Boosting Animal Protein Production In Nigeria

Livestock experts
noted at a recent conference in Jos that Nigeria could not meet its animal protein needs in spite of abundant animal protein sources in the country.
The level of milk production is even very disturbing as the country consumes N155 million worth of imported milk daily.
The experts described the situation as serious and urged the government to redress the trend.
Dr Joseph Nyager, Director, Livestock Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, said government was putting policies in place to boost animal protein production in the country.
“What we are doing is to focus on the development of six priority value chains of meat from cow, pig, sheep, goats, poultry and dairy.
“Critical livestock inputs are also being provided to farmers at a discounted rate in order to improve production and productivity of their livestock.’’
Nyager also said that the ministry was collaborating with the private sector to strengthen the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), to facilitate the provision of day-old chicks at a cheaper price.
For the dairy sector, Nyager said that the ministry was collaborating with West African Milk Company (WAMCO) to establish additional milk collection centres in Oyo and the FCT.
“We believe that these steps will reposition the beef industry to process and provide wholesome meat and milk products at affordable prices to Nigerians and for export,’’ he said.
Dr. Godwin Oyediji, the Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, observed that Nigeria imports “ one million dollars worth of milk for local consumption daily.
“The current parlous state of our production structure, which is in the hands of nomads, is unsuitable; we sink so much money to import this product that we can produce locally if we can effectively harness our livestock potential.
“There is no doubt that the nation’s 170 million people offer a ready market for farmers and investors; so we must explore the dairy and meat production as a viable business,’’ he said.
The inability of the country to satisfy its animal protein needs locally has been blamed on reliance on traditional methods of dairy production.
Prof. Francis Ahamefule of the Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi said the country must step up efforts to discourage the traditional production methods.
“Nigeria must de-emphasise the traditional production system and embrace intensive livestock production with emphasis on meat and milk production.
“Specifically, conscious effort should be made to settle the nomadic pastorals who predominantly are in control of more than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s cattle.
“Settling them would create positive awareness toward accepting best practices in animal agriculture.
“This hopefully would enhance milk and meat production and fast-track Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda,’’ he said.
Ahamefule said that Nigerians must not see livestock production as “strictly a Fulani affair’’ as it is a lucrative business venture that anyone could engage in.
“There will be a massive turn-around if Nigeria’s 23 million cattle, 24 million sheep and 40 million goat potential are properly harnessed through massive investment in the sector,’’ he said.
Ahamefule explained that cattle accounted for 50 per cent of the nation’s meat supply, while sheep and goats accounted for 20 and five per cent respectively.
“Cattle also provide 90 per cent of the total annual milk output, while sheep and goats account for less than 10 per cent,’’ he further said.
He noted that the nation could not meet its protein needs because the livestock sector is completely tied to herding by the Fulani nomads.
He also said that the nomads had continued to view cattle rearing as simply an inherited tradition of their great grand-fathers.
“This traditional production system and beliefs need restructuring if we are to meet our protein needs,’’ the university don advised.
Prof. Isaac Butswat, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, decried the low productivity of Nigerian cattle, stressing  that the breed need to be  improved upon in order to achieve higher productivity.
“What the animal produces in the form of milk and meat is a function of many factors such as the type of breed, climate, nutrition, health and other management practices.
“If such factors are not properly improved, especially the breed of cattle, the consequence is that output in terms of milk and meat will remain low.
“Our aspirations are to improve the average local cattle weight to 350 kg from the current 250 kg, attain an annual beef production of 650,000 tonnes, generate dairy milk production to 1.9 million tonnes, and to double poultry production by 2016.
“We cannot achieve these goals if farmers continue using our local breed.
“There is, therefore, the need to encourage livestock farmers to embrace biotechnology techniques to improve the breed of their cattle through artificial insemination for optimal productivity.
“The technique is easily accessible in animal research institutes; many farmers have tried it and boosted productivity, both in meat and milk production,’’ he said.
Butswat advised livestock farmers to liaise with research institutes like the National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Kaduna State and the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, for advice and technical services.
With the incentives put in place by the government, entrepreneurs should invest in the livestock sector as it is not only a gold mine but could also create employment opportunities.
Yatai writes for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Filibus Yatai,

A pig breast feeding its young ones … Milk from animals is rich in protein.