abstract: This study aimed to participatively select the best bucks for use as breeding animals in five community-based breeding programs in Burkina Faso, with the aim of fulfilling one of the farmers’ goals. Data from 372 goat farmers were collected through a questionnaire. A total of 5022 goats, including 786 males, were monitored during one year. Growth performance of 156 candidates was recorded by taking live body weight every month. A simple selection index was computed using weight and weight gain corrected by age and type of kidding (single, twins, triplets). The animals were sorted into three categories according to the computed selection index. The findings revealed that the mean age of the candidates was 17.55±6.95 months, and the average daily gain ranged from -9.26±27.03 to 32.09±24.82 across the two zones. About 60.86% of the goats identified by the selection committees as the best animals belonged to the first group initially classified based on the selection index. On the opposite, all bucks considered as worst by the famers showed had weak selection indexes except of one discarded due to its black coat color. The main attributes considered for selection by the farmers were good conformation, height at withers, and nice coat color. Globally, farmers have chosen breeding bucks in somehow accordantly to their production performances but their association to the process is still suggested regarding their consideration for non-productive traits.