Greener pastures and better breeds could reduce carbon ‘hoofprint’

Posted on 13 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

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 →

Africa / Animal Production / Climate Change / Drought / East Africa / ILRI / Insurance / Kenya / Livelihoods / Livestock / Pastoralism

Coping with drought – livestock insurance

Posted on 7 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

In Kenya, the International Livestock Research Institute, working with partner organisations, has developed an insurance scheme for livestock farmers. The insurance enables farmers to protect their livelihood against the risk of drought. It works through satellite images, which can be used to measure the amount of grazing available in areas covered under the scheme. If … 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

Posted on 2 Sep 2010 by Susan MacMillan • Leave a comment

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 →

Africa / Animal Production / Climate Change / ILRI / Livestock Systems

Agriculture in Africa is changing rapidly

Posted on 2 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

WINDHOEK – “Agriculture in Africa is changing rapidly,” says Mario Herrero, a researcher working in Nairobi, Kenya for the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Herrero was addressing participants in a session on livestock in a changing climate in Windhoek, Namibia, at the annual regional dialogue on food security. Herrero and his colleagues use scenario analysis … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Environment / Ethiopia / ILRI / IPMS / Markets / NRM / Soils / WLE

Sustainable land management through market oriented commodity development: Case studies from Ethiopia

Posted on 1 Sep 2010 by Zerihun Sewunet • Leave a comment

This working paper by Berhanu Gebremedhin, Gebremedhin Woldewahid, Yigzaw Dessalegn, Tilahun Gebey and Worku Teka on Sustainable land management through market oriented commodity development: Case studies from Ethiopia was released on 30 August, 2010. Land degradation has been identified as severe environmental problem in Ethiopia, especially since the early 1970s. Because there is significant degradation … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Production / Asia / Environment / ILRI

Industrialized livestock production to increase, despite social implications

Posted on 18 Aug 2010 by Susan MacMillan • Leave a comment

Voice of America has published interviews of agricultural systems analyst Philip Thornton and director general Carlos Seré, both of the Africa-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), on the future of livestock production. From the report: ‘. . . A British scientist has published a study Monday that says the 12,000 year-old relationship between humans and … Continue reading →

Drought / East Africa / Food Security / ILRI / Insurance / Kenya

Kenya drought study

Posted on 17 Aug 2010 by Susan MacMillan • Leave a comment

“Northern Kenya can be said to be under a permanent crisis, it’s a region with fewer than 10 medical doctors, no specialists; only the rich can access required healthcare services and many lives are lost daily whether we are in a disaster or not,” Ahmed said. Kenya’s failure to implement a disaster preparedness policy has … Continue reading →

Africa / Dairying / East Africa / GIS / Kenya / Livelihoods / Rwanda

New milk analyser excites dairy farmers

Posted on 16 Aug 2010 by ILRI Communications • 1 Comment

As demand for high quality and fear for contaminated milk increases, a new technology that could restore the fading confidence in the country’s dairy sector is under way, thanks to advancements in technology. The new milk sampling equipment takes a ‘network approach’ using advanced technology that connects the entire sampling processing system through general pocket … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Production / Ethiopia / Goats / ILRI / IPMS / Livestock / Markets / Report / Sheep / Small Ruminants

Sheep and goat production and marketing systems in Ethiopia: characteristics and strategies for improvement

Posted on 14 Aug 2010 by Zerihun Sewunet • 2 Comments

This working paper by Solomon Gizaw, Azage Tegegne, Berhanu Gebremedhin and Dirk Hoekstra on Sheep and goat production and marketing systems in Ethiopia: characteristics and strategies for improvement was released on 12 August, 2010. Ethiopia is home for a large and diverse livestock resources and favourable production environments. The vast majority of the rural population’s … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Feeding / East Africa / Forages / ILRI / Livestock / Uganda

Scientists improving pasture content

Posted on 11 Aug 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • 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 →