Expert Tasks Livestock Operators On Best Practices

The Director, Livestock
and Veterinary Department, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Allswell Emejuru has called on animal breoders in the state to observe best practices in their businesses.
Emejuru who spoke to our correspondent in Port Harcourt on the unwholesome practices perpetrated by most lives stock dealers in the sector advised them to avail themselves of the services of professionals.
According to him, livestock famers should endevour to build proper places for their animals as they too need a reasonable amount of comfort.
He explained that different animals have specified habitats to enable them feel comfortably during confinement.
For pigs, he said the normal pens should be provided with enough space for relaxation even as he said pigs need a lot of water for drinking and body cooling.
For goats and other herbivores, he recommended that they be put in a fenced and secure place with enough space for them to move and exercise.
He said as herbivorous animals, goats needed to be fed enough with green leaves to enable them have enough when they are resting.
He said this would enable the animals shew their cud without worring their handlers.
On the best way of slaughtering the animals, Emejuru said the animals should be slaughtered in such a way that they die quickly without struggling.
He condemned the crude methods used by most livestock farmers even as he said killing of  animals also needed the application of  professionalism.
On how to encourage people into getting involved in livestock business, he said apart from trained people who are into the business, others through self employment can go into it also.
He said one of the challenges facing the business was the ability to handle the animals properly to avoid casualties.
He said maintaining proper hygience was paramount in ensuring success.