Limited access to information and limited opportunity for interaction among scientists working in the same area of interest are two of the major constraints to small ruminant development in the developing world, and in particular, Africa.
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 this goal through the organization 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. The forum also provides opportunity for small ruminant research priority setting.
This proceedings reflects the oral and poster presentation at the Network's Third Biennial Conference held in Kampala, Uganda, from 5 to 9 December 1994. Some 110 participants, representing 32 African countries, five European countries and various international and regional organizations (ILCA, OAU/IBAR and FAO) were present. Five scientific sessions were held, at which 44 oral and six 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 their continuous promotion and support of the activities of the Network including the holding of the Third Biennial Conference and the publication of the proceedings. A lot of thanks go to the ILCA Nairobi support office for the usual superb logistical support.
Special thanks go to the Ugandan Government for its support in holding the conference, and in particular to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Production and Fisheries and the National Small Ruminant Coordination Committee for co-hosting the conference. The Network also appreciates the kind willingness of Her Excellency, Dr Specioza Kazibwe, Vice President of the Government of Uganda, to be the guest speaker. My final thanks and gratitude go to all those who made the publication of this proceedings possible, particularly Ms Anne Nyamu, for English editing, and Mr Sourou Adoutan, for French editing, and the staff of the Publications Section of the International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa.
S. H. LebbieSRNET Co-ordinator
