Bauchi Trains Livestock Farmers In Modern Animal Fattening

The Bauchi State Coordinating Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project has trained 50 livestock farmers from Bauchi South in modern animal fattening techniques to boost livestock productivity, increase farmers’ incomes and promote sustainable livelihoods.

During the two-day training held at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, the state coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Musa Adamu One, said the programme was designed to equip livestock farmers with modern production techniques to improve productivity and contribute to the state’s economic growth.

Represented by the project’s animal husbandry officer, Alhaji Abubakar Isah Shehu, the coordinator explained that the World Bank-supported L-PRES Project remains committed to empowering livestock farmers, improving productivity and enhancing rural livelihoods through sustainable livestock value chain development.

He urged the participants, drawn from different local government areas of the state, to apply the knowledge acquired during the training and share it with other members of their associations to encourage the widespread adoption of improved livestock management practices.

Musa reaffirmed the project’s commitment to continuous capacity building for livestock farmers and rearers across the state, with the goal of producing high-quality beef that meets international market standards.

According to him, modern livestock fattening offers significant economic benefits, including stable income, reduced market risks, better business planning, employment creation, improved access to premium markets and increased profitability.

On modern livestock fattening techniques, a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Engineering at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Dr Muhammad Garba, said modern livestock production focuses on the efficient use of available resources to maximise returns by targeting profitable markets, especially during festive periods when demand for beef is highest.

He explained that the beef value chain covers breeding and cow-calf production, calf rearing and backgrounding, feedlot fattening, livestock transportation, slaughtering and meat inspection, meat processing, distribution, retail marketing, and final consumption, all of which contribute significantly to economic growth.

Garba advised farmers to carefully select cattle for fattening, considering factors such as breed, age, body condition score, health status, temperament and estimated live weight.

He noted that proper animal selection leads to faster weight gain, improved feed conversion efficiency, lower mortality and treatment costs, shorter fattening periods, higher-quality meat, and greater profitability.

He added that ideal cattle fattening should possess desirable physical characteristics, including a long body, deep chest, broad back, wide hindquarters, a straight topline, strong legs and feet, moderate body condition, and a healthy appetite.

Garba said the training formed part of L-PRES’ ongoing efforts to strengthen livestock production systems, improve the beef value chain and position Bauchi State as a leading hub for quality livestock production