Animal Production and Health

Last Updated: June 2002

Our sub-Programme assists institutions involved in the promotion of livestock resources in developing countries to use nuclear and related biotechnologies for identifying constraints to productivity and finding sustainable solutions. The overall aim is to facilitate the development and dissemination of technologies, guidelines and standards which enhance food security through sustainable improvements in productivity and income generation from domestic and international trade in livestock and livestock products.

The main, but not exclusive, emphasis is on improving the nutrition, reproductive efficiency and health of ruminants and poultry kept on mixed farming and peri-urban based systems through more efficient natural and human resources utilization. Food safety and international trade are also promoted through our technical support for the introduction or enhancement of veterinary drug residues monitoring schemes.

We work mostly with the National Agricultural Research Institutes of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), providing support and guidance in formulating and implementing strategic, applied and adaptive research underpinning national, regional and global livestock development objectives, including those of EMPRES and OIE's Animal Health Standards which underpin Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures under the WTO Agreements. These activities are pursued through Research Networks, Technical Co-operation Projects and Training Courses which are closely linked through a common set of objectives, and conducted in collaboration with other global and regional partners e.g. FAO's Animal Production and Health Division (AGA); the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI); the International Office of Epizootics (OIE); and OAU's International Bureau of Animal Resources (IBAR). We operate an Animal Production Unit from the FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory, at Seibersdorf, and promote information sharing among national research organizations and For the latest information on any of these activities see our:

Newsletter No. 35
- December 2001 -

Third RCM of the FAO/IAEA CRP on village poultry production held in conjunction with DANIDA in Quatre Bornes, Mauritius from the 6 - 10 May 2002

For some highlights and current events please click the NEWS link on the left navigation frame

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's (.pdf)
• FAO/IAEA External Quality Assurance (EQA) Programme
• Urea-Molasses-Multinutrient Block Technology (UMMB)

regional and global bodies through symposia, seminars and consultants' meetings, and by disseminating the results of our activities through various types of publications including newsletters, manuals and databases.