Top Stories

The Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme
June 2009 | Status report on progress made to date in eradication of rinderpest: highlighting success story and action required till global declaration in 2010. [pdf] Full Story »

Bovine Genome Provides Clues to Evolution, Better Beef and Milk
May 2009 | After 6 years of work by more than 300 researchers from 25 countries and $53 million in funding, the cow genome has arrived. Sequencing of the bovine genome provides new information about mammalian evolution as well as cattle-specific biology and points the way to research that could result in more sustainable food production in a world challenged by global population growth.
Full Story »

IAEA’s support helps Eritrea to controlling Brucellosis and Tuberculosis in Cattle
April 2009 | The IAEA started to support the veterinary services of Eritrea in the late 1990s when the country requested help with their rinderpest eradication programme. The IAEA provided technical assistance in the setting-up of a diagnostic laboratory and the training of staff to allow for the sero-monitoring and sero-surveillance of animal diseases with specific reference to rinderpest. Full Story »

Avian Influenza, Migratory Birds and Stable Isotopes
March 2009 | Over 100 species of wild migratory birds, particularly ducks, swans, geese and various wading birds, harbour avian influenza (AI) viruses. Infections are transmitted amongst the wild birds by shedding of the virus and contamination of water. Full Story »

Adapting Molecular Diagnostics to Field Conditions
February 2009 | Enhancing food security by providing effective control of infectious diseases in livestock requires major investment in developing diagnostic technologies of sufficient sensitivity and precision to enable veterinary authorities to accurately identify animal carriers of disease and to carry out appropriate measures for containing an outbreak. Full Story »

Irradiated Vaccines and the Control of Animal Diseases
January 2009 | Animals in general possess a basic defence against pathogens known as innate immunity. This comprises two parts, humoral, referring to substances found in the body fluids such as tears, mucus, and blood that can prevent the development of pathogens so that they can be eliminated from the body and the second, cellular, where cells called phagocytes ingest pathogens. Full Story »

The Use of Nuclear Technologies to Fight Problem Diseases – the re-emergence of irradiated vaccines
September 2008 | The concept of vaccination is a sound one for the prevention of animal disease; fundamentally, it is designed to mimic the development of naturally acquired immunity by inoculation of non pathogenic, highly immunogenic organisms. Full Story »

The Tracing of Animal Migration with Stable Isotopes
August 2008 | To understand the ecology of migratory animals it is important to link geographic regions used by individuals including breeding, wintering, and intermediate stopover sites. Previous conventional approaches used to track animal movements have relied on extrinsic markers (eg tags, radio tracking) and typically the subsequent recovery of individuals. Full Story »

Water Efficiency of Animal Protein Production
April 2008 | The livestock sector is the fastest growing agricultural sector and has been predicted to continue growing at these rates for the foreseeable future. Livestock production has been shown to be economically important and is related to increasing incomes in poor rural areas. Full Story »

Belching Ruminants, a minor player in atmospheric methane
March 2008 | Since 1999 atmospheric methane concentrations have leveled off while the world population of ruminants has increased at an accelerated rate. Prior to 1999, world ruminant populations were increasing at the rate of 9.15 million head/year but since 1999 this rate has increased to 16.96 million head/year. Prior to 1999 there was a strong relationship between change in atmospheric methane concentrations and the world ruminant populations. Full Story »

The Second Embryo Transfer Goat Kid "Peradeniya Kumari -2" Born in Sri Lanka
January 2008 | The Embryo Biotechnology research team of the University of Peradeniya have produced a second goat kid through Embryo Transfer technology. Research team leader Dr. Basil Alexander said “the initial experiments on embryo production and transfer in Sri Lanka have resulted in great success”. Full Story »

IAEA Counterparts Produce a Calf via Embryo Transfer for the first time ever in Sri Lanka
January 2008 | A team of veterinary researchers and IAEA counterparts at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka have successfully produced a calf through embryo transplant technology. This historic event marks the first time in Sri Lanka when such technology has been successfully applied. Full Story »

