Mrs Mary Ouma
About me
Mary Atieno Ouma is a Kenyan livestock scientist specializing in animal nutrition, livestock genetics, and climate-smart livestock systems. She is a Research Associate III at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), working across the Small Ruminants, Tropical Dairy Genetic Gain, and Global Methane Genetics programs. She holds an MSc in Animal Nutrition and a BSc in Animal Science from Egerton University. Her research focuses on improving livestock productivity and reducing enteric methane emissions in African ruminant systems.
Mary Atieno Ouma is a Kenyan livestock scientist specializing in animal nutrition, livestock genetics, and climate-smart livestock production systems. She currently serves as a Research Associate III at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), where she contributes to interdisciplinary research across the Small Ruminants, Tropical Dairy Genetic Gain, and Global Methane Genetics programmes.
She holds a Master of Science in Animal Nutrition (2024) and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science (2019), both from Egerton University. Her academic training and professional experience have equipped her with strong expertise in livestock production systems, with a focus on improving productivity, efficiency, and environmental sustainability in ruminant livestock systems.
Her research work focuses on integrating animal nutrition and livestock genetics to enhance feed efficiency, improve animal performance, and reduce enteric methane emissions in both cattle and small ruminant systems. She is particularly interested in developing climate-smart livestock solutions that are applicable to smallholder farming systems and dryland production environments, where livestock play a central role in livelihoods, food security, and resilience.
Through her work at ILRI, Mary has gained experience in multidisciplinary, impact-oriented research that links science to development outcomes. Her exposure to dairy genetics, methane mitigation research, and small ruminant production systems has strengthened her interest in systems-based approaches to livestock improvement that address both productivity and climate challenges.
Her long-term professional goal is to become a leading African livestock scientist contributing to evidence-based livestock policy and innovation. She aims to support the transformation of livestock systems in Africa through research that informs sustainable production practices, reduces environmental impact, and enhances resilience among smallholder livestock keepers.