From framework to implementation: ILRI Impact at Scale program publishes first scaling readiness analysis on livestock innovations
Africa / Agriculture / Animal Feeding / Capacity Strengthening / English / Feeds / Fodder / Gender / Impact / Impact at Scale / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / News clipping / Pigs / Scaling / Uganda / Value Chains

From framework to implementation: ILRI Impact at Scale program publishes first scaling readiness analysis on livestock innovations

The Impact at Scale (I@S) program of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has published the ‘Scaling Readiness report and scaling plan for training and certification approach for small-scale pig producers in Uganda.’ This is the first of a series of Scaling Readiness reports and scaling plans being prepared by the institute. The publications in … Continue reading

Updated CGIAR feed database provides best-cost livestock feed rations for sub-Saharan Africa
Agriculture / Animal Feeding / Ethiopia / Feed Technology / Feeds / FFD / Fodder / Forages / Kenya

Updated CGIAR feed database provides best-cost livestock feed rations for sub-Saharan Africa

Containing the nutritive values of over 44,000 forage and fodder samples, the updated CGIAR feed database can be accessed by researchers, development agents and agricultural extension workers in Africa including farmers, who can use this information to design accurate and scientifically based best-cost livestock rations. Continue reading

A new study gives insights on Napier (elephant) grass, a fast-growing tropical grass
Agriculture / Feeds / Fodder / Forages / Genetics / Livestock Productivity / LIVESTOCKCRP / Science paper / Species

A new study gives insights on Napier (elephant) grass, a fast-growing tropical grass

Using a combination of short-read sequencing, single-molecule long-read sequencing and Hi-C chromosome conformation capture technologies scientists were able to assemble a chromosome scale genome of elephant grass and found an abundance of information. Continue reading

New alliance for better dairy animal nutrition in Kenya will work to advance ‘human nutrition, success and progress’
Animal Feeding / Cattle / Consumption / Dairying / East Africa / Feed Technology / Feeds / FFD / Forages / Gender / ILRI / Kenya / Launch / Pro-Poor Livestock / Project / Spotlight / Women

New alliance for better dairy animal nutrition in Kenya will work to advance ‘human nutrition, success and progress’

Yesterday (7 Sep 2020), ILRI and four partners—Bidco Land O’Lakes, Corteva Agriscience, Forage Genetics International (FGI) and Land O’Lakes Venture37—announced their new alliance in a project to strengthen dairy production in central Kenya. The project aims to help 5,000 smallholder dairy women to advance their sustainable farming practices and to ease the shortage of dairy products in the country. Continue reading

ILRI Forage Genebank supports development of improved forage varieties to increase livestock productivity in Ethiopia
Agriculture / Biodiversity / Ethiopia / Feeds / FFD / Forages / Genebank / Livestock Productivity / Seeds

ILRI Forage Genebank supports development of improved forage varieties to increase livestock productivity in Ethiopia

The recent release of the CGIAR Genebank Platform 2019 annual report highlights that, for the third year in a row, germplasm distribution to requesters outside of the CGIAR exceeded that to those inside the CGIAR. Ethiopia ranked as one of the top 10 countries receiving germplasm from the CGIAR. Nearly 60% of these, representing a … Continue reading

New project to improve agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe
Africa / Agri-Health / Agriculture / Animal Diseases / Animal Feeding / Animal Health / Animal Production / Animal Products / Capacity Strengthening / Climate Change / Countries / Disease Control / Drought / Drylands / Emerging Diseases / English / Environment / Epidemiology / Event / Feed Technology / Feeds / Fodder / Gender / ILRI / Impact / Impact at Scale / Innovation Systems / Livestock / Livestock Systems / LIVESTOCKCRP / Markets / Research / Scaling / Southern Africa / Women / Zimbabwe

New project to improve agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe

A new European Union-funded ‘Livestock Production Systems in Zimbabwe’ (LIPS-Zim) project is working to increase agricultural productivity in the country’s agro-ecological Zones IV and V. It is promoting the adoption of climate-relevant innovations in livestock production systems and improving surveillance and control of livestock diseases. Launched on 1 January 2020, the LIPS-Zim project is implemented … Continue reading

ILRI feed technology research platform makes more fodder available to developing-world livestock keepers
Agriculture / Animal Production / Asia / Crops / Feed Technology / Feeds / FFD / Fodder / India / Knowledge and Information

ILRI feed technology research platform makes more fodder available to developing-world livestock keepers

Located at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) campus in Patancheru, India, the feed technology research platform of the Feed and Forage Development Program of ILRI provides laboratory infrastructure and tools for rapidly and affordably analysing fodder quality. Continue reading

A tribute to Jean Ndikumana, a ‘gentle giant’ in African livestock research for development
Africa / Animal Feeding / Burundi / Capacity Strengthening / CGIAR / Directorate / Feeds / Fodder / Forages / ILRI / Kenya / Legumes / Policy / Pro-Poor Livestock / Research / Spotlight / Staff / Uganda

A tribute to Jean Ndikumana, a ‘gentle giant’ in African livestock research for development

The board, directors and staff of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) mourn the passing of a former colleague and lifelong friend—Jean Ndikumana, a plant and forage breeder by discipline who was born and raised in the Republic of Burundi and who became an exceptional leader in pan-African agricultural research for development. Dr Ndikumana died on 5 December 2019, in Nairobi, Kenya. Continue reading

ILRI develops a feed constraint decision-making tool, G-FEAST
Agriculture / Animal Products / Crop Residues / Crop-Livestock / Crops / Feeds / FFD / Fodder / Forages / Livestock Systems

ILRI develops a feed constraint decision-making tool, G-FEAST

Seven years ago, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) developed a decision-making tool known as the Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) which was funded through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Fodder Adoption Project. Continue reading

Buffelgrass: a drought-tolerant bunchgrass
Agriculture / Biodiversity / Crops / Ethiopia / Feeds / Forages / LIVESTOCKCRP / Seeds

Buffelgrass: a drought-tolerant bunchgrass

  Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is a bunchgrass that grows in clumps, it can transform deserts into grasslands. It is one of the most popular forage species and is extensively grown across arid and semi-arid parts of the world as it uses less water to produce more feed allowing sustainable agricultural production. Originating in Africa, … Continue reading