Demand for goat products draws Filipino farmers into goat farming

Posted on 21 May 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Farmers in Sorsogon province (the Philippines) have recognized goat raising as environment friendly and profitable farming venture. Goats are very popular among Filipinos because they require low initial capital investment, fit the small hold farm conditions, and multiply fast,” PCARRD explained in its investment briefer. “Culturally, goats are integral to every special occasion such as … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Diseases / Animal Production / Crop-Livestock / Livestock / Markets

African Ministers responsible for animal resources meet in Uganda

Posted on 18 May 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Last week, African Ministers responsible for animal resources met in Uganda. The theme of the meeting was “improving access to markets for African animal resources to significantly contribute to economic growth and reduction of poverty.” H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime , Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission opened the meeting, arguing … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Feeding / Animal Production / Burkina Faso / Drought / Livestock / West Africa

Burkina Faso: Feed the cows

Posted on 17 May 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Erratic rains last year in Burkina, where animal husbandry is the main livelihood in many regions, resulted in widespread shortages of water and pasture. Aid workers and breeders say the poor condition of local livestock – animals that have not already migrated in search of pasture – is hitting families’ food security. The livestock families … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Feeding / Animal Production / Dairying / East Africa / Fodder / Forages / ILRI / Kenya

Napier grass diseases a threat to Kenya’s dairy sector

Posted on 16 May 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Kenya’s dairy industry is facing a major threat due to the outbreak of stunt and smut diseases affecting napier grass in Central and Western provinces. The dairy industry is the largest in East Africa producing annually about 85 to 90 million litres of milk equivalent per capita based primarily on well established market oriented smallholder … Continue reading →

Animal Production / Climate Change

The myth of green beef

Posted on 25 Apr 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

If I had to name one food that’s been in the hot seat over the past 30 years, it would be beef. Linked to cardiovascular disease and maligned for its industry’s dependence on federal corn subsidies, it now has a reputation as the Hummer of foods—an excessive contributor to environmental ills including climate change, nitrogen … Continue reading →

Animal Production / Climate Change / Dairying

New FAO report assesses dairy greenhouse gas emissions

Posted on 22 Apr 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

The dairy sector accounts for around four percent of all global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) according to a new FAO report. This figure includes both emissions associated with the production, processing and transportation of milk products as well as emissions related to meat produced from animals originating from the dairy system. Read more . … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Production / Article / Cattle / Dairying / East Africa / Ethiopia / ILRI / IPMS / Livestock / Livestock Systems / Regions / Research

Transhumance cattle production system in north Gondar, Amhara region, Ethiopia: Is it sustainable?

Posted on 19 Mar 2009 by Zerihun Sewunet • Leave a comment

This working paper by Azage Tegegne and Worku Teka of ILRI, Tesfaye Mengistie of Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, Amhara Regional State,Ethiopia, Tesfaye Desalew of Kutaber woreda Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kutaber,South Wello Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, and Eshete Dejen of Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) on Transhumance cattle production … Continue reading →