The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has called all actors across the various feed value chain to promote the utilisation of alternative feed ingredient to address the high cost of animal feeds.
In Nigeria, animal feed remains a challenge to animal husbandry practices and where they are, they are not easily affordable by an average farmer.
Speaking at a capacity building on Utilisation of Alternative Feed Ingredients for Climate Smart Animal Feed Production in Gwagwalada yesterday, the permanent secretary, ministry of agriculture and rural development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe said alternative feed resources are cheaper and most available feedstuff for production.
Some cheap feed resources include crop residues, rice, maize, groundnuts, cassava by-products, animal processing wastes, and brewery wastes etc.
According to the director, Department of Animal Husbandry Services, Winnie Lai-Solari, the training of farmers on low cost feed production through utilisation of alternative feed ingredients is essential in increasing their profit and reducing the rate of competition between man and animal for conventional feed ingredients.
She noted that the training will acquaint participants with the relevant knowledge and skill that will uplift their businesses as feed millers and livestock farmers.
She said, “It is expected that at the end of this capacity building there will be significant improvement on the profitability of your enterprise and that of your associates, you should be able to produce feed at low cost through the use of alternative ingredients and silage.
I will encourage all participants at this training not to keep the knowledge they will obtain here today to themselves, but get back and step it down to the several farmers in their locality”.