Indian Scientists Improve Fertility of Buffaloes
October 2007 | Livestock forms an integral part of agriculture in India and involves the participation of around 70% of its population, most of which are small/medium scale holders. Full Story »

IAEA Contributions to FMD control in Europe
September 2007 | The Animal Production and Health Section of NAFA has sustained its approach to supporting diagnostic methods, enabling member states to identify and differentiate animal diseases of livestock, over the past 20 years. Full Story »

Neighbours Helping Neighbours: Kenya Hosts Fellow from Tanzania
September 2007 | The IAEA, through TC project URT5025 based at the National Artificial Insemination Cooperation (NAIC) at Usa River Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, granted Ms. Mary A. Shio a two month fellowship in Kenya hosted by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Lanet Research Center. Full Story »

Two African and Asian Regional Training Courses on “Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)”
August 2007 | The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as “bird flu”, is caused by the infection with some strains of Influenza A virus. The different strains of this virus are classified into subtypes on the basis of their two external proteins named haemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Full Story »

APU and the Vienna Veterinary School Collaborate to Host Fellow from Sierra Leone
July 2007 | Sierra Leone continues to benefit from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through the implementation of IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC) projects by utilizing peaceful nuclear techniques to accomplish national development goals. Full Story »

Germany hosts fellow from Myanmar in animal nutrition
June 2007 | Dr. Myint Wynn from the Veterinary Assay Laboratory of the National Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department of Myanmar recently completed a 3-month fellowship in Germany (from 10 January to 9 April, 2007). Full Story »

Myanmar Fellow Obtains Animal Production Training in India
May 2007 | The fellowship was an activity of TC project MYA5013, “Integrated Approach for Enhancing Cattle Productivity. Mr. Win spent three months in India, and received a comprehensive programme of training in general cattle production. Full Story »

Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe unite to battle CBPP
April 2007 | Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) has been a problem in the Kazungula district of Zambia since an outbreak in 1997 and has caused concern in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). Full Story »

IAEA tackles Bird Flu diagnosis
May 2007 | The First Research Coordination Meeting (RCM) for the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on “The early and rapid diagnosis of transboundary animal diseases such as avian influenza” was held at the IAEA, Vienna, 19 to 23 March 2007. The RCM was attended by more than 25 participants, as it brought together Research Contract and Agreement holders as well as observers. Full Story » [pdf]

IAEA contributes to International Bovine HapMap Project
April 2007 | The International Bovine HapMap Project is a large collaborative effort to obtain more knowledge on the genomic structure of cattle and to develop tools to apply this knowledge in the management of cattle genetic resources world wide. Full Story »

Improving Livestock Production using Indigenous Resources
March 2007 | Livestock farming is important to countries in the Asia Pacific region for provision of food and as a source of income for farmers. The productivity of the livestock, however, is below the potential due to a number of reasons. Full Story »

Participatory Rural Appraisal used to Evaluate Dairy Farming at the Kanihari Union in Bangladesh
February 2007 | A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was recently conducted by the scientists at the Field Fertility Clinic, IAEA collaborators at the Bangladesh Agricultural University. The PRA was held at the Kanihari Union, a large farming community near Mymensingh. The major objective of the study was to use participatory planning and monitoring to evaluate the current and potential impacts of Regional TC Project RAS5044 on breeding, health care and feeding management of zebu cattle and buffaloes. Full Story »

TC Project improves the nutrition and productivity of goats in Cameroon
January 2007 | Goats are a popular species of livestock for smallholder farmers world-wide and are very common in Cameroon. Being much smaller than cattle, they require less money to purchase and need little investment in facilities. Full Story »

Tunisia Hosts Project Planning Meeting for RAF5046
January 2007 | Artificial Insemination (AI) has been practiced in many African countries for many years. Nevertheless, animal productivity remains low for a number of reasons .... Full Story »

