‘ADP Registered 9.4m Livestock’

The Adamawa State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) registered not less than 9.4 million cattle, sheep and goats in 2009, according to the ADP annual Survey report for 2009.

The report, made available to newsmen, on Tuesday in Yola, stated that 4.7 million cattle were registered in the year under review.

The survey was conducted in collaboration with agricultural experts from the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Service (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and officials from the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) and the Federal Department of Agriculture.

According to the survey, sheep and goats numbered 2.5 million and 2.2 million respectively, while poultry population was approximately 4.4 million.

However, the survey indicated that there were no accurate details on the number of farms, commercial livestock and poultry farms existing in the state.

On the livestock diseases, the report noted that Foot and Mouth Disease among other infections were recorded.

“The major livestock diseases reported in Adamawa in 2009 included `Proplasmosis’ in 139 cattles in Gombi Local Government Area and 600 sheep and goats across the state.

“Foot and Mouth Disease affected 509 cattle in Mubi while PPR (peste des petit ruminants) affected 800 sheep and goats in all three zones of the state.

“Also, Helminnthes affected about 1,100 sheep and goats in all ADP zones of the state,” the report stated.