IGA Blog

IGA joins the SMARTER Stakeholder Committee

7/22/2019

IGA is pleased to join the SMARTER Stakeholder Committee, to provide insight and feedback from the new “Small Ruminant Breeding for Efficiency and Resilience.” It is a new European and international initiative funded by the EU that will use genomic selection across countries. It will make selection for traits conferring efficiency and resilience both faster and more efficient. SMARTER will also characterize the phenotype and genome of traditional and underutilized breeds. Finally, SMARTER will propose new breeding strategies that utilize these traits and trade-offs and balance economic, social and environmental challenges.

Please visit the SMARTER website, and sign up for the free newsletter: https://www.smarterproject.eu/

Beth A. Miller, DVM
President, International Goat Association

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Book Announcement – That Sheep May Safely Graze: Rebuilding Animal Health Care in War-Torn Afghanistan

2/5/2019

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That Sheep May Safely Graze is written by David Sherman, former Editor-in-Chief of Small Ruminant Research, 2001-2005.

Veterinarian and global goat health expert David Sherman shares his big-picture view of the development challenges in Afghanistan based on his years of living there. He illustrates the importance of animal health, often overlooked by development experts, so readers can appreciate how healthy sheep and goats provide livelihoods for rural people, food for hungry cities, and wool for beautiful carpets. The book contains numerous short and charming vignettes that vary from quiet delight in small farm life to portraits of fascinating individuals to frustration with ever-changing political agendas. Most importantly, David invites readers to see the dignity and humanity in his Afghan colleagues and ordinary villagers. Western development aid has resulted in too few successes, but this highly readable account of Afghanistan’s veterinary field unit project is a “how-to” of effective assistance that improves the lives of animals and the people who depend on them.

Beth A. Miller
President, International Goat Association

This book will be released on March 15, 2019, but it is available to pre-order from Amazon in paperback or Kindle editions.

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Announcement: Award to Dr. Shoor Vir Singh

12/11/2018

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During the Asian Regional Conference on Goats (ARCG-2018) this year, the International Goat Association presented Dr. Shoor Vir Singh with a Certificate of Recognition for his outstanding service and contributions to IGA, and for efforts to promote goat research and goat keeping in India and around the world.

Dr. Singh served on the IGA Board of Directors for three consecutive terms from 2004 to 2016. He also served as the IGA Regional Director for Asia for many years.

Dr. Beth Miller presents Dr. Shoor Vir Singh with a special award for his outstanding service.

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Conference Report – 4th Asian-Australasian Dairy Goat Conference

12/10/2018

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Go Cong Dong Goat Farm, Tien Giang province, Vietnam

Written by Beth Miller, IGA President

The Fourth Asian-Australasian Dairy Goat conference (AADGC 2018) was held at Tra Vinh University, Vietnam with nearly 200 participants from 19 countries in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. The theme was Strengthening Development of Dairy Goat Production Adapting to Climate Change. All the papers are published in the proceedings (ISBN 978-604-9). They are also available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NR-FA1XVARRSWgVbFjvtj47jt-IEnk_A/view.

Dairy goat production is increasing across Asia as farmers take advantage of increased prices for goat milk, and governments search for sustainable agricultural activities in the face of climate change. However, many challenges occur when new farmers take up dairy goat production, especially if they do not have strong livestock or commercial background. Training and technology are two key components of successful dairy goat enterprises, as well as markets and transportation. Key research topics include identification of the genetic merit of locally adapted breeds, and development of new and inexpensive feed resources so dairy goats can reach their genetic potential of milk production.

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REPORT: Asian Regional Conference on Goats (ARCG-2018), October 22-26

11/16/2018

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Written by Yoko Tsukahara, IGA Board member

The Asian Regional Conference on Goats (ARCG2018) was held at Amity University, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India on Oct. 22-26, 2018. The theme entitled “Current Challenges in Goat Industry and the Strategies to Combat in Asia Region.” A total of 287 researchers, professors, and producers from 14 countries including, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Hungary, Japan, Mongolia, Spain, and the USA attended the meeting. The scientific program included keynote addresses, expert talks, oral and poster presentations, and brainstorming and valedictory sessions. The participants enjoyed a warm traditional welcome during the technical tour at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute which produces and conducts research on pure Sirohi goats, varieties of sheep and rabbit breeds, veterinary medical plants, and so on.

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Report from the launch of PPR-GREN, April 2018

5/14/2018

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Beth Miller & Paula Menzies

IGA President Beth Miller and Board Member Paula Menzies attended the launch of the the Peste des petits ruminants Global Research and Expertise Network (PPR-GREN) in Vienna Austria from 17-19 April 2018. The PPR-GREN network was established and endorsed in 2015 to support a global strategy to eradicate PPR. Dr. Menzies also serves as co-chair of the PPR GEP Advisory Board.

Peste des petits ruminants, (PPR) was first identified in Côte d’Ivoire in 1942 but has continued to spread at an alarming rate affecting more than 70 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and Middle East. Over 80 percent of the world’s sheep and goat populations are at risk causing annual economic losses of up to USD 2.1 billion (OIE).

The PPR-GREN network, spearheaded by FAO and OIE, has been tasked with promoting and initiating an integrated, comprehensive research and expertise network that builds on synergies to eliminate the threat of PPR. The elimination of this disease will improve the livelihoods, food security, and health of people nationally, regionally and globally.

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Report: 2017 National Symposium on Sheep and Goat in China

12/13/2017

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Written by Yoko Tsukahara

The 30 years memorial of the Sheep and Goat Branch of the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine was celebrated at the 2017 National Symposium on Sheep and Goat. More than 600 experts and scientists from 29 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions in China as well as Canada, Ecuador, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States attended the Symposium.

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Global Goat Production and Research Trends

12/7/2017

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Presented by Dr. Beth Miller, President of IGA, during the 2017 National Symposium on Sheep and Goat, August 18 to 21, 2017, Shijiazhuang, China.

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Letter from the President, IGA 2016 to 2020

12/22/2016

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Dear IGA Members,

As we prepare for 2017, IGA’s new Board of Directors is planning to make our organization stronger and better equipped to meet the needs of our members. The past four years under the leadership of Dr. Juan Capote brought increased membership, as well as a higher international profile and a renewed dedication to the use of goats to improve the lives of millions of rural poor. IGA produced an exceptional study, Scaling Up Successful Practices for Sustainable Small Ruminant Production for IFAD: http://www.iga-goatworld.com/scaling-upsuccessful-practices.html. We must continue to develop new areas to share IGA expertise.

The recent International Goat Conference in Antalya Turkey was a great success, from excellent presentations and wonderful technical tours to the new friendships and professional collaborations that developed. Again, I want to thank Conference Chair Dr. Irfan Daskiran, the host country committee, and the IGA Scientific Committee led by Dr. Lucia Sepe. The proceedings will become available soon, and a special edition of Small Ruminant Research will feature the best papers and posters.

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IGA joins the SMARTER Stakeholder Committee

Book Announcement – That Sheep May Safely Graze: Rebuilding Animal Health Care in War-Torn Afghanistan

Announcement: Award to Dr. Shoor Vir Singh

Conference Report – 4th Asian-Australasian Dairy Goat Conference

REPORT: Asian Regional Conference on Goats (ARCG-2018), October 22-26

Report from the launch of PPR-GREN, April 2018

Report: 2017 National Symposium on Sheep and Goat in China

Global Goat Production and Research Trends

Letter from the President, IGA 2016 to 2020

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