There is strong evidence to suggest that climate change has, and will continue to affect the occurrence, distribution and prevalence of livestock diseases in Great Britain (GB). This paper reviews how climate change could affect livestock diseases in GB. Factors influenced by climate change and that could affect livestock diseases include the molecular biology of … Continue reading
Category Archives: Regions
Asia / Biodiversity / NRM / South Asia / Wildlife / WLE
Conservation and governance
For many developing countries, natural resource management is still the single most important aspect of the lives, livelihoods, and survival of rural communities. Poor and marginalized people are usually directly dependent upon environmental services. Forests provide firewood, building materials, and a host of foods and medicines. Functional grasslands provide grazing for livestock. Streams and rivers … Continue reading
Africa / Disease Control / East Africa / Kenya / Livestock / Wildlife
Cattle fever dealt a blow on the nose
The annual spectacular migration of over one million wildebeest across the Serengeti and Masai Mara in Kenya and Tanzania, presents two sides of the coin, in that this migration is a beautiful sight to behold, but with it comes disease and death to the pastoralist livestock. …Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is transmitted from wildebeest to … Continue reading
Agriculture / Asia / India / Livestock / South Asia
Livestock rearing — key to poverty reduction strategies
From equity and livelihood perspectives, livestock rearing must be at the centre stage of poverty alleviation programmes. Livestock rearing is a key livelihood and risk mitigation strategy for small and marginal farmers, particularly across the rain-fed regions of India. Livestock products comprised 32 per cent of the total value of agriculture and allied activities in … Continue reading
Guinea pigs to help ease DRC food crisis – scientists
Scientists are examining how to increase guinea pig production to boost food security in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where inhabitants keep the rodents as “micro-livestock”. The researchers were originally puzzled to find guinea pigs in the DRC at all. Read more … (afrol news) CIAT Blog Continue reading
ICT in Africa’s insurance business
It’s all about the customer right now. The insurance sector is grappling with the same sorts of cost pressures evident in other industries, and “outsourcing is a trend” among most players, says Haydn Pinnell, MD of Gallium. …The insurance sector in Africa only represented about 1.3 percent of the global insurance business in 2007, according to … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Health / East Africa / Livestock / Uganda
Uganda: Transfer of vets to NAADS irks association
THE Uganda Veterinary Association has criticised the Government’s decision to transfer agricultural extension staff at sub-counties to the National Agriculture Advisory Services programme. Read more … (New Vision) Continue reading
Animal husbandry in Africa: Climate change impacts and adaptations
A recent paper in the African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics uses a cross-sectional approach to analyze the impacts of climate change on animal husbandry and the way farmers adapt. The study is based on surveys of almost 5000 livestock farmers across ten countries in Africa. Using the Ricardian results and examining climate scenarios … Continue reading
Animal Breeding / Asia / Biodiversity / India / Indigenous Breeds / Livestock / South Asia
Biocultural protocols: empowering stewards of livestock diversity
Herders of camels, cattle, sheep and goats, the Raika pastoralists of North West India have an interesting account of their origins: created by Lord Shiva from the skin and sweat of the camel, they were charged with controlling the beast, whose stubborn behaviour was becoming a nuisance. But Raika guardianship extends beyond their livestock. In … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Feeding / Animal Products / Dairying / East Africa / Fodder / Kenya / Livestock
Fodder shrubs deliver dairy success in Kenya
In this pictorial essay, 10 farmers in Kenya explain how fodder shrubs have increased their incomes and enabled them to diversify their livelihoods. In addition to better earnings and increased milk production, fodder shrubs have helped to increase the confidence and status of women. Read more … (New Agriculturist) Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 