- Email: [email protected]
Appointment at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
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J. Hodges /Livestock Production Science 44 (1995) 257-289
The months before he died saw him busy preparing a paper on human nutrition and the development of man. He became “Ridder av lste klasse av Sankt Olavs Orden” in 1979, the most distinguished honour for a Norwegian citizen. We, his students, colleagues and friends, standing on the giant’s shoulders, are filled with thanks and gratitude for the important role Prof. Skjervold played in the national and international development of animal breeding and genetics. The Norwegian scientific community and the Norwegian farmers have lost their giant. Nils Standal and Odd Vangen Agricultural University of Norway Harald Skjervold’s death on 3 May 1995 came, I suspect, as he would have wished with mercifulrapidity and surrounded by the love of his family. His passing also stirs the hearts of a wider family of friends, colleagues, students and admirers of the man and his life’s work. Beyond that again is a much larger constituency of people whose lives were materially improved and whose intellectual horizons were broadened by what Harald had accomplished. Genetics was at the core of his life’s work. He began with innovative ideas for dairy cattle breeding 40 years ago, which built up to an integrated system in Norway that has been much copied elsewhere. It has also served Norwegian agriculture very well. He pioneered work on the immunology of reproduction, measurement of body composition, domestication of new species and, in recent years, the interaction of diet and health. His work on the genetics and husbandry of Atlantic salmon is the basis on which a whole new rural industry has been built. In every theme, he led with new ideas and he drove forward with an enthusiasm and a vision that inspired others to follow. His spirit of innovation was not confined to science. In education too he inspired much change and his constant quest for new sources of knowledge and experience has led him to enduring networks of international collaboration. He was himself a highly effective communicator of science to a wide public audience. The result was that he had the satisfaction of seeing many of his ideas carried into action in Norway and further afield. His contribution to science was recognized in the many honours conferred on him by governments,
universities and professional organizations worldwide. He served as President of the Genetics Commission of EAAP from 1978-84. Harald’s work was known, valued and copied throughout the world. He was also known and greatly appreciated for his personal qualities - his sense of humour, his generosity, his intellect and his insatiable curiosity. He has served his country, his profession and mankind as few are privileged to do. Patrick Cunningham University of Dublin, Ireland
Dr. A. Shinar The death is noted with regret of Dr. A. Shinar, Ministry of Agriculture, Israel who represented his country and frequently participated in EAAP Annual Meetings and activities.
Appointment at International Institute (ILRI)
Livestock Research
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has appointed Dr. Akke J. van der Zijpp (The Netherlands), Vice-President of EAAP, as its new Deputy Director General. ILRI started operating in January 1995 being created from a merger of two CGIAR Institutes which served Animal Production (ILCA) and Animal Health (ILRAD) in Africa. The mandate of ILRI, which is hosted by both Kenya and Ethiopia, is to work globally in research for animal agriculture. Details of ILRI were reported in EAAP News No. 22 in LPS 42 (1995) page 88. An active scientist for most of her professional life, Akke van der Zijpp’s main areas of research have been dairy production, animal breeding, genetic resistance to livestock disease and poultry immunology. She has taught extensively at undergraduate and graduate levels. She attended an American High School in 196263 with an American Field Service Scholarship, lectured at Reading University, UK from 1971 to 1974 and spent a sabbatical year at Mississippi State University in 1984. She gained Master and Doctorate degrees from Wageningen University and has
J. Hodges /Livestock Production Science 44 (1995) 257-289
researched immunogenetic and molecular topics in chicken and pigs. From 1989 Akke van der Zijpp was Director of the Research Institute for Animal Production, Zeist, The Netherlands. Following the merger of four Animal Production and Veterinary Science Institutes in 1994 she became Director of Research in the newly formed DLO Institute for Animal Science and Health at Lelystad within the Dutch Agricultural Research Department (DLO) where she has been until this appointment. Akke van der Zijpp serves on the Council of EAAP and became Vice-President in 1994. She has also served the International Society for Animal Genetics and the Dutch Association for Animal Production. Akke van der Zijpp’s appointment starts in November 1995. She will be based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her colleagues in EAAP wish her well in this challenging new international appointment.
