IGA Blog

IGA message to Chinese colleagues and beyond

3/6/2020

Hello, I am Dr. Beth Miller, the president of the International Goat Association, a global organization of scientists, farmers and development experts dedicated to improved human welfare through a more organized goat sector. On behalf of our Board of Directors, and all of our members, I want our Chinese colleagues to know that we stand with you in solidarity during this difficult time of the COVID19 outbreak.

As scientists, we know the dangers of infectious diseases, and the need to prevent exposure. As people, we understand the terrible isolation resulting from travel restrictions, and the fear from hearing of new cases. All of us understand that travel is the best learning experience, and makes our research and policies more robust and effective. For now, we accept the limitations on travel to and from China, but we also know that we will be able to visit with you again in the future.

Please know that your IGA friends and colleagues from around the word eagerly await the end of the outbreak, and the development of new tools for prevention and treatment, both in China and the other countries where new cases are being discovered such as Italy, Korea and Iran. Now more than ever, we can see the need for global cooperation so our countries and our families can thrive.

We commend the Chinese people on your patience and strength while facing this unprecedented situation. I look forward to returning to a time with safe and easy travel within and between countries. May you all enjoy good health and a quick return to a normal life, and working to advance goat health and production!

As more countries become affected, we ask IGA's Board members, Country Representatives, and Regional Directors to add their own messages of support on Facebook and Twitter.

Report: Visiting China - August 2018

3/15/2019

By Juan Capote, IGA Past-President & Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, IGA Secretary-Treasurer

In August 2018, Juan Capote as IGA Past-President, Herve Hoste as IGA Board Member, Zaisen Wang as IGA Member from Langston University and Jean-Marie Luginbuhl as IGA Secretary-Treasurer participated and made oral presentations at the 2018 Chinese National Sheep and Goat Conference held in Bengbu 15-18 August. We had been invited by Dr. Yingjie Zhang, president of the Chinese Sheep and Goat Association, IGA Board Member and Professor and Dean from the Agricultural University of Hebei. In addition to the scientific presentations, the attendees visited two sheep farms. Unfortunately, typhoon Rumbia passed through Bengbu during the conference and drenched the region with heavy rains accompanied by strong wind gusts. While at the meeting, we interacted with Dr. Luo Jun, IGA Regional Director from Northwest A&F University.

Following the National Sheep and Goat Conference, Juan Capote and Jean-Marie Luginbuhl traveled to Fuping, in the province of Shaanxi, to attend and participate at the 2nd World Dairy Goat and Sheep Industry Development Conference where they met Dr. Maria Fresno, IGA member from the Canary Islands, Spain and Vicky McLean, IGA Country Representative from New Zealand. The four of us had been invited by Dr. Binyun Cao from Northwest A&F University. Also attending the conference were Dr. Luo Jun, IGA Regional Director from Northwest A&F University and Dr. Sun Haizhou, IGA Country Representative for Northwest China and Inner Mongolia. Maria, Juan, Vicky and myself made presentations during the conference and at several other locations post-conference. In Quianyang, we made presentations in a session for farmers and visited the goat show where the farmers had the best milking goats received a monetary incentive.

While at the conference, we attended a meeting, chaired by Dr. Binuyn Cao, along with conferences attendees from Australia and New Zealand, to discuss the main organizational body structure of the International Dairy Goat/Sheep Industry Association (IDGSIA). The Association was registered in Paris on August 18, 2018. We also visited several dairy goat farms and very modern milk processing plants manufacturing milk powder and became part of a panel ranking powder milk samples according to solubility, color, odor, and flavor.

Jean-Marie Luginbuhl also visited the Animal Science department of Northwest A&F University in Yangling, the university experimental farm, and an animal feed manufacturing plant owned and managed by a Northwest A&F University alumnus. Finally, Jean-Marie made a presentation to Northwest A&F University Animal Science students.

2018 Chinese Sheep and Goat Production and Academic Conference

7/11/2018

The 2018 Chinese Sheep and Goat Production and Academic Conference will be held in Bengbu, Anhui province on August 15-19th, 2018. Bengbu means “Oyster Wharf” in Chinese, it is crowned as the “Pearl City” for its abundant resources of clams and pearls.

Conference sponsor
Chinese Sheep and Goat Association

Conference supporter
International Goat Association and People’s Government of Guzhen

Profile – Dr. Sun Haizhou

5/28/2018

Country Representative for Northwest China and Inner Mongolia

Sun Haizhou is a researcher and the Director of the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Research of the Inner Mongolia Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences in Hohhot. He holds a Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from the Inner Mongolia Agriculture University.

Want to learn more about our other Country Representatives? Click here

Profile – Dr. Yongju Zhao

5/22/2018

Country Representative for Southwest China

Yongju Zhao graduated with a Bachelors degree in Animal Science from Qingdao Agricultural University and received a Masters of Science in Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction from the Gansu Agricultural University. He obtained an MD from the Third Military Medical School University, focusing in Models of Transgenic Animals.

After his medical degree, he attended Northeast Wales Institute (NEWI), United Kingdom, as a Visiting Scholar in Forensic Science and Technology. Then, he attended Aarhus University, Denmark, as a Visiting Scholar in Molecular Genetics, as well as Purdue University, USA, as a Visiting Scholar in Animal Behavior and Well-Being.

Profile – Dr. Jun Luo

5/21/2018

Regional Director for Asia (China)

Jun Luo obtained his B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry, M.S. degree in Animal Production and Ph.D. degree in Animal Genetics and Breeding from Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University of China. He is currently a professor in the College of Animal Science and Technology of NWAFU and the director of the Dairy Goat Committee of the China Dairy Association. Jun Luo is a member of the Sheep and Goat Resource Committee.

Report: 2017 National Symposium on Sheep and Goat in China

12/13/2017

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.

Report: IGA Board meeting in China, 2017

12/12/2017

Board members of the International Goat Association (IGA) attended the 2017 National Symposium on Sheep and Goat and the 7th Member Meeting of Sheep and Goat Branch of the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine from August 18 to 21, 2017 at Shijiazhuang, China. A total of 14 Board members, the Executive Director, and members of the advisory board from different areas of the world met together to discuss further development of the Association. Great appreciation was expressed to Dr. Yingjie Zhang, Professor of the Agricultural University of Hebei, President of the Sheep and Goat Branch of the Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, and his student Ms. Xuejiao Yin for their dedication to organizing the trip.

Global Goat Production and Research Trends

12/7/2017

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

Molecular improvement of SA Angora goats

12/6/2017

Presented by Dr. Carina Visser, Vice-President of IGA, during the 2017 National Symposium on Sheep and Goat, August 18 to 21, 2017, Shijiazhuang, China.

The International Goat Association's mission is to promote goat research and development for the benefit of humankind, to alleviate poverty, to promote prosperity and to improve the quality of life.

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