Enhancing the richness of indigenous information: From global DAGRIs to country DAGRIS

DAGRIS (http://dagris.ilri.cgiar.org) Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System, a web-based electronic source of information on selected indigenous farm animal genetic resources (breeds/ecotypes of cattle, sheep, goats, chicken, pigs, buffalo and yak) with options to extend it further to cover camels, geese, turkey and ducks is moving to a new front and stature. This web-based electronic … Continue reading →

Republic of Kenya Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU) launched

The Kenyan ministries of livestock and development and public health and sanitation yesterday, 3 October 2012 officially launched the Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU) in Nairobi. ‘The ZDU is a One Health office in Kenya that was formed to address the gap that exists between animal and human health sectors in terms of prevention and control … Continue reading →

Annie Cook wins the best student poster prize at the veterinary epidemiology and economics conference

The 13th conference of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE) held in Maastricht, the Netherlands on 20-24 August 2012 saw many International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) scientists participating in various capacities. Annie Cook a PhD student with the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project won the prize for the best student poster. … Continue reading →

New research agreement between Korea’s RDA and ILRI signed

On 26 Jul 2012, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Park Hyun Chool, Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) administrator, and Jimmy Smith, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) director general. This memorandum of understanding signifies the beginning of more collaborative research, renewed partnership and the willingness and commitment from the two to jointly continue … Continue reading →

Research to control lung plague (CBPP) gets a major boost: New project launched

On 2 July 2012 a new project was launched to develop a novel subunit cattle vaccine for the control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), known as lung plague. This was announced by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) under the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF). ‘CIFSRF, … Continue reading →

Scientists discuss current knowledge and research approaches that could lead to a next generation ECF vaccine

The next generation vaccine for East Coast fever (EFC), an important cattle disease was the discussion agenda in a 2.5 day workshop organized by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural-Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) on April 16-18. Stakeholders from Nairobi-ILRI, USA, UK, Belgium, … Continue reading →

AWARD Fellow, Sheila Ommeh participates at the International Women’s Day briefing event for British Parliamentary Group in London

Sheila Ommeh, ILRI scientist with Olivier Hanotte, former ILRI scientist and her PhD supervisor at the meeting with British parliamentarians on March 7 (photo credit: AWARD/Karen Homer) ‘On the eve of International Women’s Day and against the backdrop of deepening food crises across sub-Saharan Africa, two leading African women agricultural scientists joined U.K. experts at … Continue reading →

Devoted to the farmer and their cow: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) visit to Biotech’s research project sites

The Dairy Genetics East Africa (DGEA) project’s success hinges on the participation of small holders dairy farmers and their willingness to share their knowledge and practices.  Selected project sites include Kaptumo, Siongiroi, Meteitei, Kabras, Butere/Khwisero in Kenya and Wakiso, Bushyenyi in Uganda.  On 27th of June, a field trip in the Kenyan sites to monitor … Continue reading →

Korea National Institute of Animal Science project partners visit ILRI

The ILRI-RDA (Rural Development of Administration) research project, among the Biotech’s improving characterization of livestock and pathogens (BT02) project is this week (20-25 November) hosting visitors from the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Korea. The visitors, Jeong-Ro Ki, director of Planning and Coordination Division, Boh-suk Yang director of Animal Genetic Resources Station and Seong-Heum … Continue reading →

How bioscience is revolutionising the 21st century

‘Animal Health and Genetics’ was an interesting discussion session at last week’s LiveSTOCK Exchange event. This session was introduced by Vish Nene, the Theme Director of the ILRI Biotech group and he focused on 3 broad areas where science will revolutionize the 21st century. They are: Computer revolution Quantum revolution Bio-molecular revolution Computer Revolution: A … Continue reading →

Animal Genetics Training Resource (AGTR) version 3 Officially Released!

Yesterday afternoon the new fully Web-enabled platform Animal Genetics Training Resource (AGTR) (http://agtr.ilri.cgiar.org) was launched at the LiveSTOCK Exchange event which took stock of ILRI’s research over the last ten years at the ILRI Addis Ababa, Ethiopia campus, the event was held on 9-10 November. While launching the new resource, Julie Ojango said that this … Continue reading →

LiveSTOCK Exchange video reflections: The Biotech angle

As part of the reflection for the November 2011 liveSTOCK Exchange seminar at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Biotech scientists: Roger Pelle, Phil Toye, Steve Kemp and Okeyo Mwai share their reflections on some of the changes they have observed and have been part off over the years in a series of  … Continue reading →

Sustainable breeding strategies for ruminants in Eastern and Southern Africa: Farmer workshop

The sustainable breeding strategies for ruminants in Eastern and Southern Africa project carried out by the Biotech’s BT03 (improving the utilization of farm animal genetic resources) team at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Nairobi in collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) held an enlightening and successful farmer’s workshop on October 12 … Continue reading →

A tree to celebrate the environmentalist humming bird!

Last Friday, the Biotech staff joined the rest of the ILRI family in planting trees across the campus in honor of the late Kenyan Nobel Prize Laureate and environmentalist Wangari Maathai. The Biotech tree was planted behind the main Biotech office, Lab 8. In an interview with John Vidal, Guardian news, Wangari is quoted to … Continue reading →

African swine fever Diagnostics, Surveillance, Epidemiology and Control, Workshop Summary

African swine fever Diagnostics, Surveillance, Epidemiology and Control: Identification of Researchable Issues Targeted to the Endemic Areas within sub-Saharan Africa Group photo of the participant of the ASF workshop which was hosted by BecA-ILRI and sponsored by CSIRO-AusAID-Africa Australia Food Security Initiative Pig Rearing has considerable potential for raising the incomes of resource poor farmers … Continue reading →