Ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis as low-tech tool to enhance small ruminant production

Productivity and profitability of meat and milk production from small ruminants are geared by reproductive performance. Females that fail to reproduce are only negatively impacting the environment. A major setback here is infertility but other reproductive-related problems are also important. A whole generation of easy-use, high resolution, portable ultrasound machines is now available to provide different levels of information which will translate into concrete management strategies. Continue reading →

Do smallholder, mixed crop-livestock livelihoods encourage sustainable agricultural practices?

The authors examine by means of a meta-analysis the argument that small-scale, mixed crop-livestock farming, a common livelihood among poor rural peoples, leads to environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. Continue reading →

Mange-mite infestation in small ruminants in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Mange-mites are economically important ectoparasites of sheep and goats responsible for rejection or downgrading of skins in tanneries or leather industries in Ethiopia.The objective of this systematic review was to compute the pooled prevalence estimate and identify factors influencing mange-mite prevalence in sheep and goats at national level based on the available research evidence. Continue reading →

East African dairy farmers using mobile phones to record yields

Originally posted on ILRI policies, instititions and livelihoods program:
Smallholder dairy farmers participating in dairy hubs supported by East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) in Kenya and Uganda are set to benefit from an innovative and interactive mobile-based system allowing them to effectively record farm events and gain access to productivity-enhancing information and services. The EADD…

Irish Aid delegation tours Livestock and Fish smallholder pig value chain project sites in Uganda

On 26 April 2o16, the Uganda smallholder pig value chains project hosted a delegation from the Irish Embassy in Uganda. Led by Frank Kirwan, the embassy’s Head of Cooperation and Daniel Muwolobi, Senior Governance Advisor, the delegation sought to assess the outcomes of the interventions of the MorePORK project, funded by Irish Aid under its Economic Opportunities cluster. Continue reading →

‘Mazzican’ introduced to Pakistan from East Africa to improve milk quality for smallholders

Smallholder milk producers in Pakistan will soon find that a new multi-purpose milk can made from recommended food grade plastic known as ‘Mazzican’ is both more hygienic and affordable. The Mazzican is designed to help in checking mastitis, reduce spillage and ease milk collection and transportation: It has a black funnel design that makes it easy to check for mastitis, a watertight cover to prevent milk spillage, and it is designed to be stackable to ease transportation. Continue reading →

Grain legume crop improvement to support increased productivity in crop-livestock systems

This week, the International Conference on Pulses for Health, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture in Drylands takes place in Morocco. ILRI and ICARDA scientists from the Livestock and Fish program are sharing experiences on the opportunities and limitations of multidimensional crop improvement in grain legumes to support increased productivity in mixed crop-livestock systems. Continue reading →

Climate-smart sustainable intensification: a business strategy for small cattle farmers in Central America

Silvopastoral systems provide a broad range of environmental and productive benefits. The presence of trees in farm plots stabilizes hillsides, minimizes erosion, improves the soil’s water retention and nutrient balance, and provides feed and shade for cattle. These practices generate higher milk and meat yields while contributing to the resilience of production systems in the face of climate variability, which is manifesting in increasingly extreme ways in Central America. Continue reading →

Livestock and Fish sessions rethinking research pathways to rural poverty

This week the CGIAR research program on Livestock and Fish is involved in two breakout sessions at the CGIAR Independent Science and Partnership Council Science Forum 2016 on agricultural research for rural prosperity.

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Whatsapp pig farmers! Uganda’s innovation platforms connecting and sharing on smartphones

In Uganda, pig multi-stakeholder platforms in the the central region of the country have embraced the opportunities presented by smartphones enhance communication and knowledge sharing. Continue reading →