By Muftau Ogunyemi
Some experts in livestock farming have charged farmers to look for alternative feeding of their animals to enhance their production in order to make better profit.
The experts made the call at a one-day sensitisation organised by the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities’ Association (OSACA) held on Thursday in Akure.
Mrs Kemi Afolabi, a maggot farmer, who presented a paper on “Black Soldier Fly Maggot As An Alternative Protein Source for an Animals” said that it had become necessary for all farmers to adopt the use of maggots as an alternative feed for their animals.
Afolabi, who said that the black soldier fly maggot only lacked carbohydrates, explained that it had 40 to 60 per cent protein, 35 per cent fat and 60 per cent calcium.
According to her, if the maggot is taken into consideration, it will enable farmers to get more money on their pigs, chicken, fish and all other livestock animals.
Afolabi, who said that the maggot does not require any expense before getting it done, said it usually matured within seven to 15 days of processing.
“It is good for all livestock starting from fish, which ranges from tilapia, cat fish and other type of fish.
“In terms of chicken, it is good for broilers, layers even noilers as well as local chicken because it gives 90 to 95 per cent laying rate for chickens.
“For broilers, it attains 2.5kg in less than six weeks instead of six weeks and above.
“So, if farmers adopt the use of black soldier fly maggot as an alternative feeding for their livestock animals it will enable them to get more money on their chicken, fish, pig rearing and others,” she said.
Mr Adesola Ikugbomire, who spoke on use of tubers and cassava peels as alternative feeding for livestock, said it was time for farmers to use cassava peels as a source of energy to replace maize, which was costly in the market.
“Our farmers need to embrace cassava peels as energy source for their animals. Every stage of pigs can eat it very well even broiler birds, but it has to be processed and be under monitoring for layers (chicken) to eat it,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Ayodeji Omoge, said that the use of green grass, either dry or wet for alternative feeding of animals, had nutritional values.
“Now that government has stopped open grazing, our famers need to adopt the green grass not only as an alternative but also as a source of income,” he said.
Mr Ademola Akinbobade, a specialist in aquatic farming, admonished fish famers to turn waste to wealth.
He urged the farmers to embrace water essence, anzole and wofia plant as an alternative source of feeding, as it would be an added advantage and money making.
Earlier, Mr Gbenga Obaweya, OSACA Chairman, said that the trainees were drawn from all the 18 Local Government Area of the state.
He also said the training would enable livestock farmers to know how to feed their animals at a cheaper rate with good quality yield.
Obaweya, who frowned at the cost of animal feed at the market said that farmers must shun buying of imported feeds and embrace the use of locally made feed which would enable them get higher profits.
“About 150 livestock farmers who participated in the training must practice what they learned and teach others because many time we defeat ourselves before we even attempt.
“So practicing and Implementation is the key in any training undergo by trainees,” he advised.
One of the trainees, Engr. Martins Fasusi, a pig farmer, applauded OSACA for the gesture, saying it was an eye opener which would help reduce the high cost of feed and allow farmers get better profit than what was being experienced now. (NAN)