Concerns about the environment are widespread and frequently brought up in scientific studies. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Purdue University in Indiana, USA, Nigerian researcher Abiola Lawal is researching the effects of animal production on the environment, specifically the nitrogen waste from pig farming. Using low-protein diets enhanced with nucleotides, his research aims to decrease nitrogen excretion and post-weaning diarrhea in pigs. Pigs that consume a lot of protein produce more nitrogen waste, which increases Greenhouse gas Emissions such as nitrous oxide, which has a potential to cause global warming that is almost 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide.
In addition to contributing to air and water pollution, nitrogen waste also has a negative impact on human health and biodiversity. Lawal’s research highlights the need for Sustainable Agricultural practices and could have an impact on farming methods and policy in nations like Nigeria that have not yet adequately addressed these issues. It addresses the trade-off between environmental benefits and decreased pig growth performance associated with low-protein diets and offers workable solutions that could benefit intensive Livestock systems worldwide, including Nigeria, where pig and Poultry farming are important but frequently lack environmental safeguards.
Nitrogen excretion can be reduced without affecting pig growth performance.
Through the use of low-protein diets enhanced with essential amino acids, Abiola Lawal’s research aims to lower nitrogen (N) excretion in pig farming. Studies have shown that nitrogen excretion can be reduced without affecting pig growth performance by lowering dietary crude protein (CP) by 2% to 4%. Additionally, studies show that ammonia emissions, a major source of environmental pollution, fall by about 10% for every 1% decrease in dietary CP. Low-protein diets have demonstrated encouraging outcomes in real-world applications.
A study conducted on growing-finishing pigs, for example, showed that lowering dietary CP levels while maintaining critical amino acid balance resulted in a 20.7% decrease in faecal nitrogen excretion and a 24.4% decrease in urine nitrogen excretion without negatively impacting weight gain. These results demonstrate how Lawal’s strategy works in actual farming situations. Lawal’s study is in line with international initiatives to improve nitrogen efficiency in pig production, in comparison. A assessment of hog production highlighted that group-fed pigs might reach a whole-body nitrogen efficiency of about 60% by combining the best possible Nutrition and management.
Farmers are urged to work with agricultural extension agents.
What sets Lawal’s study apart in the area is his emphasis on nucleotide supplementation in low-protein diets, which presents a fresh approach that may enhance nitrogen utilisation even more. A few obstacles to putting these discoveries into practice in underdeveloped nations like Nigeria are the high price of synthetic amino acids and the Infrastructure required to manufacture or import these supplements. Furthermore, local farmers’ ignorance and lack of technical know-how could make adoption more difficult. Investing in education, extension services, and supply chain development is necessary to address these issues and make low-protein diets practical and efficient in Nigeria.
Policymakers in Nigeria should think about lowering the price of synthetic amino acids and encouraging research into locally accessible protein sources that might be used as substitutes in order to encourage sustainable behaviours. Farmers are urged to work with agricultural extension agents to learn how to create low-protein, balanced diets and to take part in training sessions that illustrate the advantages and strategies for putting these diets into practice. Researchers should concentrate on creating regionally appropriate and reasonably priced alternatives, such as investigating locally available feed components that can supply the required amino acid profiles.
Related Article: Livestock methane drives Climate Crisis https://asknigeria.com/livestock-methane-drives-climate-crisis/
Sustainable pig farming techniques can be achieved in Nigeria by encouraging cooperation between government organisations, academic institutions, and the farming community. It is essential that organisations and governments actively encourage sustainable Agriculture research. Funding research like that done by Lawal can result in creative solutions that preserve Agricultural Productivity while reducing negative environmental effects. To achieve Environmental Sustainability in agriculture, it is crucial to set up funding channels, develop laws that support sustainable practices, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge between academics and practitioners.
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