Animals should not be allowed to roam about, graze open - Prof. Nwosu

...As varsity dept holds maiden conference, alumni home-coming

By our reporter 

An Emeritus Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Chijioke Nwosu has said that it is an abomination for the federal government to still allow animals to roam about and graze open in this 21st century.

Nwosu said this in Nsukka on Monday in a Special Paper Presentation, during the Maiden Conference and Alumni Home-Coming 2024 of the Department of Animal Science, UNN, with the theme; "Innovative Approach to Sustainable Livestock Production and Protein Supply in the 21st Century: A Panacea to Food Security in Nigeria."

He said Nigeria must imbibe the practice of innovative approaches in livestock production that discourage roaming and open grazing of livestock and poultry to ensure global best practices as well as to maintain adequate animal protein supply and food security in the country.

"It is an abomination for Nigeria to watch and allow our cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, etc. to roam about Nigeria in this 21st century.

"It is imperative that all livestock producers in this 21st Century in Nigeria and beyond must imbibe and practice innovative approaches in animal husbandry, animal breeding and improvements feeding nutrition, and management of our Livestock.

"Regrettably, in Nigeria and most African countries, due to bad political leaders and un-innovative contribution of most animal/livestock scientists, livestock production is grossly inadequate with its bad effect on the lives of the people.

"Our livestock roam about and eat whatever they can find on their way with little supplementation, they met randomly without guided mating, and they remain virtually unselected for longer generations," he said.

Speaking further, the Emeritus Professor called on the members of the National Assembly to enact a law that will support innovative practices in livestock production, as well as end open grazing and animal roaming across the country.

"The National Assembly should enact basic laws that will promote livestock production in all parts of Nigeria, and enforce all livestock farmers to rear their animals and poultry indoors.

"Our animals must be well taken care of, fed, housed, and transported when necessary," he said.

In a Keynote Speech, Prof Suleiman Bogoro, former Executive Secretary of TETFund, highlighted facts and status of the Nigerian livestock sector and described the sector as an endangered subsector craving for elevation to a full and promising sector that has potential.

"The priority areas of the livestock industry are appropriate policy framework, appropriate modern production system, innovation, relevant technologies, value chain development and marketing," he said.

In a remark Mr. Raymond Isiadnso, President, Animal Science Association of Nigeria, who chaired the occasion expressed his appreciation to the organizers of the occasion and charged them to sustain it.

The chairman emphasized the need for graduates of the Department of Animal Science of UNN extraction to be having a regular gathering and chart ways of supporting the programmes and activities of the department as a way of giving back to their alma mata.

He urged the students of the department to consider themselves lucky, stating that opportunity abounds in the profession, this was as he made a donation of N1m towards the proposed building of Animals Science Department Alumni Building.

Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, the acting Vice-Chancellors, UNN, while declaring the conference open, said that the ultimate goals of the conference and alumni homecoming are to unite the departments' alumni and enhance animal agriculture in Nigeria as a productive means of producing animals that support global food security and high-quality animal protein.

"This event is also a forum for researchers, scientists, industry players, and the students from UNN and other research and education institutions to showcase their valuable studies pertaining to the conference team," he said.

Earlier in a remark, Prof. Ndubuisi Machebe, Head, Department of Animal Science, UNN highlighted inadequate funding, scarce animal and feed resources, poor infrastructure, disease outbreaks, veterinary services, climate change, etc, as some of the challenges militating against livestock production.

"Interestingly our alumni all over the world are contributing in no small measure towards the development of innovative solutions to mitigate these challenges," he said.

The HOD commended the university authority for approving the conference, as well as the guests/participants, staff, students, and alumni of the department for their contribution towards the success of the conference.

He highlighted some of the needs of the department which include; a 20KBA Solar Lighting system, a 14-seater Bus, the purchase installation of a 2000-layer Capacity Battery Cage System, among others.

"Support towards any or all these projects will go a long way in motivating and helping the Department in achieving her mission which is to admit train and produce individuals who are well equipped and balanced to take up the challenges of ensuring adequate animal proteins supply and food security for the teaming population," he said.

HRH Igwe Prof. Ikenna Omeje, the Traditional Ruler of Edemani Ibagwa Aka Kingdom, Igbo-Eze South LGA of Enugu state who was the royal father of the day, was among alumni of the department that attended occasion.