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AgHealth blog

Expert review examines impact of mycotoxins on dairy cattle health in sub-Saharan Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, contamination of dairy feed with mycotoxins has been frequently reported. Mycotoxins pose a threat to animal health and productivity and are a hazard to human health as some mycotoxins and their metabolites are excreted in milk, such as aflatoxin M1. A new review paper...

ILRI clippings

Thursday Links (November/December)

A monthly round-up of recent articles, blog postings and tweets about livestock, aid and other topics that may be of interest to International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) staff and partners, compiled by David Aronson. (This is a dual month issue of Thursday Links in anticipation of the...

ILRI clippings

Thursday Links (November/December 2019)

A monthly round-up of recent articles, blog postings and tweets about livestock, aid and other topics that may be of interest to International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) staff and partners, compiled by David Aronson. (This is a dual month issue of Thursday Links in anticipation of the...

AgHealth blog

New review article tackles the question: Can aflatoxin binders in foods be promoted safely and ethically?

There are too many issues with using lactic acid bacteria for aflatoxin binding for the practice to be safely promoted, according to a newly published review . The review adds that using aflatoxin binders in human food might even worsen food safety in the longer term. “Use of binding agents in...

ILRI clippings

Don’t believe the scare stories, Kenyan milk is a big success

We sent the following note to Parents Africa magazine , which published an unfortunately alarmist article recently based on research conducted by ILRI scientists. Village-based dairy advisor Lillian Ochieng cleaning her cow’s udder in preparation for milking in Siaya County (Photo credit: FIPS/...

AgHealth blog

CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health publishes 2017 annual report

The CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health ( A4NH ) has published its 2017 annual report which highlights the program’s accomplishments and activities during the first year of its second phase. Detailed in the report are research, events and results from across A4NH’s five...

AgHealth blog

ILRI-led dairy projects in Kenya present research results to stakeholders

Erastus Kang’ethe (standing) facilitates a panel discussion at the ‘Growing with Dairy’ meeting. The panel members (left to right) are Johanna Lindahl from ILRI, Humphrey Mbugua from the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers and Margaret Aleke from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (photo credit:...

Africa RISING feed

Aflasafe products tested in Ghana for aflatoxin control in maize and groundnut

Aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnut by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi is perennial in Ghana. Consumption of foods with high aflatoxin content can cause acute liver cirrhosis and death, while sub-lethal chronic exposure may cause cancer, stunting in children, immune system suppression,...

  • Jonathan Odhong
AgHealth blog

ILRI sponsors special journal issue on aflatoxins in eastern Africa

Aflatoxin-contaminated groundnut kernels from Mozambique (photo credit: IITA). A special issue of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND) published in July 2016 and sponsored by the International Livestock Research Institute ( ILRI ) features 12 peer-reviewed...

AgHealth blog

New ILRI study finds high levels of aflatoxin in milk and dairy feeds in Greater Addis Ababa milk shed

Aflatoxins are highly toxic fungal by-products produced by certain strains of Aspergillus fungi in more than 40 susceptible crops including maize and groundnuts. Aflatoxins can be separated into aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2. When ingested, aflatoxin B1 is metabolized to aflatoxin M1 which is...

AgHealth blog

New journal article presents case studies on CGIAR research on aflatoxins

Working in the maize field in Malawi (photo credit: ILRI/Stevie Mann). The CGIAR Consortium , made up of 15 research centres, carries out agricultural research to contribute to the global effort to find solutions to the problems of poverty, hunger, food and nutrition insecurity, and environmental...

AgHealth blog

Europe Day 2015 celebrations feature aflatoxin research by Finland-funded FoodAfrica program

Harvested maize in Tete Province, Mozambique (photo credit: ILRI/Stevie Mann). As part of celebrations in Nairobi last week to mark Europe Day 2015, the Finland-funded FoodAfrica program took part in an exhibition at the residence of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Kenya where...