Mongolia is currently in the midst of a major natural disaster that we’ve heard little about in the news, but that has already resulted in the death of 4.5 million livestock animals, 10% of the country’s livestock population. The United Nations estimates 120,000 Mongolian herders have lost more than one-half of their herds in the … Continue reading
Mongolia is currently in the midst of a major natural disaster that we’ve heard little about in the news, but that has already resulted in the death of 4.5 million livestock animals, 10% of the country’s livestock population. The United Nations estimates 120,000 Mongolian herders have lost more than one-half of their herds in the … Continue reading
The presence of tsetse flies in the Upper West Region is making it difficult for improved breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs to be introduced to farmers in the area. Dr Alfred Tia Sugri, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Livestock, who said this last Friday, indicated that until they were totally … Continue reading
Handling cattle can be a challenge under the best of circumstances, but those who do, from cow-calf producer to feedlot cowboy to livestock hauler, will find that the better they understand how cattle think as animals of prey, the better they will be at enhancing cattle health and performance, said veterinarian Tom Noffsinger. “Prey animals … Continue reading
A new piece of kit in the form of a backpack could help small farmers in Kenya increase yields, profits and agricultural know-how in a sustainable way. The backpacks, weighing 15-42 kg, contain things which help farmers bring a crop to harvest, including tools, a training manual and, in some versions, a collapsible water tank. … Continue reading
To expand cooperation and exchanges with African countries on tropical agricultural technology, experts of livestock, vegetable and cassava from Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) recently visited the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding with the ILRI, marking a new start … Continue reading
The first Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development in Montpellier, France, provided a special opportunity to engage with partners and stakeholders of the CGIAR. An estimated 1,000 participants gathered in Montpellier, including researchers, policymakers, farmers, donors, and members of civil society from every region of the world. We would like to thank our partners, … Continue reading
On 1 April a new journal World Agriculture was launched in London. A peer-reviewed, completely independent, non-profit, journal, it will explore scientific, economic and social evidence concerning agriculture and its interaction with forestry, climate change, population growth, migration, disease and ecology. Chairman of the Editorial Board, Professor Sir Colin Spedding, explained: “World Agriculture is not another specialist … Continue reading
An Australian scientist Friday launched what he called a “reef and beef” study into whether feeding cows seaweed would reduce their flatulent carbon emissions, in a move that could help save the Great Barrier Reef. Tony Parker, from James Cook University, said cattle produced up to 20 per cent of global man-made methane emissions, and … Continue reading
Genetically modified fish could soon be on the table The Belgian blue is an ugly but tasty cow that has 40% more muscle than it should have. It is the product of random mutation followed by selective breeding—as, indeed, are all domesticated creatures. But where an old art has led, a new one may follow. … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 