The dairy industry is an emerging sector of the livestock industry in many lower and middle-income countries (LMICs) particularly in Africa. Structured dairy cattle breeding programs, such as the African Dairy Genetic Gains (ADGG) project, are currently being implemented for improved performance and production. The ADGG program aims to assist farmers to improve cow management, improve animal and herd productivity as well as increasing income for smallholder dairy farmers.
A challenge to productivity in dairy farming is abortion or early calf death. Previous work has indicated that the incidence of abortion may be as high as 10%. Pathogens that cause abortion may also be zoonoses placing the livestock workers at risk. Abortion causing pathogens include Brucella, Neospora, Toxoplasma gondii, Rift Valley fever virus, Leptospira and Coxiella burnetii.
In order to address this major challenge for dairy producers and to reduce both the direct losses from mortality and retarded growth as well as the indirect loss of genetic potential, the research proposes to conduct a longitudinal study of abortion in cows. This will generate the disease and infection phenotypes that can then be linked to the ADGG genotypes to deliver genomic tools to develop resistance/tolerance to tropical diseases.
The successful MSc fellow will conduct the baseline cross-sectional study to the determine the prevalence of abortion causing pathogens in a population of dairy cattle in Nandi County, Kenya.
Responsibilities of the fellow:
Minimum requirements
The ideal candidate should:
Location: ILRI – Kenya
Duration: 6-months
Terms of appointment and stipend: ILRI will offer a competitive stipend to cover living expenses, medical insurance cover, and meet research expenses. The successful candidate will be supervised jointly by an ILRI scientist and the university/academic supervisor/s.
Applications should be sent to the Director of People and Organizational Development, ILRI by clicking on the tab “APPLY NOW” on or before 7th July 2023. The position title and reference number REF: GF/LG /06/2023 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.
We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.
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