Animal genetic resources for food and agriculture comprise an essential component of the biological basis for world food security. Hundreds of millions of poor rural people keep livestock and often rely on their animals to provide multiple products and services. In harsh environments where crops will not flourish, livestock keeping is often the main or … Continue reading
Category Archives: Animal Breeding
Reducing carbon ‘hoofprint’ can be done, says study
Soaring carbon emissions from a meat-hungry developing world could be cut back substantially by improving animal breeds and feed, according to a study. Demand for livestock products is predicted to double by 2050 as a result of growing populations, urbanisation and better income in the developing world, leading to rise in emissions from the industry. … Continue reading
Animal Breeding / Animal Feeding / Animal Production / Climate Change / ILRI / Kenya / Livestock / Livestock Systems
Better feed and genes could cut livestock emissions – but only if animals survive, farmers say
In the heart of Namori village, in the outskirts of Mwea Game Reserve in Eastern Kenya, Samuel Muturi Karobia chops fodder into manageable pieces for his two Friesian dairy cattle. Karobia bought the two animals three years ago after he sold off a herd of 11 locally bred cattle. It was a great decision, he … Continue reading
Tropentag examines animal production, feeding and and health
Earlier this week, the annual Conference on Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural and Natural Resource Management (TROPENTAG) was held in Zurich. Check out blog postings on animal science; view abstracts of the presentations and posters on animal breeding, husbandry and health, forages and feeding systems, and animal nutrition and supplementation … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Breeding / Animal Feeding / Asia / Climate Change / ILRI / Latin America / Livestock
Greener pastures and better breeds could reduce carbon ‘hoofprint’
A new study by the International Livestock Research Institute finds reductions in greenhouse gases could be worth $1 billion dollars to poor livestock farmers if they could sell saved carbon on international markets Greenhouse gas emissions caused by livestock operations in tropical countries—a major contributor to climate change—could be cut significantly by changing diets and … Continue reading
Agriculture / Animal Breeding / Animal Feeding / Climate Change / East Africa / ILRI / Namibia / Southern Africa
Climate change will have a great impact on Southern African livestock
Cattle herd walks home along dry riverbed in Tete Province, Mozambique (photo: ILRI/Mann) ‘A researcher at the International Livestock Research Institute says climate change will have a great impact on Southern African livestock and coastal systems in future. ‘Mario Herrero says by 2050, [some] of Africa will have to revert to livestock farming from crop … Continue reading
Animal Breeding / Asia / Biodiversity / India / Indigenous Breeds / Knowledge and Information / Livestock / South Asia
Genetic documentation battling livestock extinction in India
With the country’s rich pool of livestock resources facing threat from extinction due to loss of habitat and shortage of green fodder, a unique initiative to retain and register genetic characteristics through documentation has helped in reviving many breed. Read more … (Financial Express) National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources Continue reading
African livestock diversity is ‘logical starting point’ for future food supplies
Olivier Hanotte, a former livestock geneticist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with whom he collaborates today, has the following to say in a recent blog post about the value of Africa’s native livestock. ‘[Africa’s] indigenous livestock are not only adapted to diverse African agro-ecological production systems – they are also unique and responsive … Continue reading
Cloned livestock gain a foothold in Europe
‘Many Europeans recoil at the very idea of cloning animals. But a handful of breeders in Switzerland, Britain and possibly other countries have imported semen and embryos from cloned animals or their progeny from the United States, seeking to create more consistently plump and productive livestock. ‘And although no vendor has publicly acknowledged it, meat … Continue reading
Imported cattle threaten African livestock diversity and continent’s food supply
‘Even though locally-adapted, diversified agriculture and farming is a key component of both food security today and in a warmer more climate-stressed future, the Big Ag trend is still towards less crop diversity and more uniformity. Here’s a perfect example of the downside of that: The International Livestock Research Institute says urgent action is needed … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 