Category Archives: Animal Breeding

Animal Breeding / Biodiversity / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / Knowledge and Information / Livestock / Report / Research

Information systems on domestic animal genetic resources

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For the November 2011 ‘liveSTOCK Exchange’ event at ILRI, Tadelle Dessie, Yetnayet Mamo and Okeyo Mwai prepared an issue brief on the Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System (DAGRIS) … In developing countries, lack of accurate information on the diversity and status of existing farm animal genetic resources is believed to exacerbate the alarming rate … Continue reading →

Animal Breeding / East Africa / Event / Film and video / Genetics / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / Kenya / Sheep / Small Ruminants / Staff

Livestock genetic resources of and for the poor: Where ILRI research stands

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For the November 2011 ‘liveSTOCK Exchange’ event at ILRI, Okeyo Mwai, livestock geneticist, reflects on ILRI’s research over the past decade on the animal genetic resources of the developing world and future directions. Watch the 2-minute interview with Okeyo Mwai. What we achieved in the last decade With the Food and Agriculture Organization of the … Continue reading →

Animal Breeding / ILRI / India / Intensification / Poultry / South Asia

India-developed poultry breed increases incomes in the country’s northeast state of Nagaland

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‘A Hyderabad-developed poultry breed has brought about a sea change in the lives of farmers in Mon district of Nagaland. ‘Reduced mortality rates of Vanaraja-bred birds, developed by the project directorate on poultry, Hyderabad, and increased income, has resulted in farmers asking for more supplies of the breed from the Nairobi-headquartered International Livestock Research Institute … Continue reading →

Animal Breeding / Biodiversity / Film and video / Genetics / Indigenous Breeds

FAO to finance national projects enhancing livestock diversity

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Livestock genetic diversity is key to global food security; this is the native black pig of the mountainous region of northern Vietnam (photo on Flickr by Rock Portrait Photography). ‘Germany, Norway and Switzerland have contributed a first donation of $1,000,000 to a new, FAO [United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization]-managed fund designed to help developing … Continue reading →

Animal Breeding / Animal Diseases / Cattle / East Africa / Film and video / Genetics / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / Kenya / Sheep / Small Ruminants

Australian TV program highlights research in race against time to save Africa’s ‘hairless sheep’ and other native breeds

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Worm-resistant red Masai sheep, an indigenous ‘hairless’ sheep kept by Maasai herders, in Kenya (photo credit: ILRI). Catalyst, the Australian Broadcasting Company’s well-regarded science television program, yesterday (14 Jul 2011) broadcast an episode on research being conducted in Kenya to conserve the native livestock of Africa. Okeyo Mwai, an animal geneticist working at the International … Continue reading →

Animal Breeding / Animal Production / Biodiversity / Biotechnology / Indigenous Breeds / Livestock

Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture to review progress in animal genetic resources

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The Thirteenth Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will be held at FAO Headquarters in Rome from 18 – 22 July 2011. It will review progress made in the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources. The following agenda items / documents are of particular relevance … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Animal Breeding / Dairying / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya / Rwanda / Uganda

Constraints to the use of artificial insemination services for dairying in East Africa

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This brief from the East Africa Dairy Development Project highlights key results of a baseline survey to analyze the level of preference for and use of artificial insemination (AI) in different project sites, and identifying constraints or problems hindering the optimal use of the service and possible solutions. Download the paper The East Africa Dairy … Continue reading →

Animal Breeding / East Africa / Genetics / Indigenous Breeds / Kenya / Uganda

Equitable as well as smart livestock breeding should marry local and scientific expertise

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‘Genetic alteration on indigenous livestock breeds aimed at improving their productivity must incorporate pastoralists and small holder farmers at all levels. ‘The concern was raised by experts in the livestock sector who fear that unregulated cross breeding poses a formidable threat to the survival of local breeds and their habitat. ‘At the same time, custodians … Continue reading →

Animal Breeding / Biotechnology / Canada / Environment / Fish / Food Security / North America / Pigs / Research

Eco-friendly GM pigs under development in Ontario

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Min piglets at the experimental station at the Institute for Animal Science, in Beijing, China (photo credit: ILRI/Mann). Jeremy Cooke of the BBC reports in this video on a genetically modified pig, dubbed ‘Enviro-Pig’, being developed in Ontario that may be among the first of GM farm animals developed for human consumption. (Salmon genetically modified … Continue reading →