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Scientists strive to improve livestock in tropical climates
cattle kenya
Cattle during a drought in Kenya.

Research alliance aims to improve livestock health in developing countries

Improving the health and productivity of farmed animals in developing countries is the focus of a new alliance between researchers in Scotland and Africa.

The University of Edinburgh and Scotland's Rural College have teamed up with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Kenya to launch the initiative that aims to find ways to identify the best animals to breed from to improve the quality of livestock in tropical climates and increase their economic value.

The new Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, which will have bases in Scotland and Kenya, will initially focus on the use of genetic information to tackle the challenges faced by farmers in developing nations.

Joint teams from Scotland and Africa will explore the genes that make some animals more resistant to diseases than others, as well as those that enable certain breeds to thrive in warmer, arid conditions.

Professor David Hume, director of The Roslin Institute, part of the Scottish team at the University of Edinburgh's Easter Bush Campus base, said: “With the threat of rising temperatures due to climate change, the need for affordable techniques to improve farming and food security in warmer climates is becoming a global challenge. We are delighted to announce this new partnership to address the issue, which builds on existing successful collaborations between our three organisations.”

The Africa site will be at ILRI in Nairobi, Kenya, and will see scientists from both ILRI’s new global livestock genetics program (LiveGene) and the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA)-ILRI Hub and their partners in Africa working together on the animal research project.  

Dr Jimmy Smith, director general of ILRI said: “ILRI is delighted to be forming this new alliance with the eminent University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and Scotland’s Rural College. Modern genetic approaches offer new opportunities to identify livestock suited to the diverse and demanding conditions under which African smallholder farmers work. This new alliance brings together a unique mix of skills to address these exciting and important challenges.”

Photo courtesy of ILRI.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.