Goat Genetic Resources in Pakistan
December 2006 | Pakistan is endowed with diverse livestock genetic resources. In fact, it is postulated that one of the centers of animal domestication lies in this part of the world. Pakistan has nearly 50 million goats. Full Story »

Small Ruminants in Sri Lanka
December 2006 | Small ruminant population represents 23.5% of the total ruminant population of Sri Lanka, where goats and sheep contribute 23.0% (500,000) and 0.5% (8,900), respectively. The precise statistics are not available, but the overwhelming majority of the population of small ruminants belong to indigenous types and their crosses. Full Story »

Goat Genetic Resources in Bangladesh
August 2006 | Goats have been reared in Bangladesh from the time of human settlement in this part of the earth. They stand second in number among the ruminant species. There are approximately 18 million goats at present in the country. Full Story »

Detection of a Gene Affecting Body Weight of Hanwoo Cattle in Korea
July 2006 | The Hanwoo breed of beef cattle is considered one of Korea’s most important native livestock resources. The animals have a yellow-brown to tan color and a relatively small body size, with an adult size of just over 500 kg. Full Story »

The Garut Sheep Contributes to both Work and Play in Indonesia
June 2006 | The Garut sheep are one of the important indigenous livestock resources of Indonesia. Although they have a critical role in the food production chain, being raised for their meat, they are also of notable cultural significance. Full Story »

BLACK BENGAL – a Promising Goat Genetic Resource of Bangladesh
May 2006 | The goat is perhaps the most misunderstood and neglected, but nevertheless important species of livestock in the third world countries. Full Story »

Holistic Approach gives Farmers better Profit
March 2006 | Shortcomings in animal nutrition, health, and reproduction and breeding have all been identified as constraints to optimal productivity of livestock systems in developing countries. Full Story »

Korea hosts Regional Training Course on Selective Breeding and Gene Technologies
March 2006 | As part of Regional TC Project RAS/5/044: “Integrated Approach for Improving Livestock Production Utilizing Indigenous Resources and Conserving the Environment”, a training course was held on Selective Breeding and Gene Technologies. Full Story »

New development of Tannin Assay enables more Use of Tree Foliage as Animal Feeds
February 2006 | Tree and shrub leaves form a major part of livestock diets in hilly, sub-tropical and tropical regions. However, these trees and shrubs also contain tannins, which are astringent, bitter-tasting plant polyphenols. Full Story »

Technology Transfer: Use of Urea Molasses Multinutrient Blocks in over 50 Countries
January 2006 | Livestock production in developing countries is largely dependent on fibrous feeds – mainly crop residues and low quality pasture – that are deficient in nitrogen, readily fermentable energy, minerals and vitamins. Full Story »

Medicated Urea Molasses Blocks for Controlling Internal Parasites
January 2006 | Helminthiasis is a common problem in grazing animals, particularly in domestic ruminants. Haemoncus contortus as an example is causing anaemia and hypoproteinaemia and as a result reduced body condition. Full Story »

Development of Cultivated Grass-legume Systems for Cut and Carry Feeding of Dairy Cows in Zanzibar
December 2005 | Like other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, small-scale dairy farming is a popular means of income generation in the rural societies of Zanzibar. Full Story »

Potential for the Utilization of Agro and Marine by-products as Sources of Protein Supplements for Feeding Dairy Cows in Zanzibar
December 2005 | Over the last century, poor nutritive value of the natural growing pastures has been described as one of the major constraints affecting dairy production systems in the tropical Eastern Africa, including Zanzibar. Full Story »

World Experts Meet on FMD Molecular Diagnostics
December 2005 | Foot and mouth disease (FMD) continues to be a chronic problem in many Member States as well as a major threat of devastation to many developed countries. The early detection of the disease and subsequent monitoring of spread and impact of control measures is vital. Full Story »

FMD Reference Serum Bank Initiative
December 2005 | Standardisation and harmonisation of procedures for animal disease diagnosis is important for trade so that test results obtained in one country are acceptable by other countries. Full Story »