EAAP Task Force on Eastern Europe
The Steering Committee of the Task Force met in September 1995 during the EAAP Annual Meeting in Prague. Five proceedings on the annual round tables and workshops held since 1991 have now been published. Two more proceedings are at an advanced stage of preparation. FAO has commissioned EAAP to employ an assessment panel of five livestock specialists to review the work of the Task Force and to prepare a livestock policy paper for Central and Eastern European countries to be presented to the regional conference of Ministers of Agriculture. Mr. Paul Auriol, a former FAO staff member is preparing the review papers. The Assessment Panel will consists of two members each from Central/Eastern and Western Europe and it will be chaired by Professor Cunningham (Ireland). The Assessment Panel will meet for 1 week in Rome in December 1995 and members of the Task Force on Eastern Europe will have the opportunity to make their input at a meeting in Berlin on Monday 22 January 1996. The proposals of the Assessment Panel will also be a guideline for the future work of EAAP on Central/Eastern Europe which is intended to be more fully integrated into EAAP’s mainstream work. The Task Force accepted the invitation to hold a workshop in Berlin on Breeding Strategies in Central/
279
Eastern Europe in connection with the International Grune Woche 1996 on 21 and 22 January 1996. Regarding animal production research, a working group consisting of Dr. J. Akke van der Zijpp (NL) , Prof. L. F&is (Hungary) and Dr. Zjalic (FAO) will pursue the plan to assist Central/Eastern European countries using Hungary as a case study for the first workshop. During the period of the Annual Meeting in Prague there were three special activities addressing Central/Eastern European countries: First, a Joint Session of the Management and Health, Cattle and Sheep Commissions on structural changes with five invited speakers, five short papers and about 25 posters. Second, the workshop on academic curricula in animal production in Central/Eastern European countries being coordinated by Dr. M. MarSalek from Prague University. Third, the ICAR/INTERBULL Workshop on performance recording and genetic evaluation, being coordinated by Dr. G. Averdunk for 2 days after the Annual Meeting. Regarding the next Annual Meeting in Lillehammer, the Nutrition Commission will hold a session on protein feeds in livestock production in Central/Eastern European countries. Still on nutrition, an effort will be made by Mr. N. Benedictus from the Netherlands and Dr. J. Gundel (Hungary) to draw the Central/Eastern European countries into the EU Feed Information Network. There was a proposal to discuss research and extension at the EAAP Annual Meeting in Vienna in 1997. Otherwise the future special activities of the Force are largely dependent on the findings of the assessment panel and the conclusions the EAAP Council will draw from it. Klaus Meyn, Chairman
Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources EAAP has two Working Groups on Animal Genetic Resources: the Group belonging to the Genetics Commission, started in 1980 and chaired until 1993 by K. Maijala (Finland) and the Joint EAAP/FAO Working Group, started in 1988 which was initially concerned with global expansion of the EAAP Data bank in Han-
J. Hodges /Livestock Production Science 44 (1995) 257-289
The months before he died saw him busy preparing a paper on human nutrition and the development of man. He became “Ridder av lste klasse av Sankt Olavs Orden” in 1979, the most distinguished honour for a Norwegian citizen. We, his students, colleagues and friends, standing on the giant’s shoulders, are filled with thanks and gratitude for the important role Prof. Skjervold played in the national and international development of animal breeding and genetics. The Norwegian scientific community and the Norwegian farmers have lost their giant. Nils Standal and Odd Vangen Agricultural University of Norway Harald Skjervold’s death on 3 May 1995 came, I suspect, as he would have wished with mercifulrapidity and surrounded by the love of his family. His passing also stirs the hearts of a wider family of friends, colleagues, students and admirers of the man and his life’s work. Beyond that again is a much larger constituency of people whose lives were materially improved and whose intellectual horizons were broadened by what Harald had accomplished. Genetics was at the core of his life’s work. He began with innovative ideas for dairy cattle breeding 40 years ago, which built up to an integrated system in Norway that has been much copied elsewhere. It has also served Norwegian agriculture very well. He pioneered work on the immunology of reproduction, measurement of body composition, domestication of new species and, in recent years, the interaction of diet and health. His work on the genetics and husbandry of Atlantic salmon is the basis on which a whole new rural industry has been built. In every theme, he led with new ideas and he drove forward with an enthusiasm and a vision that inspired others to follow. His spirit of innovation was not confined to science. In education too he inspired much change and his constant quest for new sources of knowledge and experience has led him to enduring networks of international collaboration. He was himself a highly effective communicator of science to a wide public audience. The result was that he had the satisfaction of seeing many of his ideas carried into action in Norway and further afield. His contribution to science was recognized in the many honours conferred on him by governments,
universities and professional organizations worldwide. He served as President of the Genetics Commission of EAAP from 1978-84. Harald’s work was known, valued and copied throughout the world. He was also known and greatly appreciated for his personal qualities - his sense of humour, his generosity, his intellect and his insatiable curiosity. He has served his country, his profession and mankind as few are privileged to do. Patrick Cunningham University of Dublin, Ireland
Dr. A. Shinar The death is noted with regret of Dr. A. Shinar, Ministry of Agriculture, Israel who represented his country and frequently participated in EAAP Annual Meetings and activities.
