Two of the major constraints to small ruminant development in the developing world and, in particular, Africa are limited access to information and limited opportunity for interaction among scientists working in the same area of interest.
It is against this background that the African Small Ruminant Research Network (SRNET) has made the promotion and improvement of information exchange on small ruminant research and development one of its major priorities in addition to collaborative research and training. The network has set out to achieve its goal through the organisation and sponsoring of a biennial scientific conference, amongst other channels. This provides a forum for small ruminant scientists in Africa and elsewhere, developers, policy makers and farmers to meet, exchange ideas and establish partnerships.
This proceedings reflects the oral and poster presentations at the Network's Second Biennial Conference held in Arusha, Tanzania, from 7 to 11 December 1992. Some 100 participants, representing 30 African countries, five European countries and various international and regional organisations (ILCA, OAU/IBAR, NRI, ODA and GTZ) were present. Five scientific sessions were held, at which 48 oral and 10 poster presentations were made and discussed. The sessions focused on production systems, economics and policy, performance and reproduction, health and reproductive wastage, feeds and feeding systems and genetic resources and breeding for both oral and poster presentations.
The Network is grateful to the European Economic Community (EEC) and ILCA for promoting and supporting the activities of the Network including the holding of the Second Biennial Conference and the publication of the proceedings. The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of Great Britain and the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Co-operation (CTA) are recognised for their support in the collaborative research and publication of this proceedings, respectively. A lot of thanks go to the ILCA Nairobi support office for the usual superb logistical support.
Special thanks go to the Tanzanian Government for its support in holding the conference, and in particular to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Cooperatives and the National Small Ruminant Research Network for co-hosting the conference. The Network also appreciates the kind willingness of Dr Ben Moshi, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, to be the guest speaker. My final thanks and gratitude go to all those who made the publication of this proceedings possible, particularly Mr Matthew Pritchard, for English editing, and the staff of the Publications Section of the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA).
