Kenya’s native goats and sheep, expertly crossbred, are key to helping farmers cope with climate change
Agriculture / Animal Breeding / Animal Production / Article / Breeds / CCAFS / Climate Change / East Africa / Genetics / Goats / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / Kenya / LiveGene / Livestock / Sheep / Small Ruminants

Kenya’s native goats and sheep, expertly crossbred, are key to helping farmers cope with climate change

Smallholder farmers and pastoral herders in East Africa are the target of an ongoing joint project of ILRI, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Continue reading

New project promises more productive chickens for Africa’s smallholders
ACGG / Africa / Agriculture / Breeds / Chickens / Ethiopia / Farming Systems / Genetics / Indigenous Breeds / Launch / LiveGene / LIVESTOCKFISH / Nigeria / Project / Spotlight / Tanzania

New project promises more productive chickens for Africa’s smallholders

A new four-year African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG) project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will run from 2015 to 2019 and work to genetically improve Africa’s chickens and to better deliver the superior chickens to small-scale farmers. Continue reading

Who decides what breeds–and for what purposes? Livestock and fish production by, and for, the poor
Animal Breeding / Genetics / Indigenous Breeds / LIVESTOCKFISH

Who decides what breeds–and for what purposes? Livestock and fish production by, and for, the poor

The Animal Genetics Flagship works to ensure that by 2023 choices of improved and appropriate livestock and fish breeds and strains are widely available, used sustainably and are equitably providing nutritious, affordable food and income for the poor. The 40 comments in the animal genetics flagship virtual discussion fell into four major topics. Continue reading

Chickens rule — Everywhere — Everyday — Every way
ACGG / Animal Breeding / Article / Chickens / Consumption / Genetics / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds / Intensification / LiveGene / Poultry / Spotlight

Chickens rule — Everywhere — Everyday — Every way

When, exactly, did the chicken move out of our backyards and into our front rooms, taking over our kitchens and imaginations? When did it stop being a bird peasants kept to serve up the occasional egg, and the daily morning crow, and become meat for daily gobbling? Continue reading

Scottish and Kenya scientists in new alliance to improve animal breeding and health in developing countries
Animal Breeding / Animal Diseases / BecA / Biodiversity / Biotechnology / Breeds / Genetics / ILRI / ILRIComms / Kenya / Launch / LiveGene / Spotlight / UK

Scottish and Kenya scientists in new alliance to improve animal breeding and health in developing countries

Challenges faced by livestock farmers in tropical developing countries are the focus of a new alliance involving researchers from Scotland and Africa. The new Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health will initially focus on the use of genetic information to improve the health and productivity of farmed animals in tropical climates. Continue reading