Appointment at International Institute (ILRI)
Livestock Research
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has appointed Dr. Akke J. van der Zijpp (The Netherlands), Vice-President of EAAP, as its new Deputy Director General. ILRI started operating in January 1995 being created from a merger of two CGIAR Institutes which served Animal Production (ILCA) and Animal Health (ILRAD) in Africa. The mandate of ILRI, which is hosted by both Kenya and Ethiopia, is to work globally in research for animal agriculture. Details of ILRI were reported in EAAP News No. 22 in LPS 42 (1995) page 88. An active scientist for most of her professional life, Akke van der Zijpp’s main areas of research have been dairy production, animal breeding, genetic resistance to livestock disease and poultry immunology. She has taught extensively at undergraduate and graduate levels. She attended an American High School in 196263 with an American Field Service Scholarship, lectured at Reading University, UK from 1971 to 1974 and spent a sabbatical year at Mississippi State University in 1984. She gained Master and Doctorate degrees from Wageningen University and has
J. Hodges /Livestock Production Science 44 (1995) 257-289
researched immunogenetic and molecular topics in chicken and pigs. From 1989 Akke van der Zijpp was Director of the Research Institute for Animal Production, Zeist, The Netherlands. Following the merger of four Animal Production and Veterinary Science Institutes in 1994 she became Director of Research in the newly formed DLO Institute for Animal Science and Health at Lelystad within the Dutch Agricultural Research Department (DLO) where she has been until this appointment. Akke van der Zijpp serves on the Council of EAAP and became Vice-President in 1994. She has also served the International Society for Animal Genetics and the Dutch Association for Animal Production. Akke van der Zijpp’s appointment starts in November 1995. She will be based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her colleagues in EAAP wish her well in this challenging new international appointment.
EAAP Task Force on Eastern Europe
The Steering Committee of the Task Force met in September 1995 during the EAAP Annual Meeting in Prague. Five proceedings on the annual round tables and workshops held since 1991 have now been published. Two more proceedings are at an advanced stage of preparation. FAO has commissioned EAAP to employ an assessment panel of five livestock specialists to review the work of the Task Force and to prepare a livestock policy paper for Central and Eastern European countries to be presented to the regional conference of Ministers of Agriculture. Mr. Paul Auriol, a former FAO staff member is preparing the review papers. The Assessment Panel will consists of two members each from Central/Eastern and Western Europe and it will be chaired by Professor Cunningham (Ireland). The Assessment Panel will meet for 1 week in Rome in December 1995 and members of the Task Force on Eastern Europe will have the opportunity to make their input at a meeting in Berlin on Monday 22 January 1996. The proposals of the Assessment Panel will also be a guideline for the future work of EAAP on Central/Eastern Europe which is intended to be more fully integrated into EAAP’s mainstream work. The Task Force accepted the invitation to hold a workshop in Berlin on Breeding Strategies in Central/
279
Eastern Europe in connection with the International Grune Woche 1996 on 21 and 22 January 1996. Regarding animal production research, a working group consisting of Dr. J. Akke van der Zijpp (NL) , Prof. L. F&is (Hungary) and Dr. Zjalic (FAO) will pursue the plan to assist Central/Eastern European countries using Hungary as a case study for the first workshop. During the period of the Annual Meeting in Prague there were three special activities addressing Central/Eastern European countries: First, a Joint Session of the Management and Health, Cattle and Sheep Commissions on structural changes with five invited speakers, five short papers and about 25 posters. Second, the workshop on academic curricula in animal production in Central/Eastern European countries being coordinated by Dr. M. MarSalek from Prague University. Third, the ICAR/INTERBULL Workshop on performance recording and genetic evaluation, being coordinated by Dr. G. Averdunk for 2 days after the Annual Meeting. Regarding the next Annual Meeting in Lillehammer, the Nutrition Commission will hold a session on protein feeds in livestock production in Central/Eastern European countries. Still on nutrition, an effort will be made by Mr. N. Benedictus from the Netherlands and Dr. J. Gundel (Hungary) to draw the Central/Eastern European countries into the EU Feed Information Network. There was a proposal to discuss research and extension at the EAAP Annual Meeting in Vienna in 1997. Otherwise the future special activities of the Force are largely dependent on the findings of the assessment panel and the conclusions the EAAP Council will draw from it. Klaus Meyn, Chairman
Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources EAAP has two Working Groups on Animal Genetic Resources: the Group belonging to the Genetics Commission, started in 1980 and chaired until 1993 by K. Maijala (Finland) and the Joint EAAP/FAO Working Group, started in 1988 which was initially concerned with global expansion of the EAAP Data bank in Han-