Animal breeding in Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, animal breeding is only beginning, and much education is needed on what it is and how the animal breeder can contribute to livestock improve ment. Lack of, specialists (breeders and geneticists) requires increased training of University graduates to provide direction for ongoing livestock projectsin the country. The environment for farm ammals must be more standardized (disease- and pest control, adequate nutrition, regular supply of feed, improved husbandry) before genetic improvement can be realized. Available records on production should be used for selection Indigenous breeds ought to be assessed and imported ones evaluated under tropical conditions. For commercial production of milk and meat, crossbreeding of native cattle with foreign breeds under somewhat improved managenien appears to yield greatest advantage by rapidly increasing production yet retaining, hardiness of the native breeds at lower cost than rearing imported breeds as purebreds. To bridge animal protein gap fast and efficiently poultry and pig production must be increased.