Professor Boniface Baboreka Kayang (BSc, MPhil, PhD)

Lecturer

Contact info bbkayang@ug.edu.gh

About


Professor Boniface Baboreka Kayang is an accomplished molecular animal geneticist at the University of Ghana, with over 30 years of experience in teaching and research. His expertise spans molecular genetics, microbiology, and immunology, with a central research interest in the conservation and sustainable use of local animal genetic resources.

A Ghanaian national, Professor Kayang holds a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture and an MPhil in Animal Science from the University of Ghana. He obtained his PhD in Agricultural Science in 2002 from Gifu University, Japan, specializing in Molecular Animal Genetics, for which he was awarded the Presidential Certificate for Excellence. His distinguished postdoctoral training includes fellowships at Gifu University (2002-2003), the Laboratoire de Génétique Cellulaire at INRA in Toulouse, France (2003-2004), and a prestigious two-year Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship, split between Gifu University and Kyoto University (2007-2009).

Professor Kayang has been instrumental in securing and leading several internationally funded research projects from bodies such as DURAS, TALIF, JICA, the Ajinomoto Foundation (AIN), Innovate UK, and USAID. His research has made significant contributions to the characterization and genetic improvement of local animal species.

His current research is focused on two primary areas:

  1. Genetic Enhancement of Newcastle Disease Resistance in African Local Chickens: Professor Kayang led his Ghanaian team in an international collaborative pioneering research using advanced genetic and genomic tools to identify genetic markers associated with innate resistance to the Newcastle disease (ND) virus. These markers were used to develop a genomic platform for selecting chickens with natural resistance to ND, a critical step toward enhancing flock resilience, reducing mortality, and improving food security and smallholder incomes across Africa.
  2. Genetic Analysis of the Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) in Ghana: He has been a key partner in conducting comprehensive genetic studies on the grasscutter, focusing on characterizing its genetic diversity and population structure. A key objective is the identification of genetic markers associated with docility and production traits to inform sustainable domestication, selective breeding programs, and the long-term conservation of this valuable rodent species.

In recognition of his collaborative work on local chicken genetics, he was a joint recipient of the CSRS Prize (7e Prix Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques) in Côte d’Ivoire in 2013.

Bridging research and community development, Professor Kayang co-founded the Grasscutter Initiative for Rural Transformation (GIfT) in 2016. This NGO is dedicated to improving rural livelihoods in Ghana's Upper West Region by promoting grasscutter rearing among smallholder farmers.

With a strong commitment to academic leadership, he has served as Head of the Department of Animal Science for a decade (2010-2013; 2018-2023) and contributes to several University of Ghana Boards and Committees. Prior to his academic career, he gained valuable industry experience as an Assistant Farm Manager at a major poultry farm in Accra (1994-1996).

Professor Kayang is a highly published and cited scholar, with an h-index of 26 (Google Scholar) and 20 (Scopus) as of November 2025. He has authored or co-authored over 140 scholarly publications, 79 of which appear in international refereed journals

Education

Faculty Profile: Professor Boniface Baboreka Kayang

Head of Department (2010–2013; 2018–2023) | Molecular Animal Geneticist

Professor Boniface Baboreka Kayang is a distinguished molecular animal geneticist at the University of Ghana with over 30 years of experience in higher education and pioneering research. His work is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable development of local animal genetic resources through the application of advanced molecular tools.

Academic Background & Global Training

  • PhD in Agricultural Science (Molecular Animal Genetics): Gifu University, Japan (2002). Recipient of the Presidential Certificate for Excellence.
  • MPhil in Animal Science: University of Ghana.
  • BSc (Hons) in Agriculture: University of Ghana.

Research Interest

Primary Research Impact

1. Newcastle Disease Resistance in African Chickens

Professor Kayang led a landmark international collaboration to improve food security for smallholder farmers. By using genomic tools to identify markers for innate resistance to the Newcastle Disease (ND) virus, his team developed a platform to select and breed chickens with natural resilience, significantly reducing flock mortality.

2. Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) Genetic Analysis

A key partner in the study of Ghana’s grasscutter populations, his research focuses on characterizing genetic diversity and identifying markers for docility and production traits. This work is essential for the sustainable domestication and selective breeding of this valuable species.

Publications

Publications (since 2020)

