by Ayo Ibiyemi Ayo Ibiyemi No Comments

The Recent Anthrax Outbreak

The Federal Government has alerted livestock breeders and poultry farmers of the outbreak of anthrax in neighbouring countries.

A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Ernest indicated that Nigeria was alerted on the outbreak of the zoonotic disease in Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo.

The statement, therefore, called for caution and vaccination of animals in the states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos.

According to the statement, the disease has so far claimed the lives of farmers and their livestock in the neighbouring countries.

“The general public is therefore advised to desist from the consumption of hides (Pomo), smoked meat and bush meat as they pose a serious risk until the situation is brought under control”, it advised.

Meanwhile, the Ministry through the Permanent Secretary is urging members of the public to remain calm and vigilant as the Federal Government has resuscitated a standing committee on the control of Anthrax in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Ministry added that relevant institutions and collaborators have been contacted with the aim of controlling the outbreak, this is in addition to the sensitization of State Directors of Veterinary Services nationwide.

Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a highly infectious and often fatal disease that affects both humans and animals. Poultry farmers can be impacted by anthrax, although the disease primarily affects herbivores such as cattle and sheep. The susceptibility of poultry to anthrax may vary depending on the specific strain and circumstances of exposure. According to available literature, cattle and sheep are more susceptible to anthrax compared to goats, horses, and poultry.

Anthrax is known to produce spores that can persist in the soil for extended periods, allowing the disease to initiate outbreaks under favorable conditions. Although anthrax is enzootic in many Asian and African countries, it has also been reported in Australia, parts of Europe, and America. The disease can have different clinical courses in animals, ranging from peracute to chronic forms. In severe cases, infected animals may succumb to anthrax without displaying premonitory clinical signs. Blood may fail to clot properly, and it can be found in the mouth, nostrils, and anus of animals that die from anthrax.

While anthrax is susceptible to various antibiotics, including penicillin and oxytetracycline, these treatments are most effective under field conditions. In the event of an outbreak, it is crucial to implement early measures to break the infection cycle, such as maintaining strict biosecurity and vaccinating uninfected animals. Anthrax remains a challenge in farm animal production in many countries, including those where poultry farming is practiced.

It’s important to note that the specific impact of anthrax on poultry farmers may vary depending on factors such as the local prevalence of anthrax, farming practices, biosecurity measures, and the susceptibility of poultry to the disease. Further research and localized studies would provide more specific insights into the effect of anthrax on poultry farmers.

by Ayo Ibiyemi Ayo Ibiyemi No Comments

POULTRY DISEASES

Poultry diseases refer to various illnesses that affect domesticated birds kept for their meat, eggs, or feathers. Poultry species include chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and ostrich. These diseases can have significant impacts on poultry production and can cause economic losses for farmers.

There are several common poultry diseases that farmers need to be aware of.

Here are a few examples:

Marek’s Disease (MD): Marek’s Disease is a viral disease that primarily affects chickens and causes tumors. It can lead to paralysis, weight loss, and death.

Newcastle Disease: Also known as Ranikhet disease, Newcastle Disease is a viral infection that affects poultry, especially chickens. It can cause respiratory distress, nervous system disorders, and high mortality rates. The disease is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among birds.

Avian influenza (AI), commonly known as bird flu, is another significant concern in poultry health. AI viruses can be classified into two types: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). LPAI strains generally cause mild or no illness in birds. On the other hand, HPAI strains can result in severe disease with high mortality rates in poultry. These viruses can sometimes infect humans, leading to flu-like symptoms or severe respiratory disease.

It is essential for poultry farmers to be proactive in preventing and managing diseases. This involves implementing biosecurity measures, such as maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, controlling the movement of people and animals, and practicing good hygiene protocols. Vaccinations can also play a crucial role in preventing certain poultry diseases, and regular veterinary care is essential for early detection and treatment.

by Panog Panog 2 Comments

BIOSECURITY IN YOUR FARM

The goal of biosecurity is to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases on a farm and to protect the health of animals and people working there. Farm biosecurity can be improved by following these general practices:

Implement biosecurity measures such as foot baths, hand washing stations, and signage to remind visitors and employees to take precautions.

Quarantine new animals: When introducing new animals to your farm, keep them separated from your existing animals for a period of time to monitor them for signs of disease.

Clean and disinfect: Regularly clean and disinfect all surfaces, equipment, and vehicles that come into contact with animals or their waste.

Dispose of waste materials properly to prevent environmental contamination and disease spread.

Report any signs of disease to your veterinarian immediately if you notice any changes in the health of your animals.

Vaccinate: Use vaccines to protect your animals against common diseases and follow a vaccination schedule recommended by a veterinarian.

Train employees: Educate and train all employees on biosecurity practices and ensure they understand and follow all established protocols.

