The Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute estimates 250 million people in Africa – a quarter of the population – rely on livestock for their livelihoods, yet African governments invest almost nothing to support the sector. “Livestock on the continent is extremely important, especially for the poor and also for large scale farming. Unfortunately there has … Continue reading »
Monthly Archives: March 2009
A big heart for chicken, dead or alive
Growing up on the slopes of Mount Elgon in the small village of Namwela, chicken had widely become a staple for her community. A meal was considered incomplete without a chicken wing or a leg. And even though the imondo (gizzard) was reserved for the men, Sheila Ommeh loved the leg. It was, for her, … Continue reading »
Regional sheep ‘more vulnerable’
A new survey claims regional breeds of sheep face a heightened risk of disease because of their tendency to remain together in one location. The Sheep Trust report said it showed the need to protect many of the UK’s commercially-farmed native breeds. Read more. . . (BBC) Continue reading »
Africa / Animal Production / Article / Cattle / Dairying / East Africa / Ethiopia / ILRI / IPMS / Livestock / Livestock Systems / Regions / Research
Transhumance cattle production system in north Gondar, Amhara region, Ethiopia: Is it sustainable?
This working paper by Azage Tegegne and Worku Teka of ILRI, Tesfaye Mengistie of Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, Amhara Regional State,Ethiopia, Tesfaye Desalew of Kutaber woreda Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kutaber,South Wello Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, and Eshete Dejen of Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) on Transhumance cattle production … Continue reading »
Birds of a feather: Commercial producers play chicken with avian flu
In the late 1980s thousands of chickens died from a cancer caused by a virus known as avian leukosis virus J because they were all descended from a few roosters susceptible to the disease. This is just one example of how a lack of genetic diversity can imperil livestock and agriculture. Similar instances abound from … Continue reading »
Livestock methane needs research: Expert
Developing countries would suffer if livestock numbers were reduced to cut worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, a visiting expert says. Iain Wright from the International Livestock Research Institute is in Australia this week to look at ways emissions from livestock can be curbed while not adversely affecting global food supplies. He advocates improved livestock feeding systems … Continue reading »
Livestock methane needs research: expert
Developing countries would suffer if livestock numbers were reduced to cut worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, a visiting expert says. Iain Wright from the International Livestock Research Institute is in Australia this week to look at ways emissions from livestock can be curbed while not adversely affecting global food supplies. He advocates improved livestock feeding systems … Continue reading »
Obama’s grandmother to help fight tsetse fly
U.S. President Barack Obama’s step-grandmother will use her newfound celebrity status to help eradicate the tsetse fly, an insect that causes sleeping sickness, the African Union (AU) said on Monday. Sarah Obama, 87, was given a spray pump and enough insecticide to treat 3,000 animals — which like humans can be infected by the insect … Continue reading »
Scientists amazed as ostriches defy climate change to reproduce in numbers
Climate change is real. It is a life threatening event that cannot be ignored in the 21st century. It is cited as the cause of extreme heat, severe crop failure, drying up rivers, depleting food for livestock and wildlife and irregular rainfall patterns. It looks unstoppable—just for now. It continues to modify the structures and dynamics of … Continue reading »
