The Rainfed Livestock Network (RLN) together with the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) organised a workshop entitled, “Fodder, feed and grazing issues of Livestock Keepers with specific reference to CPRs”, from 8-9th October 2009 at New Delhi. The focus of the workshop was on synthesizing lessons from the case studies/programmes undertaken by different organizations across … Continue reading »
Monthly Archives: December 2009
Africa / Capacity Strengthening / CaSt / Central Africa / ILRI / Livestock / Research / West Africa
Status of postgraduate training in the livestock sector in West and Central Africa and priorities for ILRI’s support
This Status Report by Adama Traore on Status of postgraduate training in the livestock sector in West and Central Africa and priorities for ILRI’s support was released on 26 December, 2009. Research-based capacity strengthening is one of the priority activities of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The mission of ILRI’s Capacity Strengthening Unit (CaSt) … Continue reading »
Animal Breeding / Asia / India / Livestock / South Asia
NDRI produce the world’s first and second cloned buffalo calves
In June 2009, scientists of National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal have developed the landmark technique i.e. “Handguided Cloning Technique” and have produced the world’s first and second cloned buffalo calves. This technique is simpler and is an advanced modification of the “Conventional Cloning Technique” which was used for the production of the cloned sheep “Dolly”. … Continue reading »
Climate, agriculture and food security: A strategy for change
Climate has been central to much of the work of the CGIAR centres, variable and uncertain weather being one of the greatest challenges to small-scale farmers and other resource managers. New technologies and knowledge resulting from this work include hardier crops and better ways to manage trees, livestock, water, soil and fish. The CGIAR Challenge … Continue reading »
New dairy farms emerging in North China
China’s dairy industry is on the move if developments in Xingtang county in north China’s Hebei Province are anything to go by. Cows used to roam around rural houses there, but now they are being sent to the province’s 109 new dairy farms built this year. The county government has encouraged dairy farmers to set … Continue reading »
Brazil / Cattle / Climate Change / Environment / Latin America / Livestock
Climate change: Cattle, the ignored predator
Because of its effect on the environment, cattle must be given the same priority in global agendas as nuclear weapons, wars and, in particular, climate change, says Brazilian activist João Meirelles Filho, author of two books on Amazon deforestation. Cattle farming in Brazil is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, as it is responsible … Continue reading »
Animal Feeding / Ethiopia / Fodder / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Knowledge & Information / Livestock / PLE / Research / Vietnam
Fodder adoption blog from ILRI
Alan Duncan – leader of the IFAD-funded ‘Fodder Adoption Project’ at ILRI just launched a new blog to report on activities and developments in the project. Visit the blog at http://fodderadoption.wordpress.com/ Sign up for a regular update by email Continue reading »
Zimbabwe: An economy running on chickens
Every fortnight Makaitei Musakwa, 45, catches one of her chickens, picks up some of the maize she has grown, and sets off for the village mill to have the maize ground into mealie-meal, Zimbabwe’s staple food. “It is difficult for me to raise the money that the miller charges … I have nowhere to get … Continue reading »
Kenya: Where there’s cluck, there’s brass
Pastoralists in parts of the semi-arid eastern region of Isiolo are abandoning their nomadic lifestyles in favour of farming to improve their food security and livelihoods. Successive droughts in arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya have led to livestock deaths, affected pastoralist nutrition and, in places, led to pastoralist drop-outs. Read more (IRIN: Humanitarian news … Continue reading »
Livestock hurting the environment but improving lives in the developing world
Our planet’s meat and dairy consumption needs careful consideration, but blanket advocacy for policy that opposes the production of livestock is unfortunately a bit short-sighted. Despite the negative associations livestock has gained in recent years–reports of damage to the environment, a number of public health risks, and its role in obesity–new studies reveal that livestock … Continue reading »