Overall, implementing a biosecurity plan on your farm is crucial to preventing the introduction and spread of disease, protecting animal health, and ensuring the safety of your employees and visitors.

by Panog Panog 2 Comments

Poultry and Egg Production Today!

Poultry farming and egg production is a lucrative business that can be both rewarding and challenging. It involves the raising of chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other birds for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and feathers. Poultry farming and egg production requires careful management and planning to ensure the health and safety of the birds, as well as the quality of the eggs and meat produced.

The first step in poultry farming and egg production is to select the right breed of birds for the desired purpose. Different breeds of birds have different characteristics, such as egg production, meat production, and feather production. It is important to select the right breed for the desired purpose, as this will determine the success of the poultry farm.

Once the breed of birds has been selected, the next step is to create a suitable environment for the birds. This includes providing adequate housing, food, water, and ventilation. The housing should be designed to provide the birds with enough space to move around and to protect them from predators. The food should be of high quality and provide the birds with the necessary nutrients for growth and egg production. Water should be provided in a clean and safe manner, and the ventilation should be adequate to prevent the spread of disease.

The next step is to ensure the health and safety of the birds. This includes providing regular veterinary care, as well as monitoring the birds for signs of disease or injury. It is also important to provide the birds with a clean and safe environment, free from predators and other hazards.

Finally, it is important to manage the egg production and marketing of the eggs. This includes setting up a system for collecting, grading, and packaging the eggs, as well as marketing the eggs to customers. It is also important to keep accurate records of the egg production and sales, as this will help to ensure the success of the poultry farm.

Poultry farming and egg production can be a rewarding and profitable business, but it requires careful management and planning to ensure the health and safety of the birds, as well as the quality of the eggs and meat produced. With the right management and planning, a poultry farm can be a successful and profitable business.

by Panog Panog No Comments

World Egg Day 2022: Eggs for a better life

  • World Egg Day will be celebrated across the globe on Friday 14 October 2022.
  • The annual event honours the highly nutritious and brilliantly versatile egg, highlighting the vast range of unique benefits it brings to human and planetary health, contributing to a better life for all.
  • To mark World Egg Day 2022, Poultry Association of Nigeria Ogun Sate will be celebrating World Egg with various activities and events

On Friday 14 October, egg fans worldwide will celebrate the power of the egg and all its nutritional, environmental and societal benefits. 

The global event, celebrated on the second Friday of October every year, welcomes everyone to honour the unique contribution eggs make to supporting people around the world.

Among the most nutritious foods on the planet, one large egg provides 13 essential vitamins and minerals and 6g of protein, making this perfect package a healthy and affordable addition to the diets of people of all ages. 

Many of the nutrients found in eggs are commonly under-consumed yet are required as part of a healthy diet to help you perform at your best and avoid serious health issues.

Key nutrients include choline, supporting brain development and function; vitamin A for eye health, healthy skin and immune function; and vitamin D, which plays an essential role in bone health. Eggs are also packed with high-quality protein, essential for the strength and repair of muscle and tissue.

Along with their nutritional value, eggs are the most environmentally sustainable and affordable animal-source protein available, helping support families around the world as well as the planet itself.

To mark this year’s celebration Poultry Association of Nigeria Ogun State will be celebrating World Egg with various activities and events.

Join in the celebrations wherever you are by sharing your favourite egg dish using #WorldEggDay on social media.

by Panog Panog No Comments

Poultry farmers quit due to high cost of feeds

According to an article in Nigerian newspaper The Guardian, the high cost of feed is forcing Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) members out of the industry.

According to the article, waning profits have forced many farmers out of the sector. Secretary of the Plateau chapter of PAN Nanji Gambo, who was cited as the source of information, has apparently noticed a decline in membership. She pointed to high feed costs as the cause.

“These farmers could not bear the high cost of feed and so they crashed out of their businesses,” Gambo told The Guardian, adding that the association is urging farmers to wait for government assistance.

by Panog Panog No Comments

Poultry Farmers Cry As Investments Shrink

Nigerian poultry farmers are angry. Their problems are growing in a vicious circle which has plunged the industry into deepening crisis.

Since 2019, the farmers have been wailing and kicking over sudden unpredicted rise in the cost of inputs such as maize and soybeans, which constitute about 70 per cent of the feed components.

This forced a bag of feed to rise from N2,700 to N5,600 within 12 months and has remained so in the last 36 months.

In addition to the cost of maize which swelled from N140,000 to N223,000 per metric tonne, the inability of the farmers to access vaccines for their birds against Avian Influenza (bird flu) has further worsened their situation.

Mr Idowu Asenuga who has been a poultry farmer for over 25 years is bitter with what the poultry industry is going through in the country. For him, the government is not even listening to them and the industry is shrinking by the day.

