‘Donkey now source of meat in some parts of Nigeria’

How would you describe equine and camel programme?Equine generally means the class of horses, donkeys, camels and zebras and others in that category. This programme came into being about a year ago. We got directive from Agric Research Council, Abuja to introduce that programme. That directive came up as a result of the observation made […]

How would you describe equine and camel programme?
Equine generally means the class of horses, donkeys, camels and zebras and others in that category. This programme came into being about a year ago. We got directive from Agric Research Council, Abuja to introduce that programme. That directive came up as a result of the observation made by the National Council on Agriculture in one of its meetings in Sokoto that donkeys are now becoming an endangered species because the rate at which they are being consumed far outweighs the rate of their production. With that NAPRI was mandated to conduct research on donkeys to see how we can save the situation.
So, on that we started with diagnostic survey by conducting research into every facet of donkey. The survey was conducted in northern and southern states. The northern states were termed as donkey producing areas. So, our scientists in various areas; reproduction, nutrition, health, feeding and everything that has to do with the animals, went to the producing areas and we met with the people to get first hand information on the donkeys.
Then, another team went to the South, particularly South East, where we call donkey consuming areas. We went to find out what was actually obtained there. So, on that we compiled our report and then we started a pilot study of donkeys. We started with about 30 indigenous donkeys that we got from Maigatari (Jigawa State) Livestock International Market.
We bought the 30 to start on-station research on donkeys. In about three years, the population has now grown to more than 80. Although we had some mortality here and there, but the population is increasing. Fortunately, this year NAPRI was able to employ young scientists that would be deployed to conduct research into various areas of donkey production in the country. Specific interest would be vested in their management, health, nutrition, housing and reproduction. Therefore, we have people now working in those areas so that at the end of the day we would come up with specific recommendations to our farmers.
One area that is of interest to farmers rearing donkeys is getting modern methods of rearing the animals; how far have you gone in that regard?
One major thing that we found during our survey is that farmers don’t pay attention to donkeys in terms of taking care of their health by taking them to the vet. Once it is sick, the animal is left at the mercy of God; no medication would be administered. Feeding is another problem. Farmers would just tie them around their compound and leave their donkeys to eat what is available. No specific feed is provided for them. But here in NAPRI, since the time we brought them here, we found out that donkeys have a lot of health challenges, especially intestinal worms that help in reducing their productivity. Therefore, we are evolving ways of de-worming them. We have routine de-worming programme for them. If donkeys are completely free from worms, then whatever they take it would be utilised by the body. Since they are on-station here in NAPRI, we have taken steps of achieving that. On their nutrition, unlike in the villages, apart from the grasses that we give them, we also have concentrate like maize bran that is mixed with many ingredients which we give them as food. And we are seeing the improvement on that.
Have you discovered anything new about donkeys’ reproduction?
Yes, although work is still on. You know, reproduction takes a very long period. It is not something that you can do within one or two years especially donkeys’ gestation period takes a long time; it is close to a year. Gestation period means from the time an animal is pregnant to when it would give birth.
Are you thinking of insemination as you are doing with cows?
Yes, we are trying to develop that technology. Of course, we even have people that are looking at those areas. But you know we have to conduct all our basic researches. We are now trying to construct the cages that we would put the animals in so that we can inseminate. We are trying to get appropriate artificial vagina so that we can collect semen from the males to inseminate into the females. Work is also going on in that area.
Are there any lurking health challenges for people that are eating donkeys?
Well, consumption of horses and donkeys in this part of the country, North, has some religious and traditional taboos. This is why people rear and use them as beast of burden. That we don’t consume them may be because of our religious and traditional taboos. In the South East where there is no such taboos attached, these animals are freely consumed. But, as of now, there is no any health challenge that has been discovered. Even in advanced countries like France where they have a lot of horses and donkeys, they are freely slaughtered and consumed, and there is no known health challenge. Here, I think it is because of our religious and traditional restrictions.
How do you intend to get farmers to rear donkeys, because it seems that farmers in the North have lost interest?
Initially, donkeys in this part of the country were used as beast of burden, but in these modern days we have a lot of vehicles that are taking over the functions of the donkeys. So, generally, now donkeys are produced as food animals. We produce them here and sell to people who are interested in consuming them. We are putting mechanisms in place in exposing our farmers to modern ways of rearing donkeys so that when they produce them, they send them to the market where they would have buyers. Because of the rate of consumption, the cost of the donkeys has gone up drastically.
It is in order if farmers come back to donkey production for many reasons. The animals can be sold to those that consume them. They are still relevant in transporting farm produce, especially in areas that don’t have access roads. Another area that donkeys can be utilised is on farm work where they can be used to be pulling farm cultivating implements for farming activities. Although some farmers are complaining that donkeys are very difficult to train in that respect.