High Feed Cost: Adopt Alternative Ingredients, Federal Govt Tasks Stakeholders
In order to reduce the high cost of animal feeds, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has called on all participants in the various feed value chains to promote the use of alternative feed ingredients.
Animal husbandry practices in Nigeria are still challenged by the availability of animal feed, which is also expensive for the typical farmer.
The permanent secretary of the ministry of agriculture and rural development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, said alternative feed resources are the most readily available and affordable feedstuff for production yesterday at a capacity building on Utilization of Alternative Feed Ingredients for Climate Smart Animal Feed Production in Gwagwalada.
Crop residues, rice, maize, groundnuts, cassava byproducts, animal processing wastes, brewery wastes, etc. are a few inexpensive feed supplies.
In order to increase their profit and lower the rate of competition between humans and animals for conventional feed ingredients, farmers must be trained on how to produce feed at a low cost by using alternative feed ingredients, according to Winnie Lai-Solari, director of the Department of Animal Husbandry Services.
She remarked that participants will gain the necessary information and skills to advance their careers as feed manufacturers and animal farmers.
“It is anticipated that the profitability of your business and that of your associates will significantly improve following this capacity building, and you should be able to produce feed at a low cost by using alternative ingredients and silage,” she stated.
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”.
