Lagos, March 3, 2026 (NAN) An livestock diagnostic expert, Mr Femi Dairo, has urged local livestock farmers to adopt adequate diagnosis for their animals to prevent losses.
Dairo, the Chief Executive Officer of Rid Agri Ltd., and Business Head Rid Labs, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
He emphasized the need for livestock farmers to stop medicating their animals, while reiterating the importance of training for the farmers.
“Our message has been centred around decelerating antimicrobial resistance, reducing misuse and overuse of drugs, and promoting responsible farming practices.
“Farmers over the years have thought that diagnosis is a cost whereas diagnosis is a risk management strategy.
“Animals die every day from what they cannot control because we live with pathogens. This is because the business of animal farming is science and if you don’t understand the science of it you are going to fail.
“You must understand what losses mean and when it stops. So, our message to the farmers is that they need to please understand the science and business of farming.
“The completion of the two is what will guarantee the profitability of the business,” Dairo”, said.
According to the expert, farmers’ experiences are not enough to tackle the challenges of microbial resistance in animals.
He, however, stressed the need to engage professionals.
“This is because most farmers are non-professionals, more than 90 per cent lack a form of professional training . The business requires some level of technical guidance and training.
“The farmers may not be able to afford having a resident vet doctor or resident aquaculture professional on their farms but they can deploy the services of people who have diagnosis as a backup.
“We still have veterinary doctors who prescribe drugs without diagnosis. They do that from experience. But pathogens are learning very fast how to stop drugs from working.
“The question is are we learning as fast as the pathogens are learning. Without diagnosis, we would not be able to do that.
“The only tool we have is to diagnose before treatment. And that way you can attack whatever case it is per time. So, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for each case you find yourself,” the expert said. (NAN)