Asenuga, who is the Ogun State chairperson of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, does not foresee a better future for the industry unless government change its policy on vaccines, compensation, maize and soybeans.

In an interview with our reporter, he said despite the fact that egg is the cheapest source of protein in Nigeria, unfortunately, the federal government has not been supporting the poultry industry.

Mr Idowu Asenuga who has been a poultry farmer for over 25 years is bitter with what the poultry industry is going through in the country. For him, the government is not even listening to them and the industry is shrinking by the day.

Asenuga, who is the Ogun State chairperson of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, does not foresee a better future for the industry unless government change its policy on vaccines, compensation, maize and soybeans.

In an interview with our reporter, he said despite the fact that egg is the cheapest source of protein in Nigeria, unfortunately, the federal government has not been supporting the poultry industry.

“Farms that have been affected by avian influenza, government is not protecting them and they are not allowing them to protect their farms by vaccination. So, we found it counter-productive and very worrisome and this is affecting the industry, the poultry industry is shrinking and people are losing their jobs, coupled with the fact that our members are not even secured; they are being kidnapped and killed on daily basis,” he said.

Secondly, the PANOG chair said because of the current state of the poultry industry, farmers find it difficult to get funding from commercial banks.

“As a commercial farmer and chairman of the PANOG, I tried to seek succor from one of the commercial banks and I was turned back. So, you can’t even get support from commercial banks; they will tell you the poultry industry is not vibrant and they won’t lend you money. It’s hell for us right now as we speak and unfortunately governments at all levels are not coming to our aid,” he stated.

Thirdly, on the issue of maize and soybean, he said “We find it very worrisome that at the peak of COVID, banditry, kidnapping, that was when government chose to ban forex for the importation of maize. The logical thing is that if any country cannot produce sufficient food, the rational thing for you to do is to import pending when you are able to produce enough. This has spelt a lot of doom for the poultry industry. Most of our members have closed shop because the price of maize and soy have gone beyond their reach. Last year, the price of maize was N90,000 before the ban but today before the new harvest, it was selling for N250,000 per tonne and a bag of layer feed for instance that was N2800 now sells for about N5,600 that is 100 per cent increase and feed constitutes about 80 per cent cost of production. If anything happens to the maize and soy, the cost of production goes up. That same period last year, a crate of egg was selling for 800 and 900. And it is impossible for us to double the price of egg while the price of maize of soy have double, that is the challenge we are having,” he said.

The poultry sector consumes about 50 per cent of maize produce in Nigeria and a collapsed poultry industry will also drastically affect the maize and soybeans farmers.

The farmers said the first thing government needs to do is to put a waiver on the importation of maize and make forex available for farmers who are willing to import to feed their birds, adding that if there is no import, the price of maize will not be checked.

Secondly, some farmers’ positon on vaccines is that government needs to allow them import avian influenza vaccines to vaccinate their birds and protect their investments.

Above all, they want government to look at targeted funding towards the poultry sector specifically at single digit interest rate so that farmers can easily pay back. They argued that borrowing at 28 and 30 per cent interest rates is not sustainable.

A source at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said FG’s policy on Avian Influenza is eradication and not vaccination, stressing that vaccination allows the disease to remain and continue to mutate. 

by Panog Panog No Comments

Eat eggs to boost immune system, poultry farmers urge Nigerians

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of daily intake of eggs to boost immune system and ensure better vision.

The PAN Chairman, Alimosho Zone, Lagos State, Mr Oluwole Fayefunmi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at a roadshow to commemorate the World Egg Day on Friday.

The World Egg Day is celebrated globally on every second Friday in October.

Fayefunmi said the association embarked on a roadshow to sensitise Nigerians to the benefits of eating eggs daily.

“We are creating awareness on the importance of having eggs constantly in our diets.

“We are also going to contribute crates of eggs to orphanages around Alimosho to celebrate the day.

“The health benefits of eggs are enormous, if you do not eat eggs frequently, you are missing a lot. Eggs help build immune system and aid better vision.

“Our message is that eggs are suitable for children, adults and the elderly. There is no limit to the number you can eat daily.

“I want to urge Nigerians that instead of getting a bottle of soft drinks at N150 per bottle, they should go for a nutritious egg at just N50,” Fayefunmi said.

On his part, Mr Stephen Olufemi, the former Secretary-General of the association, Lagos chapter, reiterated the need to correct misconceptions that eggs are not suitable for adults.

“The major reason we are celebrating this World Egg Day is to educate Nigerians on the nutritional value of eggs to their health. We want them to know that it is good to eat eggs.

“We also want to correct misconceptions about eggs not being healthy for adult consumption. Eggs have immense nutritional benefits for adults, as well as children.

“The lutein in eggs is very beneficial to adults, as it helps aid clearer vision in the elderly.

“The roadside show is to let Nigerians know that egg is good for everyone.