TC Project brings the Benefit of AI Technology to Cameroon
December 2005 | Based on per capita income, the residents of Cameroon are among the poorest in the world. The central government has identified improvement of returns from dairy farming as one opportunity to increase the livelihood of its countries' peoples. Full Story »

IAEA Projects Strengthen Dairy Development in Bangladesh
November 2005 | The IAEA funded activities on animal production began in 1982 at the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh through a grant under the coordinated research project (CRP) "Studies on non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and agro-industrial by-products utilisation by ruminants.  Full Story »

Newcastle Disease Control in Chicken Improves the Welfare of Rural Households in Africa
November 2005 | An FAO/IAEA funded five year coordinated research project (CRP) was initiated in 1998 to study back yard poultry production in 12 African countries and then to suggest and initiate appropriate intervention strategies that are economically viable. Full Story »

History of Battle Against Rinderpest
October 2005 | Rinderpest is probably the most important animal disease historically. Rinderpest is the German word for a disease, caused by a virus, known in English as cattle plague. Full Story »

Genomic and nuclear techniques to improve productivity of Alpacas
October 2005 | Living in highlands above 4000m is not an easy task. However, in the Andean region, it is possible to find communities of humans and livestock that have been sharing a fragile environment in harmony for hundreds of years. One of the major components of this ecosystem. Full Story »

International Guideline for Validation of Diagnostic Tests Launched
October 2005 | In May 2005, the OIE (the World Organisation for Animal Health) launched a new procedure for validation and certification of diagnostic test kits. A key criterion in test certification is whether a test is"fit for purpose". This procedure is open to both public and private laboratories producing diagnostic kits. Full Story »

Global Eradication of Rinderpest
September 2005 | Today, the world is nearly free from rinderpest. Eliminating rinderpest could be viewed as producing a net annual economic benefit to the African region of at least $1 billion. Full Story »

Past and Present Contributions of Joint FAO/IAEA Division to Eradication of Rinderpest
September 2005 | Rinderpest is an important killer disease of cattle. Since there is a vaccine that gives a life long protection and can be produced easily and cheaply, there is a good chance that the disease can be completely wiped out from the world. In other words - the disease can be eradicated. Full Story »

Facilitating Regional Collaboration for Improvement of Local Cattle Breeds in Asia
September 2005 | The Kanihari Union is a local government unit in Bangladesh, situated about 90 km north of Dhaka. The Union covers a geographic area of about 8 km in radius and is home to approximately 7000 households. Full Story »

New Project to Help Sierra Leone Farmers Improve Local N'dama Cattle
September 2005 | Sierra Leone was ravaged by a decade-long period of civil unrest that ended in 2002. The war had disastrous economic and social effects on the population and livestock farmers were not spared. Full Story »

Mongolia Declared Free of Rinderpest
June 2004 | Support from FAO's programme of the Global Rinderpest Eradication Campaign (GREP) and through IAEA TCP MON/5/012 provided though a jointly organized "National Workshop On The Diagnosis And Surveillance Of Transboundary Animal Diseases". Full Story »

Understanding Genetic Diversity of Small Ruminants in Asia
May 2004 | Asia possess the greatest number of livestock breeds and is considered the home of the evolutionary origin of the major domestic species (sheep, goats, cattle and buffalo). Full Story »

Protein Bank for Pig Production in Colombia
April 2004 | Feeding pigs with tree leaves? How odd it sounds for many of us! Not for the smallholders living on the Andean foothills along the Cauca river valley in Colombia. Full Story »

Understanding Genetic Diversity of Small Ruminants in Asia
March 2004 | Asia possess the greatest number of livestock breeds and is considered the home of the evolutionary origin of the major domestic species (sheep, goats, cattle and buffalo). Due to lack of breeding programmes or to indiscriminate crossbreeding, many local sheep and goat local breeds are at risk of extinction. Full Story »