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  3. Mr. Bernard Ato Hagan

Mr. Bernard Ato Hagan, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

Email :

Degrees : B. Sc (UCC, Ghana), M. Sc (UNE, Australia), PhD (McGill, Canada)

Achievements

Awards & Recognitions
  • 2016 – 2020: Ghana Education Trust Fund Scholarship
  • 2011 – 2012: Australian Award Scholarship
  • 2011: Kinghorn Prize in Genetics, UNE
  • 2009: Best National Agricultural Research Team

    • Active Affiliations
  • RSA
  • Ghana Society of Animal Science
  • Ghana Science Association
  • Canadian Society of Animal Science
  • American Dairy Science Association

    • Research

    Research Interests
  • Genetic improvement of indigenous livestock breeds using community-based breeding approach.
  • Genetic parameter estimation of economically important traits in local livestock breeds under tropical conditions.
  • Measurement and visualization of realised selection in rural livestock herds.
  • Computation of economic values of relevant traits in livestock species in smallholder farms.
  • Genotype by environment interactions.
  • Dairy and beef cattle, small ruminants, pigs, grasscutters and poultry improvement programs.

    • Current Research

    My current research involves the determination of realized genetic selection differentials for production, type and functional traits in dairy cattle herds and the development of tools and visualization models which producers could use to monitor the selection they are making in their herds. I am also involved in estimation of genetic parameters for cow body weight and milk production traits and development of selection indices that include lactation body weight with the aim of reducing the increasing genetic trends in dairy cow body weight.

    The study is focused on:

    Brief Profile

    Dr. Bernard Ato Hagan is a Research Scientist at the Animal Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-ARI). He holds a PhD in Quantitative Genetics from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, a Master’s degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics from University of New England, Armidale in Australia and a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. His research activities and expertise include realized and observed genetic selection differentials in livestock species, estimation of genetic parameters for quantitative traits as well as genotype and environment interactions in farmed species including dairy cattle. In addition, Dr. Hagan is interested and has expertise in quantitative genetics, statistical analyses and computer programming using SAS, R, Fortran, GenStat and WOMBAT. He has also been involved in the design and implementation of genetic improvement programs for indigenous livestock species in Ghana. He was the coordinator of the Community-based Small Ruminant breeding project in Northern Ghana which was funded by the Ministry of Local Government and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). He is passionate about training the next generation of animal geneticists and breeders and has taught as a guest lecturer on animal breeding strategies and biodiversity in agricultural animals at the University for Development Studies, Ghana and McGill University, Canada. He was a member of the team that won the best National Agricultural Research team at the 25th National Farmer’s Day in 2009 for the development of a commercial broiler line in Ghana (ARIBRO). He has authored over 15 publications in both local and international peer-reviewed journals.

    Publications

    List of current publications (Peer-reviewed)
  • Hagan, B. A. and Cue, R. I. (2020). Generation intervals in Canadian dairy cattle herds. Canadian Journal of Animal Science; 100:175-183.

  • Hagan, B. A., Moro-Mendez, J. and Cue, R. I. (2020). Realized genetic selection differentials in Canadian Holstein dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science; 103:1651-1666.

  • Salifu, S., Osei, S. A., Hagan, B. A., Cudjoe-Allegye, E. O. and Avornyo, F. K. (2018). Assessing the age of puberty of Djallonke gimmers born in rainy or dry season using progesterone measurements. Livestock Research for Rural Development;30(205)

  • Salifu, S., Avornyo, K. F., Panyan, K. F. and Hagan, B. A. (2018). Influence of season of lambing on postpartum interval to ovarian activity in Djallonke Ewes. International Journal of Livestock Research; 8(8): 50-61. DOI:10.5455/ijlr.20180224114616.

  • Adu, E. K., Asafu-Adjaye, A., Hagan, B. A. and Nyameasem, J. K. (2017). The grasscutter: an untapped resource of Africa’s grasslands. Livestock Research for Rural Development; 29(47)

  • Hagan, B. A., Asiedu, P., Salifu, S., Konlan, S. P. (2016). The economic value of genetic improvement of the Ashanti Black pig to the industry in Ghana. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa; 64(9): 243-254.

