Nigeria is blessed with several untapped resources in animal agriculture that, if exploited, would solve the challenges of food and nutritional security as well as unemployment crisis bedeviling the Nigeria economy.
Prof. Joseph Omole, a Professor of Animal Science, stated this while delivering his 397 Inaugural Lecture at Odududwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Tuesday , in Ile-Ife.
Omole, a Professor of animal science, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, affiliated with Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife delivered his Inaugural Lecture on title: "Unlocking the Untapped Potentials in Micro-livestock Research and Production"
He said that the Inaugural Lecture was the second from the Livestock Improvement Programme and the 10th from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training Moor Plantation Ibadan.
According to him, Micro-livestock farming is subsector of the livestock industry and has potential of contributing to animal protein needs to the rural and Urban populace.
The Don explained that livestock farming contributing to sustainable income of individual and improving Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GPD), lamented that the sector has been neglected, ignored and least attractive field of animal agriculture.
Professor expressed that he dwell more on the potential of snails, grass-cutters and rabbits as gold mine waiting to be explored and tapped for a sustainable food security systems and wealth creation.
He admonished people to go on snail farming that does not require much land and space, saying that production and management expenses are minimal, compared to other conventional livestock such as poultry, pigs and ruminants.
Omole emphasized that snail production is a new agricultural enterprise, saying majority that embarked on it do not relied on it alone as their source of income.
"But combined with other businesses compared to poultry, piggery, cattle and sheep production.
He maintained that the quantitative and qualitative data collected showed that all snail farmers have formal education and majority of them established snail farms between 6 to 10 years.
According to him, the importance of snail meet cannot be over-emphasised as a good source of animal protein, with high biological value that contain all the essential amino acid such as lysine and methionine.
Snail farming is incomparable for it contain no cholesterol and fat. Majority are suffering for one sickness or the other like high blood pressure, hypertension among others. Eating snail reduces all the problems.
"Snail meat is highly-priced, for the low fat content and cholesterol levels make it a good antidote for fat-related disease like hypertension.
"The common snail reared by the farmers was Archachatina marginata, Achatina Achatina and Achatina fulica, while other farmers reared both Archachatina marginata and Achatina Achatina". He said.
"Snail reared in Nigeria is "African Giant Land Snails" because of their bigger sizes compared European countries which is called small grey snail that is common in France, Mexico, Italy, New Zealand.
"Major limitations of efficient snail production are: wrong perceptions about snail farming, predator attacks, slow growth, unfavorable weather conditions, stocking rate, unavailability feed in the market, poor market, fear of insecurity and lack of proper records". He explained.
The Don stressed that to increase animal protein intake of the growing human populations in Nigeria, there's need to explore the potential of other non- conventional animal protein like grass clutter.
He said that grass cutter meat has a high biological value and contain essential amino acids; the fat content and cholesterol in the meat are lower compared to beef and pork.
"The crude fat content is good for humans with heart related diseases like hypertension, it attract higher prices than rabbits and feeding us relatively cheaper and readily available than conventional livestock feed such as poultry feed.
"Another area of my research activities to increase animal protein supply and sustain food security in Nigeria through non-conventional sources of animal protein is rabbit.
"Rabbit is a docile animal unlike the grass-cutter which is aggressive. It can be fed with a variety of forages and household waste with concentrates.
" The management practices of rabbit are simple and it could be reared with minimal stress, in the backyard of the house particularly in a typical urban or rural setting.
The Don urges youths to take agriculture serious, asked everyone to involves in agriculture, adding that if populace go to agriculture, economic situation would change for best.
He condemned the attitude of all and sundry that want to get rich quickly without taking agriculture as a chosen career, admonished everyone to embrace agriculture as a source of income and sources of employment.
He reaffirmed that major causes of disease in human is what we eat, warned masses against taking "junks" as source of animal protein because of fat-related ailment.
"The meat of snail, grass-cutter and rabbit is tasty, delicious, that contain low fat and low cholesterol though highly priced, eat it to become fresh and stay healthy, I recommended for everyone here who is above the age of 50". He charged.
Omole ascertained that investment in Micro-livestock production seems not as popular as conventional livestock farming because of inadequate information on production, health and value addition in Micro-livestock.
"There's need to intensify more efforts on Micro-livestock research and more scientists should be encouraged to take up a career in Micro-livestock research, particularly in health and value addition.
"For higher profitability on investment, Micro-livestock enterprises should be approached as a business since these animals are kept in confinement, they should be provided with the required conditions such as good nutrition, housing and observance of daily routine practices for optimum performance
"Alternative feed resources such as biscuits waste, noodle waste, poultry meal and high-quality cassava peel(HQCP) among others, could be used to replace some of the expensive ingredients either partially or totally without compromising the quality of the feed." He stated.
The Professor of animal science called for introduction of Micro-livestock production in the curriculum from primary to tertiary institutions of learning, which would expose the students to the opportunities in Micro-livestock.
According to him, incorporation of Micro-livestock in the school curriculum as an elective course in tertiary institutions, especially for students in other fields of study may also go a long way in creating more awareness.
He suggested further that for the market challenges, an organised market for sales of Micro-livestock and its products via the commodity associations where prices are controlled and the creation of platforms where farmers and buyers can meet would be a laudable idea.
"The pragmatic way to encourage youths in agriculture, especially in Micro-livestock farming is to expose them to improved ways of practice through mechanised farming and the use of innovations and technologies.
"This will make Micro-livestock farming attractive and profitable with less drudgery for the youths". Omole
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