Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa (LIFA) successfully hosted a Knowledge Update Training on Poultry Health and Nutrition in Côte d’Ivoire on 28th and 30th April 2025. This milestone programme brought together poultry farmers, veterinarians, and key industry stakeholders to strengthen technical knowledge, build resilience, and promote sustainable practices in the poultry sector.
Côte d’Ivoire’s poultry industry is central to food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods. Yet, farmers continue to face challenges ranging from disease outbreaks and high feed costs to limited veterinary access. LIFA’s training was designed to address these challenges by equipping farmers with the knowledge, skills, and innovative practices needed to improve productivity, profitability, and resilience.
The training sessions aimed to:
- Enhance farmer capacity in poultry disease prevention and control.
- Improve biosecurity and farm management practices.
- Introduce innovative feeding and nutrition strategies.
- Strengthen the role of youth and women farmers in poultry production.
- Advance the adoption of climate-smart poultry systems across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Training Highlights
- Participants: Over 300 farmers, veterinarians, and extension workers attended.
- Topics Covered: Disease management, biosecurity, nutrition, and climate-smart feed solutions.
- Facilitators: Sessions were led by Dr. Stephen Adejoro, President/Founder of LIFA, and Prof. Kouame K. Sylvain, Professor of Animal Husbandry.
- Engagement: Interactive discussions, case studies, and practical demonstrations enriched the learning experience.
Key Technical Insights
1. Poultry Health & Pathologies
Prof. Kouame’s presentation “Pathologies of Domestic Poultry” highlighted the major diseases impacting poultry productivity in Cote d’Ivoire:
- Viral Diseases: Newcastle, Gumboro, Marek’s disease, Infectious bronchitis.
- Bacterial Diseases: Salmonellosis, colibacillosis, pasteurellosis.
- Parasitic Infections: Coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, helminthiases.
- Fungal Challenges: Aspergillosis.
Biosecurity emerged as the cornerstone of prevention, with strong emphasis on:
- Physical barriers at farms.
- “All-in, all-out” production systems.
- Quarantine protocols.
- Strict hygiene and disinfection routines.
2. Advancing Climate-Smart Poultry Feed
The Côte d’Ivoire sessions also spotlighted climate-smart feeding strategies led by Dr. Stephen Adejoro:
- Cassava Peels: Safe inclusion at 10% for layers, 15% for growers, and 20% for broilers.
- Cassava Leaves: Processed leaves (dried or fermented) to boost protein, fiber, and antioxidants.
- Banana Stems/Peels: Practical use of locally available by-products as supplementary feed.
These solutions reduce dependence on costly imports like maize and soybeans, while improving resilience to climate change.
Beyond Feed – Building Economic Resilience
The programme also emphasized broader impacts:
- Food Security: Making poultry products more affordable.
- Economic Growth: Supporting local agriculture and reducing foreign exchange strain.
- Job Creation: Stimulating feed milling, processing, and logistics.
- Environmental Gains: Lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced deforestation pressures.
Outcomes and Next Steps
Farmers left the training with practical skills in disease management, feed preparation, and farm biosecurity. Many expressed renewed confidence in reducing losses and improving efficiency.
LIFA will continue to provide technical support and expand its Knowledge Update Training series across Africa, with upcoming programmes scheduled for Liberia in May and June 2025.
A Shared Commitment
This training was made possible through the generous support of the Zoetis Foundation, whose partnership underscores the power of collective action in strengthening livestock farming systems across Africa.
At LIFA, we believe that culture, local knowledge, and innovation go hand in hand. By advancing climate-smart poultry practices, we are not just feeding chickens, we are feeding Africa’s future.
Follow our work at www.lifango.org and join us in empowering farmers and building resilient communities.
