This is one of the fundamental departments at the inception of the Enugu State College of Agriculture and Agro-Entrepreneurship, now Enugu State Polytechnic. This department deals with an area of study in agriculture which enables one to actualize one’s dream in becoming an animal scientist and a practical animal farmer. It is the drive and target objective of the department to lecture, teach and turn out graduates who have been scientifically enriched and fortified withthe most modern techniques in animal production, that is, poultry, fishery, cattle, sheep, goatery, snailery and piggery. In addition to the core academic duties and programmes of the department, it is invariably involved in varied social, managerial, environmental duties, functions and assignments as may have been directed or assigned it by the management of the college.
Some of these activities of Animal Health and Production department from inception in 2010 till date are outlined below;
1. Poultry Production
A cycle of broiler production has been carried out in the Polytechnic’s demonstration farm. A-day old broiler chicks have been stocked, bred and then reared to maturity and marketed.
Another cycle of broiler chicks was procured and used for students project work. They were used for comparative studies using various types of commercial
feeds and locally produced feeds by Enugu State Polytechnic.Also some day-old turkeys were procured, bred and reared to maturity and marketed. As a result of the success recorded during this test phase of poultry production in the Polytechnic, The management has decided to put up a new ultra modern poultry house which will be marginally extensive and can house a large number of birds.
2. Fishery Production
About 500 juvenile catfish have been procured, stocked and tended to table size. The matured or table size catfish has been marketed.
These initial attempts at fishery production were carried out in improvised plastic fish ponds.
The Polytechnic has however constructed a permanent six compactment fish pond and about one thousand, five hundred juveniles and two thousand juvenile catfish were procured differently and stocked in the fish bond.
The first batch has matured and is being marketed on harvest. The second batch is nearing maturity and will subsequently be harvested and marketed. The experience acquired during these period of initial fish rearing has given birth to an expansion, the Polytechnic is now embarking on the construction of earthen fish ponds to enable her maximize her efforts, experience and profits.
3. Organization of Seminars/Lecturers for the Polytechnic
The Head of Department of Animal Health & Production in conjunction with the Polytechnic management organized various seminars and public lectures for the benefit of the Polytechnic community. On 2nd December, 2010; Chief Ferdinand Anikwe as the resources person, delivered a lecture to the students, lecturers and the Polytechnic Community. The topic of the lecture was on, work ethics and career development in agriculture.
On 3rd December 2010; Dr. Francis Akubuilo, delivered another lecture to the students, lecturers and the Polytechnic Community. The topic of the lecture was Agro Entrepreneurship in Nigeria in the 21st century. An NGO, involved in campaign against cigarette and tobacco smoking and drug abuse, also delivered a lecture to the Polytechnic Community on the harmful
effects of cigarette and tobacco smoking and drug abuse.
4. Linkage Programme to Institutions of Higher Learning in Italy
The Head of Department of Animal Health & Production paid an initial visit to Italy, specifically to his former Institute of agriculture.
He was officially sent to explore possibilities of opening up or initiating a linkage programme with some tertiary institutions in Italy. This guest was
aimed at exposing and affording the lecturers and students valuable opportunity to see first hand, the setting of a very functional and mechanized
agricultural farms and institutions. This exposure would also make the lecturers to acquire more recent and modern techniques in their various areas of
study. He had audience and preliminary agreement with two institutions in Italy.
Instituto Statale Agrarian Stanga Cremona
Faculty of Animal Science, University of Torino
Further to the first visit, a second visit which involved the Head, Department of Animal Health & Production and the Rector of the Polytechnic was embarked on. This led to a conclusive linkage agreement from which expected dividends will follow suit.
5. Tractor and Environmental Unit
The tractor and Environmental Unit of the College of Agriculture is headed by the Head of Department of Animal Production.—> This unit offers tractor hiring services to the farmers of the surrounding communities and villages at a subsidized rate. This is aimed at encouraging people to become farmers and to go into extensive food production to ensure food security for the environs and the State at large. This unit is also concerned with the Polytechnic landscaping and mowing within the Polytechnic premises and frontiers.
6. Excursion to Established and Functional Farms
A lecturer in the Department of Animal Health & Production Dr. F.E. Ajibo, took the ND II students on an excursion trip to Phinomer Nig. Ltd. Ngwo and Mosco Fish Farms at Awkunanaw Enugu. The students were able to observe and witness the organization and workings of a functional farming enterprise. This was a learning process and a good exposure for the students.
7. Industrial Training Attachment
Dr. F.E. Ajibo, was charged with the posting and deployment of students to their 3 months industrial training. The farms for this exercise were carefully selected and chosen in and around Enugu State and are farms which will be of great benefit to the students.
8. Cottage Farm Holiday Programme
The Head, Department of Animal Health & Production was actively involved in the establishment and the commencement of the cottage farm holiday programme activities being organized, supervised and run by the Polytechnic. The programme is designed and programmed to arm those interested in agro business, practicing farmers, public servants, and politicians with the latest modern tools which will help them to improve their yield, income and hence status and living standard. Poultry (chicken) farming, fish farming are some of the areas where cottage farm holiday programme activities are offered to interested persons and groups.
9. Polytechnic Disciplinary Committee
The Head, Department of Animal Health & Production is the chairman of the Polytechnic’s disciplinary committee. This committee is actively involved in the settling of discords amongst students and has helped exceedingly in establishing harmony in the Polytechnic Community. The enthronement of a uniform standard of behavior where there is no preferential treatments nor favoured individuals has lent credence to the committee as a performing and functional body.
10. Production of Effective and Seasoned Middle Level Manpower
The Department, following the standard and trend he college is being programmed for by its Rector, will be a leading authority and source for all
solutions to problems in animal science.
The department is being positioned to be able to contend with all possible challenges and constraints expected in livestock commercial ventures. The
students passing through the department will be armed with the evolving knowledge and practice in modern livestock enterprises. As a result, graduates that
are products of this department, would have been studded with all the positive qualities in learning and practice that will make them successfully contend
with all upheavals that might rear their ugly heads in the field of Animal Production.
The lecturers in the Department are essentially very ambitious young men in animal science. They are all enrolled in various centres of Higher Learning
with intent to improve their academic status for more positive and reliable impact on their students.
The graduates from the fore X-rayed setting in the Department, definitely will be more persevering and resilient agriculturists and Agro-entrepreneurs.
11. Establishment of Functional and Self-Sustaining Livestock Commercial Farms
The Polytechnic endowed with the crop of resilient and result oriented lecturers in Animal Health & Production Department will incidentally be the centre of reference for very virile, functional and sustainable commercial settings in livestock and mini livestock farms.
The Polytechnic will serve as a credible reference centre to individuals, groups, governments and Agro-entrepreneurs interested in commercial livestock ventures.
The effects of successful (a) Poultry production (b) Fishery Production and (c) Piggery production farm as a function of increase in income generation will
enviably position the Polytechnic in the annals of the State Government. The overall benefits realizable from the Polytechnic’s livestock enterprises cannot be completely x-rayed or exhausted.
Emmanuel Eze (Head of Department)
