Focus on... Making more of livestock (part 2)

Almost a third of all agricultural land is used for livestock production, either as permanent pasture for grazing or as cropland for growing animal fodder and feed. Globally, the livestock sector contributes 1.5 per cent to global GDP and is one of the few agricultural sub-sectors that keep pace with economic expansion. Small-scale livestock remains critical to some 400 million people living in poverty. But increasing demand for livestock products, together with changes in international trade, is placing pressure on the global livestock sector both to expand and adapt. This edition of New Agriculturist looks at some of the policy and institutional changes required to make more of livestock.

Small-scale poultry producers: falling foul of avian flu?

As avian flu continues to spread, African governments are planning how poultry flocks can be protected and outbreaks quickly detected and controlled should they occur. But experts fear that Africa's poor human and animal health services, large backyard poultry population, and lack of resources to fight bird flu make it an easy target for the disease...

Global trade in livestock: benefits and risks to developing countries

International trade in livestock and livestock products is a major business, particularly as it accounts for almost one sixth of all agricultural trade. But the barriers to breaking into lucrative markets - local, regional and global - remain high. Since livestock are often especially important to the livelihoods of the rural poor, such barriers can frustrate efforts to reduce poverty...

Raising the standard for animal welfare

As avian flu continues to spread, concerns over slaughter standards are being raised as incidents of poultry being burned or buried alive have been observed in countries reporting outbreaks of the disease...

Tackling an urban issue: keeping livestock in the city

Urban slums are scarring the face of sub-Saharan Africa at an astonishing rate. In 2005, over 70 per cent of the region's urban population were living in slums or informal settlements. Urban policy however, is failing to keep up...

Making more of the Middle East market

The Horn of Africa has a long history of exporting large numbers of live animals to the Middle East. But the trade in live animals is vulnerable as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States have imposed a number of bans on the import of livestock...

An online remedy for the animal health sector

Veterinary schools in Africa have launched the African Universities Veterinary E-learning Consortium (AUVEC), which aims at building capacity within the African animal health sector through the provision of new online learning opportunities...

Pastoralism: hidden in the Himalayas

In India, pastoralists use land which is otherwise uncultivable, increasing the amount of land available to an already expanding population. They also rear indigenous animal breeds, retaining rich genetic variety. However, pastoralist systems in India, as in other parts of the world, are under pressure...