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

Proper livestock management can reduce global warming – Narayan Hegde

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

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

Africa / Animal Production / Dairying / Insurance / Livelihoods / Livestock / Malawi / Southern Africa

Livestock insurance for milk farmers in Malawi

Insuring livestock against risks and uncertainties is the only way that will boost Malawi’s dairy farming. Nico General Insurance, Marketing Manager Mr. Harry Mhone said this Tuesday when Land O’Lakes handed over a milk cooling tank for farmers in Mzuzu. The beneficiaries, Kapacha Milk Bulking Group, will use the tank to store milk before and … Continue reading

Cattle / East Africa / Kenya / Livestock

Deadly livestock pest could soon be history in Rift area

The last of the tsetse fly may soon be wiped out of the hot and arid lands of Lake Bogoria in Baringo District of Rift Valley. A protracted campaign against the deadly insect, which causes fatal diseases in humans and livestock, is is finally paying off. It has involved the ministries of Livestock Development, Public … Continue reading

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

Livestock insurance: Learning from India and the world

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

Africa / Agriculture / Cattle / Crop-Livestock / East Africa / Food Security / Kenya

NFU helping the under privileged

Food security in Western Kenya has been given a massive boost following fundraising from the NFU and the rest of the agriculture industry. The £200,000 raised from the Africa 100 Appeal is now supporting a new project which is benefitting over 12,000 people. The cash is helping farmers to grow stronger, disease-free crops of cassava, … Continue reading

Animal Production / Consumption / Goats / Markets / North America / Small Ruminants

Ontario: Where goat is hot

Goat for sale in a market in Nigeria (photo by ILRI/Mann). ‘. . . In Ontario agriculture, there’s no question: 2010 is the Year of the Goat. ‘Ontario farmers are catching up with the rest of the world by discovering the virtues of goats as livestock. The province has long had a strong livestock sector, … Continue reading

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

Pakistan’s national livestock herds imperiled by flooding

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

Animal Products / Camels / Dairying / Markets / Middle East

Dubai camel dairy hopes to milk health food market

European Union health regulators in July cleared the United Arab Emirates to become the first major exporter of camel milk products to the 27-nation bloc. If onsite inspections and other EU tests pass muster, the first batches of powdered camel milk could be heading to European shelves next year — and at some point possibly … Continue reading

Africa / Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Disease Control / Pastoralism / Southern Africa

Do present ways of controlling foot-and-mouth disease in southern Africa make sense?

‘The presence of transboundary animal diseases, and the escalating costs of regulation and meeting export standards, is key to the future of livestock production in Africa . . .  and especially meeting the high hopes of the “livestock revolution” . . . . Focusing on the case of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in southern Africa – and … Continue reading