ILRI Feed and Forage Development Program aims to tackle key challenges and unlock opportunities within the feed and fodder value chains. By enhancing both the quatity and quality of feed resources, we strive to boost livestock productivity to meet the increasing demand for animal-sourced foods. Additionally, our initiatives focus on enhancing profitability by reducing feed costs, increasing income, and generating employment opportunities, particularly empowering women by reducing labor and drudgery. Through sustainable feeding solutions, we also aim to reduce the environmental impact of feed production.
Our Key Achievements:
- Genomic Breakthroughs: Successfully sequencing the lablab genome, paving the way for genetic improvements in forage crops. We have also generated sequences and genome wide molecular markers on some other forage species and has been conducted genetic diversity studies, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic selection (GS) and identified QTL/genomic regions associated with the important forage traits, which are useful in support of the development of molecular breeding capabilities along with forage plant breeders at National partners.
- Innovative Technology: Implementing mobile Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology to instantly analyze feed quality, ensuring optimal nutrition for animals.