Agriculture / Animal Production / Article / Consumption / East Africa / Livestock / LIVESTOCKFISH / Markets / Research / Tanzania / Value Chains

Dairy researchers say efficient systems key to boosting milk production in Tanzania

A recent study by Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) shows that only 30% of the capacity of milk processing plants is utilized in Tanzania and per capita milk consumption in the country is a mere quarter of the global milk consumption standard. Continue reading

Agriculture / East Africa / Livelihoods / Livestock / Markets / PIL / PIM / Report / Small Ruminants / Somalia / Value Chains

ILRI research brief reviews market participation of livestock producers in Somaliland

A recently published ILRI research brief shares findings from an assessment of animal grading and market participation among sheep and goats producers that show women are an integral part of livestock ownership and enterprise in Somaliland. Continue reading

Agriculture / Animal Production / Article / Dairying / East Africa / Intensification / Livelihoods / Livestock / Pro-Poor Livestock / Tanzania

Starbucks Foundation’s USD 750,000 grant to help Tanzania farmers complement coffee farming with dairy

Heifer International, which is working with ILRI and other partners in the Maziwa Zaidi project in Tanzania, has received a USD 750,000 grant from the Starbucks Foundation to fund the Mbozi Farmer Livelihood Improvement project, which will provide 5,000 smallholder farmers in country with dairy heifers and bulls to complement coffee farming. Continue reading

Agri-Health / Article / Cattle / Central Africa / Disease Control / East Africa / Epidemiology / Human Health / ILRI / Kenya / LiveGene / LIVESTOCKFISH / Southern Africa

Parasites to the rescue: Study suggests dual infections may help control livestock and human infectious diseases

Deaths caused by East Coast fever, the biggest killer of East African cattle, dropped 89 per cent among calves which were also infected with other species of parasite that do not cause disease. Continue reading

Agri-Health / Animal Health / Article / Cattle / Central Africa / Diagnostics / Disease Control / East Africa / ECF / Epidemiology / Human Health / ILRI / Kenya / LiveGene / LIVESTOCKFISH / Southern Africa

When two parasites are better than one: (Unusual) insights into ways to combat human parasitic diseases

Portrait of one of Kenya’s  Improved Boran breed of cattle (photo credit: ILRI/Stevie Mann). ‘Parasites found in African cattle could offer a new insight into ways of combatting serious parasitic diseases in humans, including malaria. A team funded by the Wellcome Trust has found that cows can be protected from parasites that cause deadly diseases … Continue reading

Agri-Health / Animal Health / Article / Cattle / Central Africa / Disease Control / East Africa / ECF / Epidemiology / ILRI / Interview / Kenya / LIVESTOCKFISH / Southern Africa / Staff / Vaccines

New paper on parasitic infections shows the benefits of co-infections with the ‘mild cousins’ of important pathogens

Herds of African cattle may hold the secret to new ways of fighting parasitic diseases like malaria, which kills some 600,000 people a year, scientists said on Friday. Continue reading