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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Scaling-Up Successful Practices on Sustainable Pro-Poor Small Ruminant Development

2/21/2015

We are happy to announce the publication of the completed report, Scaling-Up Successful Practices on Sustainable Pro-Poor Small Ruminant Development, implemented by experts from the International Goat Association between 2011 and 2013.

The objective of the study, undertaken upon request of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), was to develop a business-like approach to prioritize processes/strategies and sensitize national policy and decision makers, as well as donors about the role and effectiveness of small ruminants in development to reduce poverty.

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Status of genetic diversity of U. S. dairy goat breeds

2/17/2015

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Written by C. S. Wilson, B. Krehbiel, and H. D. Blackburn

Genetic diversity underpins the livestock breeders’ ability to improve the production potential of their livestock. Therefore, it is important to periodically assess genetic diversity within a breed. Such an analysis was conducted on U.S. dairy goat breeds and this article is an overview of that work. In March 2014, pedigree files were obtained from the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) in order to conduct a genetic diversity evaluation using pedigree information and assess how well the bucks in the National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) gene bank represent various goat breeds. NAGP is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The primary function of the gene bank is to serve as a strategic reserve of genetic diversity for the livestock industry to use, particularly in the event of a local or national crisis such as rebuilding breeds after an epidemic. Additional material is in the gene bank for use by breeders and researchers for DNA analysis or reintroduction of genetics that are no longer commercially available. The NAGP gene bank currently includes more than 22,700 animals and 778,000 units of germplasm and various tissues. Of this collection, 409 animals (9,657 units) are goats. Within the goat collection, 146 animals (1,900 units) are from dairy breeds and, within that, 73 animals (1,542 units) have semen stored.

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Supporting livelihoods and building resilience through peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and small ruminant diseases control

2/16/2015

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This present document is intended to share the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO’s) position on PPR and small ruminant disease control and to outline the preliminary steps necessary for initiating regional approaches and later global initiatives while identifying appropriate partnerships to drive and implement the required activities.
Year of publication: 2013

UPDATE -- Countries pledge to wipe out sheep and goat plague globally, LEARN MORE

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Phenotypic Characterization and Strategies for Genetic Improvement of WAD Goats under Backyard Systems

2/13/2015

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Abstract
West African Dwarf (WAD) goats represent one of the predominant small ruminant breeds raised by resource-limited households in southern Nigeria as well as in the humid west and central Africa. This breed of goats is renowned for its adaptation to hot and humid environments, high fertility and prolificacy under backyard systems where they are raised almost with zero investment. On account of its contributions to household income and food security in southern Nigeria, there is the need for a detailed phenotypic and genetic characterization as well as the design of breeding strategies for its conservation through sustainable utilization. A critical challenge, however, is that there are no national breeding policies in most of the countries where WAD goats are raised.

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Report: Goats in Uruguay

2/9/2015

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Written by Hugo Asti (IGA Country Representative, Uruguay), Gabriel Palou, and Aurora Ferreira

Dear members of International Goat Association,

First of all, we want to thank you for the opportunity to send a summary of goat breeding in Uruguay and our activity in this field. As you know, Uruguay belongs to MERCOSUR, an economic, custom, political and social project which also includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, and attended also by Chile and Bolivia. In this region the total number of goats is about 20,000,000 with only 10,000 belonging to Uruguay.

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Report: Situation of Goats in the Czech Republic

2/3/2015

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Written by Zuzana Sztankoova, IGA Country Representative, Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, goat breeding is focused mainly on milk production and its subsequent processing on dairy products (cheese, yogurt, and kefir) by the breeders. Although, goat breeding has a rich history and tradition in the Czech Republic, at present, goat breeding is little enlarged in the Czech Republic (Table 1).

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Scaling-Up Successful Practices on Sustainable Pro-Poor Small Ruminant Development

Status of genetic diversity of U. S. dairy goat breeds

Supporting livelihoods and building resilience through peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and small ruminant diseases control

Phenotypic Characterization and Strategies for Genetic Improvement of WAD Goats under Backyard Systems

Report: Goats in Uruguay

Report: Situation of Goats in the Czech Republic

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