The Kwara State government, through its Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), on Tuesday engaged over 200 Livestock farmers on step-down training on biosecurity measures and institutionalisation in farm practices in the state.

The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Toyosi Thomas justified the human capital development when she dacribed the importance of livestock as a critical pillar of the nation’s agricultural economy.

She said the training was carefully designed
to equip the farmers with the knowledge and practical skills to implement effective biosecurity measures on their farms and in their organisations, urging: “I urge you to participate actively.”

Declaring open of the capacity building on biosecurity and its importance to animal health, udder health management, biosecurity infrastructure, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) development and institutionalisation of biosecurity in livestock, for livestock farmers in Ilorin, on Tuesday, Toyosi explained a set of management practices and measures that can prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases onto, within, and froma farm, saying: “It is a proactive approach that focuses on prevention rather than treatment.”

According to Toyosi, the livestock industry contributes significantly to food security, employment generation, and rural development.

She, however, bemoaned the reality that the sector faces persistent threats “from infectious diseases that can devastate herds, reduce productivity, and cause
substantial economic losses to farmers and the state at large.

“It is against this backdrop that the concept of biosecurity becomes not just relevant, but absolutely essential,” she disclosed.

Toyosi tutored the over 200 participants on the fundamental principle as simple: “it is far cheaper and more effective to prevent a disease than to treat an outbreak.

“The importance of biosecurity to
animal health can not be overstated. A robust biosecurity programme protects
animal health and welfare, enhances productivity and profitability, reduces
production losses due to disease, minimises the need for antibiotics and veterinary interventions, protects public health by reducing zoonotic disease risks, and safeguards market access and trade opportunities.

“Stressing the importance of biosecurity to animal productivity in Kwara State, let me emphasise that healthy animals are productive animals. When disease is prevented, our livestock grows faster, produces more milk, gains weight
more efficiently, and reproduce more successfully.

“For our dairy farmers, biosecurity directly translates to higher milk yields and better milk quality. For our beef producers, it means healthier cattle that reach market weight in shorter time, reducing feed costs and increasing returns on investment. For our poultry and small ruminant farmers, it means reduced mortality rates and improved flock performance.

“Across all livestock species, biosecurity reduces the financial burden of veterinary treatments, lowers the risk of herd-wide disease outbreaks, and stabilises production cycles.

“In Kwara State, where livestock farming is a
major source of income for thousands of families, the economic impact of improved productivity through biosecurity can not be overemphasised,” she emphasised.

On udder health in the dairy operations, she warned that Mastitis remains the most costly disease affecting dairy cattle
worldwide, sayung: “Managing udder health requires consistent attention to milking hygiene, propèr milking procedures, regular
monitoring of somatic cell counts and prompt treatment of clinical cases.

“Biosecurity measures that support udder health include: maintaining clean, dry
housing environments: properly sanitizing milking equupment; post-milking teat
dipping and quarantining new animals before introdučing them into the herd.

“These measures, when implemented consistently, can significantly reduce the
incidence of mastitis and improve milk quality and yield,” said she.

She advised livestock farmers to make intentional investment in infrastructure like: perimeter fencing, vehicle sanitation stations, quarantine facilities,
footbaths, clean and dirty lines, and proper drainage systems.

“These physical measures must be complemented by SOP that clearly define how tasks should be performed consistently to prevent disease introduction
and spread,” she urged.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed, discussed the importance of livestock production and prevention of disease outbreaks through the institutionalisation of biosecurity practices on farms across the state.

He stressed the need for farmers and other stakeholders to adopt proper biosecurity measures from production through processing and marketing.

Also, the director of veterinary services in the ministry, Dr. Abdulateef Olugbodun was sure that the training would help participants with practical knowledge on farm hygiene, movement control, waste management, and disease reporting.

Dr. Aisha Olatunji from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) said the institution had continued to witness the effects of poor biosecurity practices, including high mortality, low productivity and economic losses among farmers. He added that diseases such as zoonotic infections, transboundary diseases, and antimicrobial resistance posed serious threats to both animal and human health.

The L-PRES coordinator in the state, Olusoji Oyawoye urged the participants to make practical use of the knowledge gained from the training, urged the farmers and stakeholders to take responsibility for implementing recommended biosecurity measures rather than blaming government whenever lapses occur.

The officials commended the participants, organisers, Kwara State and Federal Governments, World Bank and L-PRES for supporting the initiative, while urging farmers, extension agents and other stakeholders to take the lessons from the workshop to the grassroots.