Nigeria’s indigenous cattle breeds, largely owned by Fulani nomads, are the predominant source of milk for the ordinary Nigerian and often characterised by low milk production mainly due to inadequate feed supply, poor management practices among others.

The few commercial dairy farmers on the other hand prefer importing exotic breeds of cattle with higher milk production but whose fitness is relatively low due to insufficient and costly feed supplies, disease and parasite challenges in addition to narrow margins between costs incurred and final product prices.

In order to boost milk production of the country’s indigenous breeds, a breeder/ nutritionist with the dairy research programme of the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) in Shika, Zaria, Mr Ishaya U. Gadzama, noted that high milk production is a function of feed quantity and quality.

Mr Gadzama revealed that cheaper concentrate alternatives like palm kernel cake, brewers dried grains and soya milk residues can be used as supplements because they are more cost effective and economical.

Similarly, he advised that grazing cattle could be fed with crop residues like bran, offal, straw, peels and also dried poultry waste. Additionally, Bunaji cows, he said, should be given feed supplements in their last trimester to improve milk production.

According to him, the fastest way to improve the dairy potential of our indigenous cattle breeds is by introducing inheritance from Bos Taurus (exotic) dairy breeds via cross breeding which, he said, is an efficient tool of blending adaptability of indigenous cattle breeds with the high milking potentials of exotic breeds for increased milk production.

He confirmed that the cross made between the White Fulani indigenous breed with the Holstein Friesian exotic breed otherwise known as the ‘Friesian Bunaji’ could produce up to 10 litres of milk per day with the right feeding.

Mr Gadzama explained that calving (giving birth) year in year out makes it difficult for the cow to maintain adequate body condition at critical times and as such reduces milk production.

In addition, the researcher noted that cows with a higher birth weight have higher milk production than cows with lower birth weight.

He therefore advised that such animals be used for breeding since they indicate superior germplasm.

AATF Commends NBMA Regulatory Standard

The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has commended the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) for setting the pace for the regulation of modern biotechnology in Africa.

A delegation from the AATF on courtesy call to the Agency today (March 26) in Abuja said that the NBMA has registered Nigeria’s preparedness to deploy biotechnology in a safe and responsible manner.

Dr. Issoufou Kollo, leader of the delegation and Head, AATF West Africa said that the whole continent has benefited immensely from the NBMA’s decision to play by the rules to ensure the practice of modern biotechnology poses no harm to human health and the environment.

“We have followed the activities of this young agency since its creation and we areproud to be associated with it. It has not only set the standard in Africa but has also shown that the Nigeria has put in the necessary safe guards in place for the deployment of modern biotechnology,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director General/CEO, NBMA informed the delegates of the modest achievements of the agency since its creation. These include; granting over 4permits for Confined Field Trials and one for commercial release and capacity building for its staff.

Dr Ebegba also informed the guests of the establishment of the state-of-the-art GM Detection and Analysis Laboratory by the agency for the purpose of detection and analysis of GMOs in foods or crops.