FG, states to train cattle breeders on artificial insemination

Chief Audu Ogbeh

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) will soon in partnership with about ten states of the federation embark on artificial insemination training for select cattle breeders. Food Farm News recently finds out.

A source in the FMARD told Food Farm News that about ten cattle breeders each from about ten (10) states would soon be trained on the use of artificial insemination to upgrade the genetic potential of our indigenous cow using proven exotic breed to inseminate female cattle without the presence of the male counterpart. Although no specific date was mentioned for the training other than very soon.

 It was revealed that the training was under the cattle breed improvement programme of the Federal Government (FG), and it was supposed to have taken place before now if not for the lack of fund in the ministry as very few insemination kits have been bought by the FMARD that will be given to the trainers for use after the training. 

 

The state government according to our source are expected to partner in the provision of more logistics that would ensure proactive result of the programme being the major beneficiary saying that Chief Audu Ogbeh has already inspected the kits that will be given free to the trainers, but pointed that the FMARD is expecting the support of states in the provision for more insemination kits so as to be able go round the participants.

 Other needed equipment is motto cycles that will enhance easy movement of cattle breeders from one cattle cluster to another within each state of operation.

Finding revealed that the essence of this training according to our source is to boost genetic potential of our cattle towards productivity in terms of meat and milk for further processing for consumption as 10 cattle breeders from about 10 states that have shown partnership intention with FMARD will soon be trained on the use of artificial insemination kits for female cattle without the presence of the male.

Some of the states according to our source include  Adamawa, Niger, Oyo, Kebbi, Gombe, FCT, Kaduna, and three others adding that the states are expected to give further logistic support that would ensure the success of the programme in their state.