A don and professor of Animal Science in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Ahmed Amin Njidda, has advised breeders to adopt tiger nuts in feeding sheep and other ruminant animals.
The don detailed how ruminants contribute to food security, noting that they account for 51% of all protein from the livestock sector, with 57% coming from milk and 30% from meat.
Njidda, who highlighted the importance of tiger nut, advocated its adoption in feeding sheep and other ruminant animals.
He disclosed this at the university headquarters in Abuja, while presenting NOUN's 26th Inaugural Lecture on the topic: "Marvels in Ruminant Nutrition: The Quest for Animal Protein."
Njidda emphasised on the vital role of animal protein in a balanced diet and the importance of understanding ruminant nutrition for optimising livestock production and ensuring food security.
He highlighted that as Nigeria's population grows, so does the demand for sustainable food sources.
He presented findings from numerous studies demonstrating the correlation between nutrition and productive performance in animals.
These studies, according to him, underscored how feeding patterns, along with the quality and quantity of feed, directly affect animal health and reproduction.
The professor of Animal Science also touched on the socio-economic importance of ruminants for millions of poor farmers, highlighting their role in providing economic stability, cash buffers, and essential commodities such as traction, manure for fertilizers, and fiber.
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His research further delved into the utilisation of marginal land and water resources, converting them into valuable, high-quality products.
He emphasised the necessity of optimising available materials to enhance production efficiency in both intensive and extensive production systems.
Njidda expressed his gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, for the opportunity to deliver the inaugural lecture and for his support in advancing his research career.
Earlier, the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters expressed his pleasure and anticipation, highlighting the significance of the Inaugural Lecture Series as a platform for scholars to share groundbreaking research with the academic community and the public.
Peters emphasised the importance of the day's lecture by Njidda, promising to shed light on a critical area intersecting agriculture, food security, and human well-being.
