Livestock

Kenya's State Department for Livestock Development has selected more than 80 women's groups in Homa Bay as beneficiaries of its livestock empowerment programme launched across all 47 counties

Smallholder farmers in Homa Bay received improved KENBRO chicks as First Lady Rachel Ruto presided over the distribution. According to principal livestock production officer, Fred Oruru, these chicks add to the hardiness of local breeds, making them exceptionally disease-resilient, with a laying capacity of 200 and 280 eggs a year. That is a marked improvement in egg production compared with about 45 eggs from indigenous birds. They can also attain a weight of 2 to 2.5 kilogrammes in 3.5 months, compared with 1 to 1.5 kilogrammes in eight months for local breeds.

The upgraded breed will support 3.6 million households, especially women and youth, said Oruru. 

“With proper management, chicken farming can become one of the most profitable and sustainable ventures for smallholders in Homa Bay. The handover is not an end in itself but part of a continuous programme to transform the poultry industry nationally,” he said.

Ruto defined the initiative as transformational for the region's livestock sector as it will boost food security, nutrition and household incomes.

“The women have been equipped with skills to build viable and sustainable enterprises. The programme will economically empower them and improve their source of livelihoods,” she said.

According to Ruto, women must see agriculture more than just food source for their families and take it as a opportunity for wealth creation that can sustain generations. 

Overall the programme will be benefitting 1,200 women groups by providing livelihood support through sustainable enterprises promotion for increased household incomes.

“A society where women are empowered progresses. We support the programme because it is a way of sustaining the livelihoods of people,” said Homa Bay's Governor, Gladys Wanga, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga while speaking of advancing financial inclusion and enterprise development through the initiative. 

Fisheries are integral to Namibia's economy.

The African Organization for Standardization (ARSO) and the Namibian Standards Institution recently organised a two-day programme to raise awareness among Namibia’s fisheries and aquaculture communities about the role of coordinated African standards to advance sustainable economic development, food security and regional trade

“Standards are not just a technical requirement; they are identified as an economic driver,” said Diina Nashidengo, director of the Commerce Directorate at the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, explaining its influence in market expansion. 

"By developing harmonised African standards, we move to dismantle trade barriers," Nashidengo said, while explaining how a wider integration can facilitate the mutual recognition of conformity assessment results, reduce delays at border crossings and lower compliance costs for businesses. 

Nashidengo spoke at an awareness programme on the implementation of harmonized African standards and conformity assessment in fisheries and aquaculture, held recently in the coastal town of Walvis Bay.

Fisheries are integral to Namibia's economy, largely driving the country's export business as well. Harmonised standards would solidify Namibia's hold over international markets while promoting sustainable production. 

Namibia is associated with multiple regional and international standardisation bodies, including ARSO, the International Organization for Standardization and the Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Standardization.

The pilot will serve as a review of the BCG vaccine.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Tunisia has announced a pilot vaccination initiative against bovine tuberculosis to advance animal health and livestock sector

The pilot will serve as a review of the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine’s performance under Tunisian farming conditions before it can be rolled out nationally on a wider basis.

Expressing big anticipations from the pilot project, the Ministry believes that the BCG vaccine can effectively reduce the spread of bovine tuberculosis. Officials stressed that vaccination would complement rather than replace existing disease control measures. 

The campaign will focus on epidemiological surveillance, biosecurity, animal movement controls and routine herd testing.

Caused by Mycobacterium, bovine tuberculosis largely impacts cattle, but can also infect people if they came into direct contact with infected animals or consumed contaminated meat or unpasteurised milk.

This vaccination drive will address rising human tuberculosis cases, which are reported to be 1500 annually, with almost 80% responsible for animal transmission, found Tunisia’s Order of Veterinary Surgeons. It is capable of spreading chronic illness, pneumonia, weight loss and death in infected cattle, limiting livestock productivity and affecting the supply of animal products.

In April 2026, veterinary authorities detected six cases of bovine tuberculosis in calves at a municipal slaughterhouse in Sousse, which pointed at the seriousness of the issue in adversely affecting the national cattle population.

The vaccination initiative is part of the government’s wider 2026-2030 livestock recovery strategy to restore cattle and small ruminant herds by improving forage production, digitising livestock monitoring systems and strengthening veterinary services.

The recovery programme will support Tunisia’s cattle, sheep and goat population, which has been seeing sharp decline since 2016 at 30%, going down to approximately 5.94 million head in 2022.

Officials believe that improving disease control will be essential to rebuilding livestock numbers, with successful vaccination potentially reducing losses associated with bovine tuberculosis by limiting the need for widespread culling of infected animals.

The participants gained access to both local expertise and global best practices.

Wadi Group successfully held its 12th Wadi Poultry Academy, bringing together poultry professionals and industry experts for four days of intensive learning, collaboration and professional development

Held from 11-14 May, the Academy continued Wadi Group’s long-standing commitment to advancing poultry knowledge and supporting the sustainable growth of Egypt’s poultry industry.

Through the continued collaboration between Wadi Group and Aviagen, participants gained access to both local expertise and global best practices covering the latest developments in poultry production, flock management, biosecurity, nutrition, quality assurance and performance optimisation of their Ross® 308 flocks.

As Aviagen’s Ross distributor in Egypt, Wadi Group has worked closely with Aviagen for decades to support poultry producers with world-class genetics, expertise and customer support. The Wadi Poultry Academy has become a cornerstone of this shared commitment, creating opportunities for current and future industry professionals to learn from experienced practitioners and leading experts while supporting succession planning and equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to drive the industry’s future success.

Puzant Dakessian, CEO, Poultry Sector, Wadi Group opened the event, reaffirming Wadi’s belief that education remains one of the strongest drivers of industry progress. He also highlighted Wadi’s ongoing growth plans despite the challenges facing the global poultry sector.

Since it was established, the Wadi Poultry Academy has evolved into one of the region’s most respected poultry education initiatives. The Academy reflects Wadi Group’s broader mission of fostering continuous learning, strengthening customer relationships and supporting the long-term success of the poultry sector.

The event concluded with a closing ceremony and certificate presentation recognizing participants’ commitment to professional development and industry excellence.

As Wadi Group looks toward the future, the company remains dedicated to sharing knowledge, promoting innovation and empowering poultry professionals with the tools needed to succeed in an increasingly dynamic industry.

“The success of the Wadi Poultry Academy reflects the strengt6h of our collaboration with Aviagen and our shared belief that education is essential for the future of poultry production. By bringing together global expertise and local experience, we are helping poultry professionals develop the knowledge and skills needed to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry," commented Puzant.

Kayhan Gursel, Senior Commercial Manager, TMENA, added, “The Wadi Poultry Academy has become an outstanding example of how collaboration and knowledge sharing can help drive industry progress. We are proud to continue working alongside Wadi Group to support poultry producers throughout Egypt and the wider region.”