Veterinary officers meet to strengthen animal disease control in eastern Africa

Posted on 25 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Chief veterinary officers and heads of central veterinary laboratories from 10 countries met in Zanzibar from 24 to 26 Aug 2010 to plan how to enhance the preparedness, prevention and management of animal diseases. Participants recommended strengthening regional cooperation and collaboration, particularly with key partners such as the Africa Union/Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources, the World … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Production / Animal Products / Asia / Biodiversity / India / Indigenous Breeds / Latin America / Livestock / Markets / Somalia / South Africa

Marketing local breeds to improve livestock diversity and livelihoods

Posted on 24 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • 3 Comments

Throughout the world and over centuries, small-scale livestock keepers and pastoralists have developed animal breeds that are well suited to their local conditions. These breeds are hardy and disease-resistant; they can survive on little water and scant vegetation. They can continue producing meat and milk in areas where modern, imported breeds succumb without expensive housing, … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Pro-Poor Livestock

Die immergrüne Revolution

Posted on 24 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Im Kampf gegen den Hunger hat die Weltgemeinschaft ihre Ziele verfehlt—so lautet die Bilanz vor dem Uno-Gipfel. Eine Wende muss her. Damit künftig neun Milliarden Menschen satt werden, sollten nicht Großfarmen, sondern Kleinbauern gefördert werden. Das Essen war knapp im vergangenen Sommer. Monatelang hatte es nicht geregnet. Dorca Mutua, 35, sah, wie erst ihr Kalb … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Asia / Disease Control / Emerging Diseases / Knowledge and Information / Livestock / South Asia / Sri Lanka / Zoonotic Diseases

Mobile-phone–based surveillance of infectious disease in Sri Lanka

Posted on 23 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

With infectious zoonotic diseases emerging in animals in low- and middle-income countries, surveillance of animal health in these nations is becoming increasingly important for forecasting disease risks to people. A new paper describes a mobile-phone-based surveillance system for animal populations that has been developed and implemented in Sri Lanka. Using this system, field veterinarians reported … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Production / Climate Change / East Africa / Feeds / ILRI / Kenya / Livestock Systems

Kenya – Preying on small uneducated farmers

Posted on 22 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

A new study by the International Livestock Research Institute has found that 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 … Continue reading →

Agriculture / East Africa / Emerging Diseases / Environment / Ethiopia / Farming Systems

Ethiopia: New Wheat Variety to Deal With Wheat-Killer Diseases

Posted on 21 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Gadab Assassa — Like most farmers in Ethiopia, Jundi Hajji expected that the profit from his wheat harvest would be sufficient to feed his family of eight until next year’s harvest. But, following a yellow wheat rust epidemic across the country and on his farm, he is concerned how his family will survive if the … Continue reading →

Agriculture / Climate Change / East Africa / Farming Systems / ILRI / Kenya / Livestock / Research

Preying on small uneducated farmers

Posted on 21 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Animal Feeding / Animal Production / Crop-Livestock / Livestock Systems / North America / USA

How to save the grasslands: Bring in more cattle

Posted on 20 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

To many, the Western grasslands still reflect the essence of this country: the vast plains that begin with prairie and bump up against the Rockies, home to herds of cattle and the cowboys that run them. Yet this indelible image belies the facts, as much of the nation’s rangeland has been degraded by overgrazing. Land … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Feeding / Animal Production / Climate Change / Crop residues / Crop-Livestock / Fodder / Livestock / Livestock Systems / Southern Africa

Livestock systems in Swaziland: Adapt or perish

Posted on 19 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

A changing climate will prompt changes in behaviour across southern Africa. And when it comes to adaptation, Swazi farmer Bongani Phakathi is a frustrated man a few steps ahead of his neighbours. Traditionally, livestock in Swaziland grazes in the fields during winter, eating what’s left behind after maize and other crops are harvested. But Phakathi … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Diseases / Capacity Strengthening / Central Africa / Disease Control / East Africa / Emerging Diseases / Research / Uganda / Zoonotic Diseases

Makerere-North Dakota to tackle zoonoses and vector-borne diseases in Eastern and Central Africa

Posted on 18 Sep 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Under a new initiative by the United States Agency for International Development and Higher Education for Development, 11 innovative new partnerships between 22 universities in Africa and the United States have each been awarded up to US$1.1 million to address food security and other issues in Africa. These partnerships will maximize the resources of US … Continue reading →