"Measuring molecules like progesterone is important because it gives experts a much better understanding of the reproductive physiology of the animals," according to Mario Garcia Podesta, consultant at the Animal Production and Health Section in the FAO/IAEA Joint Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.
As the Sections technical officer for Honduras, Garcia recently concluded a field review visit of the project and assessed the capabilities and future needs of the laboratories in light of project objectives.
"It is evident that SENASA authorities and laboratory directors play a key role in implementing new technologies to be more efficient and accurate in the results," he said. Garcia recommends that, for the projects next phase, more focus should be made on livestock productivity and direct technical advise to cattle farmers.
"In the third phase of the project, we intend to move out to the farms... strongly!" Juan Carlos Ordoez emphasized. As a starting point, the project is relying on data provided through a sizeable database of up to 200 cattle farms. For this year alone, data on the production, reproductive and health status of livestock at 6-12 farms out of the 200 will be constantly monitored in an effort to suggest and implement better management practices. The network of diagnostic laboratories now in place in Honduras will play a key role in measuring the technical impact and economic benefit of these intervention efforts.
Improving livestock production is becoming more and more a priority among many developing countries, as diets shift from plant-based protein to animal-based protein. Also issues as diverse as nutrition, health, reproduction, animal disease and export controls mean that many countries face growing challenges to implement sustainab
|Contact: Rodolfo Quevenco|
International Atomic Energy Agency