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In humans, aflatoxins cause rare, high case fatality outbreaks (acute aflatoxicosis) while long-term consumption leads to hepatocellular cancer (globally, around 20,000 deaths annually). Aflatoxins are also associated with childhood stunting, although a causal relation is not yet proven.

This poster, produced for the Tropentag 2016 conference, shares results from a 2015 pilot project that measured aflatoxin B1 levels in dairy cattle feeds in low-input cattle farms in Senegal.

For non-transhumant dairy cattle keepers in two study sites, keeping Indigenous Zebu by Bos Taurus cross-breed animals, under better management, resulted in the highest profit of the scenarios considered. This is because the breed-type is both well-adapted to local environmental conditions and productive (the contribution of its Indigenous Zebu and Bos Taurus genes, respectively). Improved management also allowed its genetic potential to be expressed.

The results, from one of only a few studies of this type in developing countries, will allow different stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions on which breed or cross-breed of dairy cattle to promote or keep.

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This poster, prepared for the Tropentag 2014 conference, shares findings from a study by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners, that assessed factors influencing the use of AI and non-indigenous cattle breeds in small- to medium-scale dairy cattle farms in Senegal. The study found that farmers with large families, who depend on crop production for subsistence, and those located farther from AI service providers, were more likely to rely on public (government sponsored) AI services.

This week, ILRI staff are participating in the Tropentag 2014 International Conference in Prague (17-19 September 2014). There is also a dedicated ‘ILRI@40’ side event on ‘Livestock-based options for sustainable food and nutritional security and healthy lives.’  See all the posters.

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Read an interview about his work

Le projet vise à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle au Sénégal par une meilleure utilisation des races bovines laitières (pures et croisées).

The Interstate School of sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Dakar (EISMV) aims at contributing to economic growth, poverty reduction and food security of its member and non-member states through Research and Development activities, and expertise in the areas of animal production and animal health. http://www.eismv.org

A project on peri-urban dairy systems in Senegal “Senegal Dairy Genetics”, led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in partnership with Interstate school of Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Dakar (EISMV), the University of Helsinki (HU), and Agrifood Research Finland (MTT), and funded by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the FoodAfrica Programme started in January 2012.

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Determine the most appropriate dairy breed / cross-breed types for peri-urban dairy production systems in Senegal, and disseminate this information;
2. Characterise the dairy germplasm production chain and related policies, and use this information to develop a strategy for strengthened dairy germplasm production and delivery systems;
3. Enhance local human, institutional and organizational capacity on accessing and promoting different breeds/cross-breeds of livestock.

More information can be found on the project web-site: https://senegaldairy.wordpress.com/

 The Position & Job Purpose

The Senegal Dairy Genetics project will collect a large volume of field data (at both the household and individual animal level) over an 18 month period, using teams of field staff located in the two project sites (in Touba/Mbacke and Thies/Tivaouane). The project thus seeks to recruit a Database Manager to coordinate and assist in electronic data collection, transfer, quality assurance and integration with the overall project database platform.

Specific duties will include:

1. Perform initial checks on data received from field staff and revisions on the data received to ensure its completeness and correctness
2. Collate data from the site staff into one dataset in readiness for data transfer
3. Ensure data from the field staff are transferred to the project database platform on a weekly basis
4. Perform basic routine checks on the field staff netbooks e.g. updating antivirus software and making sure all required software are installed
5. Together with project staff in Senegal and Nairobi use data management procedures and software to extract and prepare data for analysis and produce routine summaries of data.
6. Implement and monitor quality assurance protocols and routines, including local back-up of databases.

The successful candidate should have:

1.  BA/BSc degree in Information Systems, Database Management, Computer Science or related discipline.
2. Proficiency in CsPRO (compulsory)
3. Proficiency in SQL (advantageous but not compulsory)
4. Experience in managing data collected from field surveys (advantageous but not compulsory)
5. Good command of both written and spoken English and French

Terms of Appointment: This position will be recruited through the Interstate school of Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Dakar (EISMV) with an initial 6 months contract with a possible extension to 9 months. The successful candidate is expected to begin on July 1, 2014.

Location: The position will be based at Dakar, Senegal.

How to Apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV combined as one document no longer than three pages, explaining their interest in the position, specifically how they meet each of the selection criteria numbered one to five above (include at least one paragraph on each of these), and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience by June 20, 2014. Applications should be sent in French or English, and it would also be advantageous to send a translation to the other language. Only online applications will be considered, and only short listed candidates will be contacted. Application files should be sent with subject title “Database Manager Application” as an email attachment to:

Prof. Ayao Missohou: missohou@gmail.com

Dr. Stanly Tebug: stebug@cgiar.org

For more information, visit:

EISMV Website at http://www.eismv.org

Senegal Dairy Genetics project Website at https://senegaldairy.wordpress.com

ILRI Website at http://www.ilri.org

The project seeks to improve food and nutrition security in Senegal through better utilization of dairy cattle breed-types.

Application deadline: July 26, 2013

Duration of contract: 5 months

Location: Departements of Thies ,Tivaouvane et Mbacke

I– Background

In peri-urban dairy production systems in Senegal,  native Zebu cattle breeds (e.g. Gobra and zebu Maure) are bred with dairy cattle breeds recently introduced from Europe (e.g. “Holstein-Friesian”), resulting in a multitude of cross-breed cattle populations. There is, however, very little information on the socio-economic performance of these different cross-breeds (or ‘breed types’). Animals with a high proportion of exotic DNA tend to have high genetic potential for milk production, but they are less adapted to local environmental conditions and require more inputs (feed and veterinary care) compared to animals of local breeds. In this context, the “Senegal Dairy Genetics” project was established in order to identify the most suitable cattle breed in a given environment in terms of productivity and socio-economic benefits to farmers. In addition to the current activities of this project in Thies, Tivaoune and Mbacké, EISMV and Helsinki University have decided to launch a study on identifying the determinants of cattle weight.

II – Thesis Topic

Phenotypic characterization of dairy cattle in peri-urban farms in Senegal

III – Objectives

This study aims to contribute to the overall characterization of cattle populations (local and cross breeds) in peri-urban farms in Senegal to improve productivity in the dairy sector. The specific objectives are to:

•   Collect barymetric data from cattle populations
•   Develop of linear regression and nonlinear models to predict of live weight of cattle.

IV – The successful candidate should

•        be a current MSc student in animal production, “Master 1 or maîtrise” in animal sciences, or final year of  veterinary medicine or agricultural engineering studies,
•        have good computer skills and  demonstrate knowledge of using statistical tools for data analysis,
•        be able and enjoy working in the field,
•        have excellent written and verbal communication skills in French. A good knowledge of English is also preferable.

V – Application file should contain

1. A letter addressed to the Head of service of animal production and animal feed science  of  EISMV
2. A curriculum vitae
3. A certificate of registration in a Master degree program related to livestock husbandry
4. A copy of the transcript of the last academic year

VI – Duration of Study

The study duration is 5 months including 3 months of field work and 2 months of data analysis and publication of results.

VII – Working conditions

The successful candidate will receive a monthly allowance of 80,000 FCFA (about 160 USD) for the duration of the study. This monthly allowance plus operating expenses related to conducting the research are the only costs covered by the project. The service of animal production and animal feed science of EISMV will provide facilities for data analysis as well as an enabling working environment to the candidate.

VIII – Deadline

Interested candidates should apply no later than July 26, 2013 by sending complete application files to:

– Professor Ayao Missohou: missohou@gmail.com

– Dr. Stanly Tebug: S.Tebug@cgiar.org

Only online applications will be accepted.