New Bluetongue Test to Help India’s Poor Improve Livestock Productivity

Indian cattle farmers are set to benefit from new field tests for the strains of bluetongue virus that circulate in the country, which are reliable, rapid and simple to use.

There are currently 27 different types of bluetongue virus, or serotypes. In India, several serotypes are circulating, making testing important for identifying the virus involved in outbreaks and vaccinating appropriately.

Dr Simon Carpenter, Head of the vector-borne disease programme at The Pirbright Institute said: “This test paves the way for accurate and effective targeting of vaccination that will play a significant role in helping improve livestock productivity for some of the poorest people in India.” – Click here to read more.

In other news this week, Brazil’s livestock production chain is performing particularly well this year, according to an annual report by the Association of Brazilian Beef Exporters (Abiec).

Livestock’s share of Brazil’s economy is 6.8 per cent, whilst Brazilian beef exports totalled US$5.9 billion in 2015, which accounted for 3 per cent of all of Brazil’s foreign sales last year.

“In contrast to the negative wave impacting the majority of the sectors of the Brazilian economy, agribusiness continues to grow, and beef’s industrial system is one of the most dynamic of the sector,” said Abiec’s president, Antônio Jorge Camardelli – read more.