“This awareness will help promote and encourage the business of poultry farmers as it will ensure more patronage of eggs,” Olufemi said.

Also speaking, the association’s patron, Mr Adewale Balogun, noted that it was pertinent for Nigerians to understand the benefits of egg consumption.

“We are here to make Nigerians understand the benefits of eggs. Eggs are so vital to human diet and health.

“Even the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said it is important to eat eggs regularly, to stay healthy, as it contains virtually all vitamins and minerals.

“If you consume at least one egg a day, you are safe and will be free from regular visits to the doctor,” Balogun said.

(NAN)

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New UN Nutrition Report highlights the importance of eggs in human health and development

In a new discussion paper released on 9 June, UN Nutrition emphasise the crucial role eggs play in sustainable balanced human diets. ‘Livestock-derived foods and sustainable healthy diets’ explores how the consumption of livestock-derived foods impacts human health, the environment and animal welfare.

As a widely consumed animal-sourced food, the egg is praised for its significant nutritional benefits, particularly in terms of human development and growth. The paper highlights the value the egg brings to infants, young people and pregnant women, particularly those in low-resource settings.

Leading experts explain that the nutrients eggs, meat and milk provide are more efficiently absorbed by the body than plant-based alternatives, helping address undernourishment which causes stunting in approximately 22% of young children worldwide.

Key findings

  • Eggs provide critical nutrients and protect the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations (Iannotti, 2018).
  • The digestible indispensable amino acid score for protein quality exceeds 100% for eggs, compared with rice at 37% and wheat at 45% (FAO, 2011).
  • Eggs have a high concentration of choline, a micronutrient vital to cell division, growth and membrane signalling (Zeisel and da Costa, 2009).
  • Eggs are an important source of vitamins A, B12, D, E and folate, as well as bioavailable minerals, especially selenium, but also iron and zinc (Iannotti et al., 2014).

As part of the discussion, the implications of COVID-19 on global nutrition are explored: “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2020 estimates that healthy diets will be further out of reach for more than 3 billion people as a result of COVID-19 (FAO et al., 2020).” The paper uses this point to explain the added need for livestock-derived foods during this time of crisis.

Lora Iannotti, lead author of the report and director of the E3 Nutrition Lab at Washington University in St. Louis, said: “If we want to provide healthy diets for vulnerable children and pregnant or lactating mothers, which is where you see the worst impacts of malnutrition, the scientific evidence is clear: food from livestock provides benefits that are very hard and sometimes impossible to replicate solely with plant-based foods.”

She added that a child would need to consume at least 12 times as much of a plant-based alternative, such as carrots, to gain the amount of vitamin A available in a small serving of eggs.

Contributors to the discussion include the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The paper concludes by exploring better ways to manage environmental, animal and human health risks, while still reaping the many benefits of the egg and other animal-sourced foods.

Source: International Egg Commission

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Aviana-Aviv West Africa International Expo

The EXPO is to be hosted at the international conference center, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, West Africa. The EXPO features over 250 companies from over 25 countries and over 10,000 participants from Nigeria, West Africa countries and the globe.

The  Aviana-Aviv West Africa international expo is an international B2B exhibition for Poultry, Diary, Aquaculture, Equipment and stakeholders in Nigeria and the globe. 

The Aviana-Aviv West Africa international expo which has now come to Nigeria has been existing in Kenya, Uganda, India and South Africa. The Aviana-Aviv West Africa international expo is a B2B exhibition that will feature over 250 companies from over 25 countries and over 10,000 participants from Nigeria, West African countries and the globe.

The EXPO is to be hosted from 2nd to 3rd September 2021 at the international conference center, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, West Africa.

The Expo consists of:

a. Aviana Nigeria Expo which is an International B2B Exhibition for Livestock, Poultry, Diary, Aquaculture, livestock companies and Farmers, Animal health and nutrition, Feeds and feed milling, Hatchery/breeder farms, Disinfectants, Veterinary pharmaceuticals, Pet food and accessories, Equipment’s, Machinery and Agro allied,

b. Aviana AGROTECH EXPO which is an international B2B exhibition for Seeds, Agrochemicals, fertilizer and Agric inputs, Disinfectants, Equipment’s, Machineries and tractors, Agro-allied and trawler owners.

c. viana Agro-FOOD EXPO which is an international B2B exhibition for Foods, Nutrition, Beverages, Confectionaries, Cereals, Noodles, Soy foods, Seafood, Drinks etc.

d. Aviana Agro finance Expo which is an International B2B Exhibition for Banks/financial institutions, Insurance, Agencies, NGOs, CBOs, Research Institutions, Embassies, Professionals, Associations across Africa and other countries of the world for business, knowledge, training/capacity building, contacts, networking’s, Investment, trade, and commerce.