SCIENTISTS have grown meat in the laboratory for the first time. Experts in Holland used cells from a live pig to replicate growth in a petri dish. The advent of so-called “in-vitro” or cultured meat could reduce the billions of tons of greenhouse gases emitted each year by farm animals — if people are willing … Continue reading
Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr Peter Power, T.D., today launched an exhibition highlighting the potential of science for Africa’s smallholder farmers at the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre in Dublin. Leading international agricultural researchers, such as Dr Carlos Seré, Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Dr Richard Jones, … Continue reading
A parasite researcher in NYU is hoping totackle African Sleeping Sickness by creating genetically enhanced cows that cannot catch or transmit the disease. She’s been planning the project since 2006, when she attended a workshop in Nairobi. At the meeting, local farmers explained how they need cattle to survive. Most of them can’t afford to … Continue reading
Garrisa town is the headquarters of North Eastern Province, Kenya, the heart beat of Kenya’s pastoralists’ community who are crying lot following the worst country’s’ drought in decades. Livestock among the pastoralists accounts for more than 70 per cent of household income that means they source more than half their food from the market since … Continue reading
In July this year, Pastoralist Consultants International published a summary of their recent study into pastoralist livelihoods in Ethiopia. It discusses discusses the role of diverse voices in developing secure livelihoods in pastoralist areas of Ethiopia. The paper shows how Ethiopian pastoralists value being able to speak, be heard and be connected. Download the PDF … Continue reading
Putting aside for the moment the advisability of trying to make a living milking camels, you would not think it a particularly difficult business. But you would be wrong. The camels grazing outside of Den Bosch may look happy enough. But milking them is another story; moody camels are known to spit and kick, and … Continue reading
Chris Sievers had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that carried him halfway around the world this summer to do an internship at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was one of only nine Iowa youth selected to be part of the prestigious Borlaug-Ruan International Internship. Six other youth from the nation also … Continue reading
Milk farmers are demanding the first priority to buy the New Kenya Co-operative Creameries, which the government has lined up for sale. The producers say the defunct KCC, which was renamed New KCC six years ago owes them more than Sh1.2 billion and that they were interested in buying it through private placement. The giant … Continue reading
The sequencing of the cow genome, announced last week, could speed up efforts to improve the quality of cattle in the developing world, say livestock scientists. The sequence, the compilation of which involved 300 scientists from 25 countries, was published in Science last week (24 April). The genome contains 22,000 genes, according to the Bovine … Continue reading
Dairy cows that produce USDA-certified organic milk also produce manure that may gradually replenish soil nutrients and potentially reduce the flow of agricultural pollutants to nearby water sources, according to findings by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and colleagues. Cows on organic dairy farms generally consume forage feeds cultivated on soils that are fertilized with … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 