ENTEBBE, Uganda – In a strategic move to significantly bolster its goat meat production and enhance the national livestock industry, Uganda has received a pioneering consignment of nine Chinese hybrid goats, officially known as Jianzhou big-eared goats. This marks the first time this distinctive breed has been exported outside China.
The shipment, comprising three males and six females, arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Monday night, concluding a more than 10-hour journey from Chengdu, located in China’s Sichuan Province.
The Jianzhou big-eared goat, a robust crossbreed resulting from the fusion of the British Nubian goat and the Jianyang local goat breed, has been identified as a cornerstone for transforming Uganda’s goat farming sector. This initiative falls under the ambit of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-China-Uganda South-South Cooperation Project, a tripartite framework designed to facilitate the transfer of advanced agricultural technologies and best practices from China to Uganda.
Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) underscores the breed’s potential. Rose Ademun, Commissioner for Animal Health at MAAIF, highlighted in an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday that the Jianzhou big-eared goat is a “superior meat breed known for its rapid growth, high carcass yield, and adaptability to various agro-climatic conditions.”
The newly imported goats are currently housed at the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre & Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), where they will undergo a crucial research and multiplication phase. Beyond directly increasing meat output, these goats are also slated for crossbreeding with local Ugandan breeds, aiming to enhance overall productivity and, consequently, boost farmers’ incomes across the nation. Ademun expressed gratitude to China for its pivotal role in sharing this valuable genetic resource.
Julius Twinamasiko, head of the Ugandan contingent within the South-South Cooperation project, emphasized the broader economic benefits. He told Xinhua that the program will equip Ugandan farmers and extension workers with essential skills in modern goat husbandry. “They are going to increase production; they are going to help us as a country to increase meat production. This will translate to increased foreign exchange for the country,” Twinamasiko stated, projecting a widespread adoption of the breed in the coming years.
Since 2012, the tripartite cooperation has seen Chinese agricultural experts work directly with Ugandan farmers, imparting expertise and technology across various agricultural domains. This includes the introduction of high-yielding crop varieties like foxtail millet and hybrid rice, alongside advancements in aquaculture and livestock farming, demonstrating a long-term commitment to Uganda’s agricultural development.
