Today, policymakers, researchers and academics, donors, civil society, as well as government and private sector representatives from Uganda, Kenya and Germany meet to boost investment in Uganda’s livestock. Continue reading
Category Archives: Animal Diseases
Development policy and practice – a case study in disruptive innovations
In partnership with Kenya’s Directorate of Veterinary Services, ILRI embarked on a 12-month long research project that culminated in the creation of a diagnostic tool to develop improved vaccines for infectious bursal disease. Continue reading
ILRI annual report goes online
ILRI has has published its annual report for 2018, and for the first time in its publication history, the report is primarily online. Continue reading
More research on African swine fever is urgently needed: No cure, no vaccine and no treatment yet exists for this lethal pig disease
At ILRI, African swine fever research began in early 2000 with a focus on the epidemiology and socio-economic impacts of the disease. ILRI scientists and partners are currently working on developing vaccines for the disease using the CRISPR-cas genome editing system. Continue reading
The elusive quest for the perfect chicken
A team of researchers investigating chicken diseases in Ethiopia has discovered that there is far greater genetic diversity in that seemingly nondescript bird than meets the eye, a discovery that could help boost the productivity of small-scale chicken farms throughout Africa. The study was published in this month’s issue of Nature Sustainability by scientists from … Continue reading
German agroecological livestock research investments are benefiting both people and the planet
ILRI was honoured this week (3 Sep 2018) to host a high-level German delegation including Maria Flachsbarth, parliamentary state secretary to Germany’s federal minister for economic cooperation and development, and Stefan Schmitz, deputy director of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as senior staff of the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, including Andrew Tuimur, chief administrative secretary, and Ann Onyango, agriculture secretary; and representatives from several other CGIAR centres working in Kenya, including Tony Simons, director general of ICRAF, and representatives from the Nairobi-based International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe). Continue reading
Deadly African swine fever arrives in China, the world’s largest producer of pigs
Long feared, it’s now finally happened. African swine fever (ASF), an infectious and highly lethal viral disease of pigs, has for the first time reared its head in China. Just two weeks ago, African swine fever was confirmed as the cause of death of pigs on a small farm in Shenyang City, in Liaoning Province, located in the northeast, bordering North Korea and the Yellow Sea. Continue reading
Partnerships to increase pig production in Uganda
Driven by rising incomes, demand for animal-source foods in Africa and Asia is expected to increase up to 200% by 2030. Efficient crop and livestock production and natural resource use will drive employment, environmental, nutrition and income gains in a subsector likely to be dominated by smallholders. Continue reading
Introducing English and Swahili instructional videos on the patterns, signs, symptoms and control of Rift Valley fever
Originally posted on ILVAC:
Written by Bernard Bett Several outbreaks of Rift Valley fever in livestock and people have occurred in eastern Africa over the last three months or so. In the first week of June 2018, local media reported at least five fatal human cases in Kenya’s northern Wajir County. More suspected cases in…
On the need for expanding sustainability frameworks and veterinary vision in developing countries
A new science paper argues for broadening traditional approaches to livestock sustainability and veterinary vision in developing countries. Two of the three livestock science authors—Brian Perry and Tim Robinson—have formerly worked at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) while the third—Delia Grace—co-leads ILRI’s Animal and Human Health program. Continue reading