Mirian Gom 
ILORIN, Nigeria — The Kwara State Government has launched a cattle artificial insemination programme targeting thousands of animals as part of efforts to improve livestock breeds and increase milk and dairy production.
The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, disclosed this on Sunday during the flag-off of the exercise at TGB Farms in Ganiki, Ilorin South Local Government Area.
“One of the ways to improve breeds is through artificial insemination. We are going to inseminate thousands of cattle across the state,” she said.
“We are starting with 500 this month of September, but by the end of the year, we are hoping to reach maybe a thousand, and then we keep going. It’s a long process, but we are just starting,” she said.
“We need to ensure that we have our well-trained technicians—artificial insemination technicians—and that’s why we are involving our students from the University of Ilorin, the various tertiary institutions in the state,” she said.
The Director of Livestock in the Ministry of Livestock Development, Ahmed Umar, said the success of the programme would depend on cooperation among farmers, government agencies, technical experts and other stakeholders.
“We want to develop this sector the way it should be developed by having improved breeds. This cannot be done alone. All stakeholders must come together to ensure success,” he said.
The Team Lead of Genex URUS American International Animal Breeding Company, Saka Shittu, said the programme was designed to improve cattle quality through the use of selected semen, particularly to increase dairy production.
“For now, the programme focuses on cattle; it will later be extended to other livestock. The essence of the programme is that animals are being inseminated with improved semen selected to boost dairy production,” Shittu said.
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