  1.  Botchway, P.K., Amuzu-Aweh, E.N., Naazie, A., Aning, G.K., Otsyina, H.R., Saelao, P., Wang, Y., Zhou, H., Dekkers, J.C.M., Lamont, S.J., Gallardo, R., Kelly, T.R., Bunn, D., & Kayang, B.B. (2024) Genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of three local chicken ecotypes of Ghana based on principal component analysis and body measurements. PLoS ONE 19(8): e0308420. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308420
  2. Niimura, Y., Biswa, B.B., Kishida, T., Toyoda, A., Fujiwara, K., Ito, M., Touhara, K., Inoue-Murayama, M., Jenkins, S.H., Adenyo, C., Kayang, B.B., & Koide, T. (2024). Synchronized expansion and contraction of olfactory, vomeronasal, and taste receptor gene families in hystricomorph rodents. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 41: Issue 4, msae071, https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msae071.
  3. Kanlisi, R.A., Amuzu-Aweh, E.N., Naazie, A., Otsyina, H.R., Kelly, T.R., Gallardo, R.A., Lamont, S.J., Zhou, H., Dekkers, J., & Kayang, B.B. (2024). Genetic architecture of body weight, carcass, and internal organs traits of Ghanaian local chickens. Frontiers in Genetics. 15:1297034. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1297034. PMID: 38549860; PMCID: PMC10976558.
  4. Zhou, H., Baltenweck, I., Dekkers, J., Gallardo, R., Kayang, B.B., Kelly, T., Msoffe, P.L.M., Muhairwa, A., Mushi, J. Naazie, A. Otsyina, H.R., Ouma, E., & Lamont, S.J. (2024). Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Genomics to Improve Poultry: a holistic approach to improve indigenous chicken production focusing on resilience to Newcastle disease. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2024.2321350
  5. Bekoe, E.S., Kayang, B.B. & Adenyo, C. (2023). Polymorphism of selected candidate genes in Ghanaian sheep breeds. Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science,14: 81-96.
  6. Wikondi, J., Meutchieye, F., Adenyo, C., Osei-Amponsah, R., Kayang, B.B., & Tomedi, M.E.T. (2023). Genetic diversity of bonytongue fish Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier, 1829) in Cameroon, Central Africa. Scientific African, 22, Article e01975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01975
  7. Ouma, E.A., Kankya, C., Dione, M., Kelly, T., Enahoro, D., Chiwanga, G., Abukari, Y., Msoffe, P., Kayang, B.B., & Zhou, H. (2023). Poultry health constraints in smallholder village poultry systems in Northern Ghana and Central Tanzania. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, 1159331. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1159331
  8. Ahiagbe, K.M.J., Adenyo, C., Inoue-Murayama, M., Amuzu-Aweh, E.N., Bonney, P., & Kayang, B.B. (2022). Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) gene and their associations with body weight and growth rate traits in indigenous guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) of northern Ghana. Animal Gene, 27: 200139, ISSN 2352-4065, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.angen.2022.200139.
  9. Sassa-O’brien, Y., Ohya, K., Yasuda-Koga, S., Chahota, R., Suganuma, S., Inoue-Murayama, M., Fukushi, H., Kayang, B., Owusu, E.H., & Takashima, Y. (2022). Chlamydial species among wild birds and livestock in the foothills of Mt. Afadjato, Ghana. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 84 (6): 817-823. DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0600
  10. Ogawa, H., Ohya, K., Ayizanga, R., Miyamoto, H., Shigeno, A., Yamada, M., Takashima, Y., Inoue-Murayama, M., Takada, A., & Kayang, B.B. (2022). Detection of anti-ebolavirus antibodies in Ghanaian pigs. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.22-0186
  11. Walugembe, M., Naazie, A., Mushi, J.R., Akwoviah, G.A., Mollel, E., Mang'enya, J.A., Wang, Y., Chouicha, N., Kelly, T., Msoffe, P.L.M., Otsyina, H.R., Gallardo, R.A., Lamont, S.J., Muhairwa, A.P., Kayang, B.B., Zhou, H., & Dekkers, J.C.M. (2022). Genetic Analyses of Response of Local and Ghanaian Tanzanian Chicken Ecotypes to a Natural Challenge with Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus. Animals, 12: 2755. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202755.
  12. Botchway, P.K., Amuzu-Aweh, N., Naazie, A., Aning, K.G., Otsyina, H.R., Saelao, P., Wang, Y., Zhou, H., Walugembe, M., Dekkers, J., Lamont, S.J., Gallardo, R.A., Kelly, T.R., Bunn, D., & Kayang, B.B. (2022). Host response to successive challenges with lentogenic and velogenic Newcastle disease virus in local chickens of Ghana. Poultry Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.102138.
  13. Shi, S., Shao, D., Yang, L., Liang, Q., Han, W., Xue, Q., Qu, L., Leng, L., Li, Y., Zhao, X., Dong, P., Walugembe, M., Kayang, B.B., Muhairwa, A.P., Zhou, H., & Tong, H. (2022). Whole Genome Analyses Reveal Novel Genes Associated with Chicken Adaptation to Tropical and Frigid Environments. Journal of Advanced Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2022.07.005
