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Global agenda for livestock research
Small Ruminant Research ELSEVIER
Small Ruminant Research 27 (1998) 183- 184
Book Reviews
Global agenda for livestock research Global agenda for livestock research. C. Devendra and P. Gardiner (Editors), Proceedings of the Consultation for the South Asia Region, ICRISAT Asia Center, Patancheru, India, 6-8 June 1995. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya 1995, 146 pp., paperback, $20.00, ISBN 92-9146-015-X. This book is the latest in a series of important publications under the same title edited by Drs. Devendra and Gardiner. The first covered the Proceedings (114 pp.) of the Consultation held on 18-20 January 1995, in Nairobi, Kenya, and attended by 38 scientists and research program leaders from around the world. The second book contained the Proceedings (276 pp.) of the Consultation for the South-East Asia Region, held on lo- 13 May 1995, at the International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, The Philippines, and attended by 43 researchers and leaders representing 16 Asian countries. This third book contains 16 contributions from 35 scientists and program directors from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. After an overview of current research priorities and plans for improvement of crops and resources of feeds, the presentations focus on constraints in livestock production, especially of small ruminants, and deal with researchable issues of utilization of agro-industrial by-products, non-conventional feeds, increased fodder production, feeding standards, disease control, breeding and selection for improved performance and disease resistance, dairy processing and socioeconomic issues. Information on cattle, buffalo, yak, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry are covered separately. 00921~4488/Y8/$1Y.O0 0 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
PII SO921-4488(97)00029-l
These discussions are set within the limitations of agro-ecological zones and are supported by many tables and references, which are also useful for further related work. Especially interesting is the summary report of the Swiss Development Corporation in India by Dr. H. Mulder, covering 30 years of development experience, and stating that livestock production is critically important for the livelihood of small farmers, that 60% of all livestock in India is kept by small farmers, providing 35% of their regular cash income, and that rural/ecological degradation is related to livestock density in semi-arid areas. An equally important presentation is by Dr. D.K. Singh of the National Dairy Development Board, describing their success in the ‘Operation Flood’ program, which pays farmers daily for their milk, as well as providing support for breeding, feeding, health care and the village Milk Cooperative Societies. The complex needs of goat farming are discussed in several chapters, with the conclusion that the prevailing poor productivity is due to low genetic potential and parasites, high mortality of kids, inadequacy of feeds and lack of a sustainable self-reliant fodder-based production system, which includes environmental hazards and the greatest number of goats compared with the rest of the world. This book and the series as a whole is a valuable and thought-provoking resource for anyone working in development programs around the world and is highly recommended. G.F.W. HAENLEIN Department of Animal and Food Science University of Delaware Newark, DE 19717-1303, USA
Small Ruminant Research 27 (1998) 183- 184
Book Reviews
Global agenda for livestock research Global agenda for livestock research. C. Devendra and P. Gardiner (Editors), Proceedings of the Consultation for the South Asia Region, ICRISAT Asia Center, Patancheru, India, 6-8 June 1995. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya 1995, 146 pp., paperback, $20.00, ISBN 92-9146-015-X. This book is the latest in a series of important publications under the same title edited by Drs. Devendra and Gardiner. The first covered the Proceedings (114 pp.) of the Consultation held on 18-20 January 1995, in Nairobi, Kenya, and attended by 38 scientists and research program leaders from around the world. The second book contained the Proceedings (276 pp.) of the Consultation for the South-East Asia Region, held on lo- 13 May 1995, at the International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, The Philippines, and attended by 43 researchers and leaders representing 16 Asian countries. This third book contains 16 contributions from 35 scientists and program directors from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. After an overview of current research priorities and plans for improvement of crops and resources of feeds, the presentations focus on constraints in livestock production, especially of small ruminants, and deal with researchable issues of utilization of agro-industrial by-products, non-conventional feeds, increased fodder production, feeding standards, disease control, breeding and selection for improved performance and disease resistance, dairy processing and socioeconomic issues. Information on cattle, buffalo, yak, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry are covered separately. 00921~4488/Y8/$1Y.O0 0 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
PII SO921-4488(97)00029-l
These discussions are set within the limitations of agro-ecological zones and are supported by many tables and references, which are also useful for further related work. Especially interesting is the summary report of the Swiss Development Corporation in India by Dr. H. Mulder, covering 30 years of development experience, and stating that livestock production is critically important for the livelihood of small farmers, that 60% of all livestock in India is kept by small farmers, providing 35% of their regular cash income, and that rural/ecological degradation is related to livestock density in semi-arid areas. An equally important presentation is by Dr. D.K. Singh of the National Dairy Development Board, describing their success in the ‘Operation Flood’ program, which pays farmers daily for their milk, as well as providing support for breeding, feeding, health care and the village Milk Cooperative Societies. The complex needs of goat farming are discussed in several chapters, with the conclusion that the prevailing poor productivity is due to low genetic potential and parasites, high mortality of kids, inadequacy of feeds and lack of a sustainable self-reliant fodder-based production system, which includes environmental hazards and the greatest number of goats compared with the rest of the world. This book and the series as a whole is a valuable and thought-provoking resource for anyone working in development programs around the world and is highly recommended. G.F.W. HAENLEIN Department of Animal and Food Science University of Delaware Newark, DE 19717-1303, USA