  • Hagan, B. A., Nyameasem, J. K., Asafu-Adjaye, A. and Darfour-Oduro, K. A. (2016). Predicting the live weight of grasscutters using their linear body measurements. Livestock Research for Rural Development; 28(8), Article # 143, http://www.lrrd.org/public-lrrd/proofs/lrrd2808/haga28143.html.

  • Hagan, B. A., Moghaddar, N., Geesink, G. H. and van der Werf, J. H. J. (2016). Genotype by environment interactions in carcass, meat quality and nutritional value traits of sheep. Ghanaian Journal of Agricultural Science; 50, 43-56.

  • Nyameasem, J. K., Adu, E. K., Amoah, K. O. and Hagan, B. A. (2015). The effect of male proximity on vaginal patency, estrous cycle length and feed intake of female grasscutters. Tropical Animal Health and Production; 47 (8). DOI 10.1007/s11250-015-0972-7.

  • Lamptey, V. K., Hagan, B. A., Asafu-Adjaye, A., Adu-Aboagye, G., Darfour-Oduro, K. A. and Boa-Amponsem, K. (2015). Phenotypic profiles of exotic broiler genotypes in Ghana. Journal of Animal Science Advances; 5(9): 1392-1397.

  • Hagan, B. A., Moghaddar, N., Geesink, G. H. and van der Werf, J. H. J. (2014). Genetic parameter estimates for some carcass, meat quality and nutritional value traits of sheep. Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science; 8(1): 150-159.

  • Asafu-Adjaye, A., Lamptey, V. K., Adu-Aboagye, G., Hagan, B. A. and Boa-Amponsem, K. (2014). Feeding high levels of dietary wheat bran to layer chicken during their growing and laying phase and its effect on laying performance. Journal of The Ghana Science Association; 15(2): 21-30.

  • Darfour-Oduro, K., Hagan, B. A. and Asafu-Adjaye, A. (2014). Lactation curves of Friesian-Sanga and Sanga cows in Ghana. Livestock Research for Rural Development; 26(10) Article #188, http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd26/10/darf26188.htm.

  • Hagan, B. A., Nyameasem, J. K., Asafu-Adjaye, A. and Duncan, J. (2014). Effects of non-genetic factors on the birth weight, litter size and pre-weaning survivability of West African Dwarf goats in the Accra Plains. Livestock Research for Rural Development; 26(1), Article #13, http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd26/1/haga26013.htm.

  • Hagan, B. A., Asafu-Adjaye, A., Adu-Aboagye, G., Lamptey, V. K. and Boa-Amponsem, K. (2013). Performance of different genotypes of commercial layer chicken fed high levels of dietary wheat bran. Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science; 7, 40-45.

  • Hagan, B. A., Adu-Aboagye, G., Asafu-Adjaye, A., Lamptey, V. and Boa-Amponsem, K. (2013). Response of two broiler genotypes to diets containing cocoa pod husk. Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research; 3(1): 15-19.

  • Nkegbe, E., Assuming-Bediako, N., Aikins-Wilson, S. and Hagan, B. A. (2013). Meat consumption trends in some selected households in Accra Ghana. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences; 1(4): 151-157.

  • Hagan, B. A., Asafu-Adjaye, A., Darfour-Oduro, K. A., and Boa-Amponsem, K. (2012). Effects of male-female exposure period on some reproductive parameters of grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) and the pre-weaning growth performance of their young ones. Livestock Research for Rural Development; 24(12), Article #228, http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/12/haga24228.htm.

  • Darfour-Oduro, K. A., Sottie, E. T., Hagan, B. A. and Okantah, S. A. (2009). Milk yield and lactation length of Ghana Sanga and its crosses with the Friesian raised under agropastoral system. Tropical Animal Health and Production; 42, 349-356.

  • Obese, F. Y., Darfour-Oduro, K. A., Bekoe, E., Hagan, B. A. and Gomda, Y. (2008). Reproductive status following artificial insemination in Sanga cows in the Accra Plains of Ghana. Livestock Development for Rural Development; 20(12), Article #191, http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd20/12/obes20191.htm.