Climate change? Blame it on production practices, not just cows

Posted on 15 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Environmentalists say cows’ methane-filled flatulence and burps are partly responsible for the changes in the earth’s climate. But a new study from the Kenya-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) suggests that we can curb cattle-generated greenhouse gas emissions by improving degraded lands, making breeds stronger and changing the animals’ diets. The study’s findings are published … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Feeding / Asia / Climate Change / ILRI / Latin America

Changes to cow diet combats climate change

Posted on 15 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Climate change may be combated by changing the diet of livestock, whose farting and manure, along with the feed crops produced, contribute to 18 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), which conducted the study, said as the growing global demand for meat and … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Asia / CCAFS / Climate Change / Dairying / Environment / Food Security / ILRI / Latin America / Livestock

Tropical farming the climate-friendly way

Posted on 14 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Changing tropical farming methods could cut emissions of methane and carbon dioxide by up to 417 Mt of carbon dioxide-equivalent by 2030, around 12% of livestock-related worldwide emissions of the greenhouse gases. That’s according to a team from Copenhagen and Kenya, who believe that the most likely levels of emissions cuts could be worth $1.3 … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Breeding / Animal Feeding / Asia / Climate Change / ILRI / Latin America / Livestock

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 →

Animal Health / Asia / Disease Control / Livestock / Malaysia / Southeast Asia / Vaccines

Could self-vaccinating cattle cut disease?

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

Scientists are testing a vaccine that spreads by itself as a solution to a highly infectious buffalo and cattle disease that costs millions of dollars a year. But experts have raised questions about the safety of using such an approach. Read more … (SciDev.net) Continue reading →

Animal Production / Asia / India / Insurance / Livestock / South Asia

Iffco-Tokio, OLRDS in pact for insuring cattle

Posted on 1 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Iffco-Tokio General Insurance (ITGI), a general insurance providing company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Orissa Livestock Resources Development Society in India. The pact is to implementa the company’s newly launched Pasudhan Bima Yojana on a pilot basis to insure the cattle. Read more … (Business Standard) Continue reading →

Animal Production / Asia / Climate Change / India / Livestock / South Asia

Proper livestock management can reduce global warming – Narayan Hegde

Posted on 31 Aug 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Livestock (cattle) the world over release about 18 per cent of carbon dioxide equivalent of methane through digestive and respiratory systems. Pune-based BAIF Development Research Foundation has published a concept paper taking note of this significant and dangerous contribution to global warming and how to cut down emission of methane by these animals using proper … Continue reading →

Animal Breeding / Asia / Biodiversity / India / Indigenous Breeds / Knowledge and Information / Livestock / South Asia

Genetic documentation battling livestock extinction in India

Posted on 30 Aug 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

With the country’s rich pool of livestock resources facing threat from extinction due to loss of habitat and shortage of green fodder, a unique initiative to retain and register genetic characteristics through documentation has helped in reviving many breed. Read more … (Financial Express) National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources Continue reading →

Animal Production / Asia / India / Insurance / Livestock / South Asia

Livestock insurance: Learning from India and the world

Posted on 27 Aug 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Around 50 million households in India depend on livestock for sustenance. Livestock acts as insurance for households that depend on agriculture for income. For close to 18 million households, livestock is the primary source of income. While the share of agriculture in the GDP has declined over the years, the share of livestock in agriculture … Continue reading →

Animal Feeding / Animal Production / Asia / Pakistan / South Asia

Pakistan’s national livestock herds imperiled by flooding

Posted on 24 Aug 2010 by Susan MacMillan • 1 Comment

Happy Herding, a picture taken by Benny Lin in Pakistan on 18 January 2010, a half year before the great floods came. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says there is urgent need for animal feed in Pakistan to prevent further economic destruction in the aftermath of the disastrous flooding. ‘Millions … Continue reading →