Monday, March 03, 2014

‘Poor feeding of goats causes malnutrition’

Monday, March 03, 2014

‘Poor feeding of goats causes malnutrition’



A research by a Professor of Animal Science, Simisola Odeyinka, has shown that poor feeding of ruminant animals, especially sheep and goats, is a major cause of malnutrition among Nigerians.
The professor presented the outcome of the research during an inaugural lecture in her honour, organised by the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, on Tuesday.
While speaking on the topic, ‘That they may eat all year round: The intellectual odyssey of a ruminant nutritionist’, Odeyinka said Nigeria and other African countries were suffering from poor nutrition because of their ignorance about benefits derivable from ruminant animals.
She said goat and human milk had relatively high nutritional value, compared to cow milk, hence they should be fed well to derive maximum benefits.
The profesor said, “Agriculture in Nigeria evokes the images of a gigantic paradox. The nation has 82 million hectares of arable land and 18 million hectares of permanent pastures, yet it is one of the largest food importers globally while over 60 percent of its population suffer from malnutrition.
“This paradoxically needs to be turned into prosperity. Our agriculture has tremendous potential, but then, no one can eat ‘potential’. Potential must be transformed into adequate food supply to our growing population. And small ruminant production system provides excellent platform for such all-important transformation. However, small ruminants must be well fed all year round to enable them reach their full genetic potential.
“To this end, our ruminant livestock should be given access to drought-resistant browse plants, such as Gliricidia, Leucaena, Cajanus and Moringa, as my research findings have indicated. I recommend that all tiers of the Nigerian government should support research on Moringa, for better livelihood for our people. Also, agro-allied industries are encouraged to invest in production and processing of these legumes, including their seeds, into livestock feedstuff.”




http://www.punchng.com/news/poor-feeding-of-goats-causes-malnutrition/

Written by

Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner

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