How to increase local meat, milk production – FUNAAB don

AProfessor Forage Agronomy and Utilisation, Olufemi Onifade, has spelt out ways to increase local production of meat, milk, mutton, veal, hides, skin and other exports. of

Professor Onifade, a former director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), said what needs to be done was simply ensuring that the animals producing these products are adequately fed and well taken care of.

He spoke recently at the 53rd Inaugural Lecture of the University titled, “Grasses: Production and Management for Sustainable Livestock Industry”, where he enumerated the importance of forage in the stabilisation of soil, serving as cover crop for erosion control, usage as pesticide, feed for ruminants and non-ruminants, medical and recreational activities, among others.

Professor Onifade, who is of the Department of Pasture and Range Management, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), observed that forage evaluation started long time ago in Nigeria, particularly in Northern Nigeria, where forage species were first evaluated in 1935, which led to the need to focus on pasture, grassland management and to establish more cooperation between livestock and traditional farmers.

He noted that between 1956 and 1961, about 271 pasture species were evaluated at various centers in sub-humid zone and at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI).

The professor added that the livestock industry had contributed tremendously to national economy as the population of ruminant livestock in Nigeria, as at 2013, was estimated at 40,834,000 goats, 19,590,000 sheep and 16,286,000 cattle, adding that many established pastures were not doing well and failed to last long.

He called for proper planning, identifying fertilizer needs, using of quality seed, land preparation, proper sowing method and proper management of weeds.