Delays to report the outbreak of livestock diseases has contributed to increased disease prevalence countrywide. The effects of these range from loss of household income, increase of prices of animals and animal products, loss of revenue from exports and total misery. A report on the prevention and control of livestock health, and entomology (study of … Continue reading
Category Archives: Livestock
To attain self-sufficiency in meat, Malaysia needs to rein in the cost
The creation of many more “beef valleys” nationwide can be seen as the right step toward attaining self-sufficiency for meat. However, while waiting for the beef valley projects to fully take off, Malaysia’s self-sufficiency for both beef and mutton meat are still alarmingly low, at about 25% and 10% respectively. Read more … (The Star) Continue reading
Millions face hunger in arid belt of Africa
At this time of year, the Gadabeji Reserve in Niger should be refuge for the nomadic tribes who travel across a moonscape on the edge of the Sahara to graze their cattle. But the grass is meager after a drought killed off the last year’s crops. Now the cattle are too weak to stand and … Continue reading
Keeping the Maasai farmers alive when the pop stars have all gone
The Edinburgh-based charity GALVmed has brought hope to Maasai communities in Tanzania hit by East Coast fever, a livestock disease that kills 19 out of 20 calves It is a little after dawn in the Masai district of Engarenaibor in northwestern Tanzania. Amid a pre-historic landscape of rolling grassland and acacia trees, Paolo Lemorongo, a … Continue reading
Countdown to rinderpest eradication: a role model or a lucky break?
Professor Brian Perry reports from his base in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Read more (Dick Vet News) Continue reading
Post-graduate fellowships for African scientists at ILRI
With generous funding support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), ILRI is offering five Ph.D scholarships for livestock researchers from sub-Saharan African countries. ILRI invites applicants from young African scientists, based at the research and learning institution. The priority research themes are: Climate change, impacts and adaptation Livestock, environment and sustainability Emerging diseases, impacts … Continue reading
When the cows go moo (with mobile phones)?
So here’s an odd one to ponder for the weekend – could cows have mobile phones? Last week I got to stay on a dairy farm for the weekend (city kids need to smell some country air from time to time). Whilst there, we got a tour of the milking parlour and, even though I’m … Continue reading
Livestock diversity needs genebanks too
Livestock genebanks are needed to ensure the world’s future food supply, says livestock expert Carlos Seré. The genetic diversity of livestock is threatened worldwide, but especially in the global South, where the vast majority of farm animal breeds reside. Read more … (SciDev.net) Continue reading
Demand for goat products draws Filipino farmers into goat farming
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
Information technology and manure have a symbiotic relationship
America’s dairy farmers could soon find themselves in the computer business, with the manure from their cows possibly powering the vast data centers of companies like Google and Microsoft. While not immediately intuitive, the idea plays on two trends: the building of computing centers in more rural locales, and dairy farmers’ efforts to deal with … Continue reading