A livestock farmer in Sokoto State has taken delivery of the first Girolando calf produced through the Artificial Insemination (AI) programme of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), as efforts to improve livestock breeds and productivity continue across the country.
The farmer, Malam Bello Gumburawa, a beneficiary of the World Bank-supported L-PRES project, described the delivery as a major milestone.
An L-PRES official, Adamu Bala, also confirmed to Daily Trust yesterday that a number of the project’s Artificial Insemination (AI) centres had recorded successful deliveries of calves, adding that the project was compiling details of the deliveries across the country.
Gumburawa said he was among livestock farmers who benefited from the AI exercise under the L-PRES project, adding that three of his cows were inseminated.
He said one of the cows had successfully delivered a healthy male Girolando calf, describing the development as an encouraging step towards improving cattle production in Sokoto State.
The farmer expressed appreciation to the Sokoto State Government and the L-PRES project for introducing the intervention, saying it would provide livestock farmers with an opportunity to improve the quality of their herds and increase productivity.
According to him, the Girolando calf possesses qualities that distinguish it from many local breeds, particularly its agility and good birth weight.
“The Girolando calf is superior to the local breeds in several respects, particularly its agility and good birth weight,” he said.
Gumburawa urged other livestock farmers to embrace the Artificial Insemination programme and take advantage of improved breeding technologies to enhance livestock production.
The L-PRES project has so far carried out Artificial Insemination on more than 200 cows and heifers across the state, with the exercise still ongoing.
In a related development, the project has commissioned a Model Veterinary Hospital at Kasuwan Shanu in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The facility was constructed by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development through the World Bank-assisted L-PRES project.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said the hospital marked a new phase in veterinary service delivery in Borno State.
He said the facility reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to bringing modern veterinary care closer to livestock farmers, particularly those in remote and hard-to-reach communities.
Maiha disclosed that L-PRES had completed and equipped seven Model Veterinary Hospitals in Adamawa, Sokoto, Enugu, Niger, Ondo, Edo and Borno states.
He added that 14 additional hospitals were at various stages of completion, bringing the total number of facilities being developed under the project to 21.
The minister said the Maiduguri hospital was equipped with modern veterinary infrastructure, including a surgical theatre, diagnostic laboratory, radiology and X-ray unit, as well as ambulatory services to support farmers in remote communities.
He urged the Borno State Government to prioritise the recruitment, training and continuous professional development of veterinary personnel and para-professionals to ensure that the facility operates efficiently and delivers quality services.
Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, described the commissioning as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s livestock development agenda.
He said improving animal health was essential to safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods, reducing livestock losses, strengthening food security and building a more resilient livestock sector.
Abubakar encouraged livestock farmers, veterinary professionals, pastoral communities, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to take ownership of the facility and support its proper maintenance to ensure its sustainability.
He said the interventions in Sokoto and Borno reflected the project’s growing focus on improving both livestock breeds and animal healthcare.
The NPC said while the Artificial Insemination programme was expected to improve the quality and productivity of cattle, the new veterinary facilities would provide farmers with improved access to diagnosis, treatment and other essential animal health services.
Original source: ng