The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said that using information and communication technology (ICT) is very important to improve animal production and tracking in the country.
He said this when a team of livestock experts from a company called Protein Trail Limited visited him at his office. The Minister explained that using proper ICT tools and apps to record animal history is key to managing animal health and tracking them properly, just like it’s done in other parts of the world.
The Minister also promised the team full support from the Ministry. This includes helping them get land for ranches, animal feed, and better breeds. He praised the company for working hard to improve the livestock industry.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Protein Trail Limited, Olaseni Salako, gave a presentation. He said his company is developing a new app that will store animal information from birth to the time they reach slaughter weight. The app will also keep records of the animal’s color, health, and vaccination.
Salako explained that the app will allow animals to be tracked all the way to the point where they are slaughtered.
He said all animals need to be tagged so people can know where they come from. This will also make sure the animals are checked and approved by a vet to help control diseases.
He added that tagging animals and using only approved slaughterhouses will help stop cattle theft, make it easier to sell beef in international markets, and increase income from meat exports.
The Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Ben Goong, said that Salako also mentioned the company is working on a QR code for animal products. This will help customers know more about the dairy products they are buying
