Category Archives: Crop-Livestock

Under Sustainable intensification in smallholder crop/livestock systems, we work to improve system efficiency through better feed quality, health and animal performance – in a context of increasing competition for land and other resources (eg biofuels)

Crop-Livestock / Drylands / DRYLANDSCRP / Ethiopia / Livestock-Water / NRM / Water / WLE

Integrated water resources management in tropical and subtropical drylands

Posted on by • Leave a comment

In September 2011, Ethiopia hosts ‘Water 2011’, an international congress on integrated water resources management in tropical and subtropical drylands. Staff from the International Livestock Research Institute and the International Water management Institute will play a major role in this event, that will focus on six major themes: Water Resources: runoff, discharge, sediment transport, flooding, … Continue reading →

Animal Feeding / Crop residues / Crop-Livestock / Disease Control / Forages / Soils

Scientists arrive in Senegal to give African hunger a black eye

Posted on by • Leave a comment

A long neglected crop with the potential to halt hunger for millions in Africa, sustain the livestock revolution underway in developing countries, rejuvenate nutrient-sapped soils, and even feed astronauts on extended space missions, is attracting scientists from around the world to Senegal this week for the Fifth World Cowpea Research Conference. “It’s hard to imagine … Continue reading →

Animal Feeding / Climate Change / Crop-Livestock / Fodder / Forages / Livestock Systems

Could perennial fodder crops mean more sustainable livestock production?

Posted on by • Leave a comment

Paul Douglas brings news that farmers are exploring perennial fodder crops called ‘tagasaste’ and ‘Old Man Saltbush’ to protect soils, prevent erosion and avoid the energy, time and monetary costs of planting annuals for fodder. As a bonus, he says, the farmers are also finding that the more rugged perennial diet reduces parasites and decreases … Continue reading →

Animal Feeding / Animal Production / Crop-Livestock / Livestock Systems / North America / USA

How to save the grasslands: Bring in more cattle

Posted on by • Leave a comment

To many, the Western grasslands still reflect the essence of this country: the vast plains that begin with prairie and bump up against the Rockies, home to herds of cattle and the cowboys that run them. Yet this indelible image belies the facts, as much of the nation’s rangeland has been degraded by overgrazing. Land … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Feeding / Animal Production / Climate Change / Crop residues / Crop-Livestock / Fodder / Livestock / Livestock Systems / Southern Africa

Livestock systems in Swaziland: Adapt or perish

Posted on by • Leave a comment

A changing climate will prompt changes in behaviour across southern Africa. And when it comes to adaptation, Swazi farmer Bongani Phakathi is a frustrated man a few steps ahead of his neighbours. Traditionally, livestock in Swaziland grazes in the fields during winter, eating what’s left behind after maize and other crops are harvested. But Phakathi … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Cattle / Crop-Livestock / East Africa / Food Security / Kenya

NFU helping the under privileged

Posted on by • Leave a comment

Food security in Western Kenya has been given a massive boost following fundraising from the NFU and the rest of the agriculture industry. The £200,000 raised from the Africa 100 Appeal is now supporting a new project which is benefitting over 12,000 people. The cash is helping farmers to grow stronger, disease-free crops of cassava, … Continue reading →

Animal Feeding / Crop residues / Crop-Livestock / Livestock / Middle East

Oman: Animal feed from farm waste a reality

Posted on by • Leave a comment

The Ministry of Agriculture has had good results with its animal feed manufacturing from farm residue and has now launched a programme for educating farmers and livestock breeders on the use of this waste material and how it can be used in fodder production. In comments to the Observer, Shaikh Salim bin Hilal al Khalili, … Continue reading →

Agriculture / Crop-Livestock / Environment / Farming Systems / Film and video / North America

‘Bring animals back onto farms’–US food activist Michael Pollan

Posted on by • Leave a comment

Michael Pollan (credit: The Essential Bioneers) The following comments were made by Michael Pollan, US food systems activist, journalist and writer of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Food Rules and other popular books, in ’10 Questions with Michael Pollan’, Time Magazine, 1 February 2010. Q: Can you tell us what your current diet is? And if it … Continue reading →

Animal Feeding / Crop-Livestock / Ethiopia / Fodder / Forages / ILRI

Scientists improving pasture content

Posted on by • Leave a comment

Better days are dawning for farmers faced with problems of pasture for their livestock, now that scientists majoring in crop production research are improving on the nutritional content of pasture here. The scientists from the National Crop Resources Research Institute at Namulonge Department of Forage Research Programme are currently conducting research on various types of … Continue reading →

Animal Feeding / Crop-Livestock / Fodder / ILRI / Innovation Systems

Learning for change: a logical approach for fodder innovation?

Posted on by • Leave a comment

Tracking the right evidence to demonstrate impact is a conundrum common to many development projects. Providing evidence for change proves particularly challenging for projects where outcomes are unpredictable and changes that result from innovation processes are not immediately visible and are difficult to quantify. However, despite these challenges, adopting a ‘learning by doing’ approach and … Continue reading →