Ally Okeyo Mwai

Ally Okeyo Mwai

Principal Scientist

Ally Okeyo Mwai is Principal Scientist in the ILRI’s Global Livestock Genetics- Live Gene Research Program. Okeyo is a quantitative geneticist with over 30 years of experience in practical design and implementation of livestock improvement programs in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia regions. Okeyo has in the past led ILRI’s Breeding strategies Research, specifically focusing on development and implementation projects, covering a wide range of research areas including, characterization and genetic diversity of indigenous tropical livestock; their improved utilization, as well as development and application of assisted reproductive technologies in dairy cattle. Prior to joining ILRI, he was head of the Animal Breeding and Genetics Section at the Department of Animal Production, University of Nairobi and Coordinator of Small Ruminant Research Program at the then Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research organization. Okeyo has and holds several national and international advisory board positions. He is currently leading the development of ILRI led dairy cattle genetic gain development and research programs in eastern Africa region. Okeyo has published extensively (authored and co-authored more than 150 scientific journal and conference papers), and has held several scientific editorials, and national and international advisory board positions. Okeyo holds MSc Animal Science (Animal Genetics) from University of California, Davis and a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from University of Nairobi.

My Projects

ADGG

ACTIVE

African Dairy Genetic Gains

Strengthening the Capacity of African Countries to Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of African Animal Genetic Resources

Strengthening the Capacity of African Countries to Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of African Animal Genetic Resources

ACTIVE

Germplasm for Dairy Development in East Africa, Phase 1: Identifying appropriate germplasm and delivery mechanisms

My Publications

ILRI publication cover

Heat stress research and adaptation in Africa

  • Ekine-Dzivenu, Chinyere C.
  • Mrode, Raphael A.
  • Gebreyohanes, Gebregziabher
  • Ojango, Julie M. K.
  • Okeyo Mwai, Ally

Genomic analysis of milk yield and heat tolerance in small holder dairy system of sub-Saharan Africa

  • Chinyere, Ekine
  • Mrode, Raphael A.
  • Oloo, Richard Dooso
  • Komwihangilo, Daniel M.
  • Lyatuu, E.
  • Msuta, G.
  • Ojango, Julie M.K.
  • Okeyo Mwai, Ally

Genomic prediction in smallholder tropical dairy herds: Modelling milk yield in first and later lactations

  • Negussie, E.
  • Lidauer, M.H.
  • Meseret, Selam
  • Tera, Asrat
  • Tessema, E.
  • Jufar, B.
  • Negera, T.
  • Hassen, A.
  • Gebreyohanes, Gebregziabher
  • Okeyo Mwai, Ally
  • Mrode, Raphael A.

Bridging the gap in data from smallholder dairy systems; The Africa Dairy Genetic Gains (ADGG) Data platform

  • Ojango, Julie M.K.
  • Okeyo Mwai, Ally
  • Mrode, Raphael A.
  • Chinyere, Ekine
  • Gebreyohanes, Gebregziabher
  • Rao, E.J.O.
  • Meseret, Selam
  • Mogaka, David
  • Lyatuu, Eliamoni T.R.
  • Komwihangilo, Daniel M.
  • Msuta, G.
  • Gibson, John P.
  • Kemp, Stephen J.

Opportunities to quantify resilience of dairy cattle to environmental stressors in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Oloo, Richard Dooso
  • Ekine-Dzivenu, Chinyere C.
  • Ojango, Julie M.K.
  • Gebreyohanes, Gebregziabher
  • Mrode, Raphael A.
  • Okeyo Mwai, Ally
  • Chagunda, Mizeck G.G.

Digital sequence information is changing the way genetic resources are used in agricultural research and development: implications for new benefit-sharing norms

  • Hamilton, Ruaraidh Sackville
  • Halewood, Michael
  • López Noriega, Isabel
  • Rouard, Mathieu
  • Tiambo, Christian K.
  • Azevedo, Vania
  • Bhattacharjee, Ranjana
  • Cuéllar, Wilmer Jose
  • Gisel, Andreas
  • Hearne, Sarah Jane
  • Heider, Bettina
  • Hendre, Prasad
  • Kreuze, Jan F.
  • Muchugi, Alice
  • Okeyo Mwai, Ally
  • Ndjiondjop, Marie-Noelle
  • Odeny, Damaris A.
  • Patel, Ekta
  • Perset, Elise
  • Platten, John Damien
  • Ramaiah, Venuprasad
  • Roa Rodriguez, Ana Carolina
  • Singh, Kuldeep
  • Wenzl, Peter
  • Vermeulen, Sonja J.
  • Xiaofei Zhang