Author Archives: Susan MacMillan

The ‘big bet’ on chickens for Africa
ACGG / Africa / Animal Breeding / Animal Feeding / Article / Chickens / CTLGH / Ethiopia / Genetics / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / Intensification / LiveGene / LIVESTOCKFISH / Markets / Mozambique / Nigeria / Poultry / Tanzania

The ‘big bet’ on chickens for Africa

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The African Chicken Genetic Gains project is on a mission to bring ‘more productive chickens to African smallholders’. Led by ILRI, and backed by the deep pockets of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the African Chicken Genetic Gains project aims to improve the genetic makeup of African chickens. The initiative, which is initially being rolled out in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania, is part of what the Microsoft founder has called his ‘big bet’ on chickens, which also includes a promise to donate 100,000 of the birds to families and communities in the world’s poorest nations. . . . Continue reading →

Contamination problems in Nairobi’s food supply chains
A4NH / Aflatoxins / Agri-Health / Article / Disease Control / East Africa / Food Safety / FSZ / Human Health / ILRI / Kenya / Policy / Value Chains

Contamination problems in Nairobi’s food supply chains

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ILRI aflatoxin infographic, Nov 2013. ‘The rise of local agricultural industries (agro-industrialisation) has had both positive and negative effects on the economy. . . . ‘Prior to 2005, most studies were conducted after serious outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning where several people died, especially in 2004. . . . ‘A 2006 study titled ‘‘Aflatoxin B1 and … Continue reading →

Sweet success: Sweetpotato (and sweet livestock feed) take the limelight today at Iowa’s World Food Prize ceremony
Animal Feeding / Article / ASSP / CGIAR / Crop residues / East Africa / Event report / Feeds / ILRI / LIVESTOCKFISH / Pigs / Project / Uganda

Sweet success: Sweetpotato (and sweet livestock feed) take the limelight today at Iowa’s World Food Prize ceremony

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This project is integrating sweetpotato feed into small-scale pig production systems, demonstrating to Uganda’s smallholder farmers three benefits of sweetpotato silage: increased pig productivity, affordable costs and labour savings. ILRI’s role in this project is to better understand pig feeding practices in Uganda, to investigate options for making sweetpotato silage, and to assess the economic viability of sweetpotato silage as pig feed, including the willingness of Ugandan farmers to pay for the silage. Continue reading →

The omnivore’s dilemma: ‘High-steaks’ livestock decisions at next week’s Committee on World Food Security (#CFS43)
Advocacy / Article / Climate Change / Consumption / Emerging Diseases / Environment / Food Security / FSZ / Nutrition / Policy / Pro-Poor Livestock / Report / Research

The omnivore’s dilemma: ‘High-steaks’ livestock decisions at next week’s Committee on World Food Security (#CFS43)

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Ahead of the CFS43, SIANI spoke with Delia Grace—a veterinary epidemiologist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and a member of the HLPE livestock project team—about the so-called omnivore’s dilemma, the critical issues in livestock production around the world and a vision for policy-makers who will be implementing the HLPE’s recommendations. Continue reading →

Economist, partners clinch USAID award for drought insurance
Article / Award / CCAFS / Drought / Drylands / East Africa / Ethiopia / ILRI / Interview / Kenya / Pastoralism / Pro-Poor Livestock / Rangelands / Resilience / SLS / Staff / Vulnerability

Economist, partners clinch USAID award for drought insurance

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A Cornell development economist and his partners in the USAID-funded BASIS Assets and Market Access Innovation Lab have won an international award for developing a form of livestock insurance that has already proved itself in pilot testing. Now that it is scaling up, the insurance could help hundreds of thousands of African herders stave off poverty in times of drought. Continue reading →

Better livestock policies in Africa offer a pathway out of poverty
Africa / Animal Breeding / Animal Production / Article / Breeds / Cattle / Indigenous Breeds / Intensification / Kenya / Policy / Poverty / Pro-Poor Livestock

Better livestock policies in Africa offer a pathway out of poverty

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Boran cattle in Yabello, Ethiopia (photo credit: ILRI/ Camille Hanotte). By Thumbi Mwangi, Washington State University A majority of rural households in Africa keep different livestock species. But only a small proportion can afford to keep good quality livestock. This is mainly due to a combination of low government funding and the poor policies of external … Continue reading →

Livestock are ‘the future of Pakistan’s smallholder farmers’—PARC chairman
Article / ASSP / Goats / ILRI / Intensification / Pakistan / Pro-Poor Livestock / Sheep / Small Ruminants / South Asia

Livestock are ‘the future of Pakistan’s smallholder farmers’—PARC chairman

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A flock of Makhi Cheeni goats near Hasilpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan (photo credit: ILRI/M Sajjad Khan). ‘Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Nadeem Amjad stated that livestock was the future of the country’s poor farmers with small lands. . . . ‘Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Taimur Talpur inaugurated the shed as chief … Continue reading →

Belgian artist’s 20-year chicken breeding project makes artistic, environmental (maybe philosophical) statement
ACGG / Animal Breeding / Article / Biodiversity / Breeds / Chickens / Environment / Europe / Genetics / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / LiveGene / Poultry

Belgian artist’s 20-year chicken breeding project makes artistic, environmental (maybe philosophical) statement

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Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen has created a chicken with genes from different chicken breeds from all over the world. Now he’s bringing it to America to help diversify our poultry. Continue reading →