Uganda has taken a bold step toward enhancing its livestock sector with the introduction of Jianzhou big-eared goats, a high-yield Chinese hybrid breed, under the FAO-China-Uganda South-South Cooperation Project. The handover of nine goats (three males and six females) was made to the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre & Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) after they completed quarantine in Entebbe.
These goats are celebrated for their rapid growth, high meat yield, and ability to thrive across Uganda’s various agro-climatic zones. According to Minister of Animal Industry, Hon. Bright Rwamirama, the program aims not only to improve goat breeds but also to multiply them so they become widely available to local farmers.
Uganda’s indigenous goat breeds such as Mubende, Small East African, and Kigezi goats typically take longer to reach market-size weight. The Jianzhou breed, by contrast, can hit around 45kg in just 18 months, promising gains in both productivity and farmers’ incomes.
FAO representatives and Chinese agricultural experts participating in the project emphasized that crossbreeding with indigenous goats will help maintain resilience, improve disease resistance, and adapt the new hybrids to local conditions. Technical training for Ugandan farmers and extension workers forms a core part of the initiative.