  14. Tudeka, C.K., Aning, G.K., Naazie, A., Botchway, P.K., Amuzu-Aweh, E.N., Agbenyegah, G.K., Enyetornye, B., Fiadzomor, D., Saelao, P., Wang, Y., Kelly, T.R., Gallardo, R., Dekkers, J.C.M., Lamont, S.J., Zhou, H. & Kayang, B.B. (2022). Response of three local chicken ecotypes of Ghana to lentogenic and velogenic Newcastle disease virus challenge. Tropical Animal Health and Production, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03124-8.
  15. Dery, S.S.T., Adenyo, C., Besil, F., Jahan, I., Ahmed, S., Matsumoto, Y., Kayang, B.B., & Inoue-Murayama, M. (2022). An explorative study of entomophagy in North-Western Ghana for alternative and sustainable protein supply. Edible insects in Ghana. Japan International Child Health Association. 9(3):20.
  16. Sawyerr, L.M., Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y., Owusu, E.H., Kenji, O., Suzuki, M., Odoi, J.O. & Kayang, B.B. (2021). Protected but not from Contamination: Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Bacteria from Birds in a Ghanaian Forest Protected Area. Environmental Health Insights, 15:1-8; DOI: 10.1177/11786302211017687.
  17. Ahiagbe, K.M.J., Amuzu-Aweh, E.N., Bonney, P., Nyameasem, J.K., Avornyo, F.K., Adenyo, C., Amoah, K.O., Naazie, A. & Kayang, B.B. (2021). Comparison of early growth and survivability in indigenous guinea fowls from Northern Ghana. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53:89; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02510-4.
  18. Enahoro, D., Galiè A., Abukari, Y., Chiwanga, G.H., Kelly, T.R., Kahamba, J., Massawe, F.A., Mapunda, F., Jumba, H., Weber, C., Dione, M, Kayang, B. & Ouma, E. (2021). Strategies to Upgrade Animal Health Delivery in Village Poultry Systems: Perspectives of Stakeholders From Northern Ghana and Central Zones in Tanzania. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8:611357. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.611357. PMID: 34164447; PMCID: PMC8215278.
  19. Loukou, N.E., Kouhana, S., Brahima, S., Rognon, X., Kayang, B.B., Karim Issaka, Y.A., & Valentine, Y.-G.C.V. (2021). Caracteristiques Du Système D’exploitation Des Poulets Locaux Dans Deux Zones Agro-Ecologiques (Sud Forestier Et Centre Savanicole) De La Côte D’Ivoire. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 17(40): 240. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2021.v17n40p240.
  20. da Silva, A.P., Aston, E.J., Chiwanga G.H., Birakos, A., Muhairwa, A.P., Kayang B.B., Kelly, T., Zhou, H. & Gallardo, R.A. (2020). Molecular characterization of Newcastle disease viruses isolated from chickens in Tanzania and Ghana. Viruses, 12:916; doi:10.3390/v12090916.
  21. Walugembe, M., Amuzu-Aweh, E.N., Botchway, P.K., Naazie, A, Aning, G, Wang, Y., Saelao, P., Kelly, T., Gallardo, R.A., Zhou, H., Lamont, S.J., Kayang, B.B., & Jack C. M. Dekkers, J.C.M. (2020). Genetic basis of response of Ghanaian local chickens to infection with a lentogenic Newcastle disease virus. Frontiers in Genetics, 11: 1-16; doi: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00739.
  22. Adenyo, C., Ohya, K., Qiu, Y., Takashima, Y., Ogawa, H., Matsumoto, T., Thu, M.J., Sato, K., Kawabata, H., Katayama, Y., Omatsu, T., Mizutani, T., Fukushi, H., Katakura, K., Nonaka, N., Inoue-Murayama, M., Kayang, B. & Nakao, R. (2020). Bacterial and protozoan pathogens/symbionts in ticks infecting wild grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) in Ghana, Acta Tropica, 205: 105388, ISSN 0001-706X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105388.
  23. Dery, T.S.S., C. Adenyo, Kayang, B.B., Inoue-Murayama, M. (2020). Assessment of feed resources, management practices and mitigating strategies to feed scarcity in grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) production in north-western Ghana. African Study Monographs, 40(4): 149-172; https://doi.org/10.14989/250113
  24. Kawasaki, K., Ohya, K., Omatsu, T., Katayama, Y., Takashima, Y., Kinoshita, T., Odoi, J.O., Sawai, K., Fukushi, H., Ogawa, H., Inoue-Murayama, M., Mizutani, T., Adenyo, C., Matsumoto, Y., & Kayang, B. (2020). Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota in grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) and other herbivorous livestock in Ghana. Microorganisms, 8: 265-275; doi:10.3390.
  25. Cann, I., Pereira, G.V., Abdel-Hamid, A.M., Kim, H., Wefers, D., Kayang, B.B., Kanai, T., Sato, T., Bernardi, R.C., Atomi, H. & Mackiea, R.I. (2020). Thermophilic Degradation of Hemicellulose, a Critical Feedstock in the Production of Bioenergy and Other Value-Added Products. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 86: No. 7. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02296-19.

Enyetornye, B., Dzakpasu, C.K., Osei, D. Adjiri, A.A., Kayang, B.B., Aning, K.G., Dogodzi, F. & Mohammed, R.H. (2020). Pathology and transmission of experimental velogenic Newcastle disease (ND) virus in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Indian Journal of Veterinary Pathology, 44(4): 245-251, DOI: 10.5958/0973-970X.2020.00049.8.