Category Archives: Livestock

Animal Breeding / Animal Diseases / Animal Feeding / Animal Health / Animal Production / Asia / India / Livestock / Livestock Systems / South Asia

Demand led transformation of the livestock sector in India

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The South Asia Agriculture and Rural Development Department of the World Bank has produced its first assessment of the livestock sector in India since 1996. According to the report, a ‘livestock revolution’ has occurred on a large scale in India over the last couple of decades. Demand for all major livestock commodities (milk, eggs, meat) … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya / Knowledge and Information / Livestock / RVF / Tanzania

Traditional knowledge key to managing Rift Valley fever

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By assessing key risk factors and symptoms, such as an increase in rainfall and high abortion rates, Somali and Maasai herders accurately predicted the outbreak of Rift Valley fever in 2006/07 long before veterinary and public health interventions began, researchers have discovered. “Timely outbreak response requires effective early warning and surveillance systems,” say authors of … Continue reading →

Agriculture / East Africa / Genetics / ILRI / Kenya / Livestock / Research / USA

Now men can make babies without women

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Now men may be able to make babies without women, through a technology that could for the first time allow same sex couples to have their own genetic children. In a technology developed to help in preserving endangered species and improving livestock breeds, scientists have, for the first time, developed an offspring from two males. … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Cattle / Disease Control / Livestock / Vaccines

USDA scientists discover how foot-and-mouth disease virus begins infection in cattle

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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have identified the primary site where the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) begins infection in cattle. This discovery could lead to development of new vaccines to control and potentially eradicate FMD, a highly contagious and sometimes fatal viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals that is considered the most economically … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / Livestock

Researchers make progress toward finding a new cure for nagana-infected livestock

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In Zulu, “nagana” means “depressed in spirits.” To many poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, however, nagana is more than just an emotion—it’s a disease that plagues their livestock, exacerbating poverty and hunger in the region. But researchers in Belgium may soon have something to raise the temperaments of African farmers: a drug aimed at curing … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Products / Dairying / East Africa / ICT / Kenya / Knowledge and Information / Livestock / Value Chains

Kenya dairy farming set to go high tech

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The local dairy industry is set for a major revolution with the planned migration of services to a single digital platform next week. This will put Kenya among few countries with a digitalised dairy value-chain globally, according to the Kenya Dairy Board managing director Machira Gichohi. Various new technologies covering the entire dairy value chain … Continue reading →

Animal Production / Asia / Capacity Strengthening / CapDev / ILRI / Livestock / Research / South Asia

Status of postgraduate training in the livestock sector in South Asia and priorities for ILRI’s support

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This Status Report on the status of postgraduate training in the livestock sector in South Asia and priorities for ILRI’s support was released on 15 September, 2010. In order to establish the priorities for collaborative capacity strengthening activities of the learning institutes in the areas of animal production and veterinary services, ILRI commissioned five studies … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Production / Ethiopia / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / IPMS / Livestock / Markets / Poultry

Indigenous chicken production and marketing systems in Ethiopia

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This working paper by Fisseha Moges, Azage Tegegne and Tadelle Dessie on Indigenous chicken production and marketing systems in Ethiopia: Characteristics and opportunities for market-oriented development was released on 2 December, 2010. This working paper presents a synthesis of research findings undertaken in three woredas or districts  in Ethiopia. These woredas are Pilot Learning Woredas … Continue reading →

Agriculture / Climate Change / Food Security / Kenya / Livestock

Land of hope: could climate change help Africa?

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Head north from nairobi toward Mount Kenya and almost invariably you’ll hit weather. Fog, rain, hail, even snow, all unusual for the equator but a blessing for Mount Kenya’s farmers, who export coffee, roses, green beans and peas to Europe. Once you pass the mountain and descend onto the dusty Samburu plain, however, the weather … Continue reading →

Climate Change / Colombia / Environment / Latin America / Livestock

New consortium to quantify Latin American cattle greenhouse gas emissions

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Some of Latin America’s major cattle-producing countries will begin working as a team in 2011 to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions from their bovine industry—and to come up with options for reducing them. The planned consortium, made up of scientists from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Uruguay, was selected to receive financing from FONTAGRO … Continue reading →