RAISING ANIMALS IN YOUR BACKYARD FOR PERSONAL CONSUMPTION

IT is no longer uncommon for an urban family to keep a small flock of birds for supply of chicken and eggs. Besides poultry, there are several other small animals that can be raised, with even the smallest plots supporting a few carefully- chosen ones. Meat is usually the most expensive item on most families shopping list. Producing some of your meat won’t be a bad idea, since it is what we eat everyday. There are different small animals that can be raised at our backyards that can adequately meet these needs. Some of these are : rabbits, goats, poultry-broilers and layers, snails, quails, grass cutters, catfish, ducks, etc. Keeping small animals can be a source of fun and good food. In this article, we will focus on animal farming on a small scale, even in the city. Seven reasons why you need to produce your own meat. 1. It allows you to know what is in your meat. - Well, with all the concern about treatment of animals, you can be sure that your animals for meat and eggs are well cared for. You can be sure that they are indeed organic and free range. It's always nice to know what's on and in the food you are eating. 2. It provides an effective way of disposing leftover food – Leftover or excess food can be used to feed almost all the animals mentioned above. Your leftover rice, beans can be used to feed your chickens. Yam and plantain peels are also good food for your snails. No family should throw away any leftover food. In my house, I realised that my kids were always having leftovers which used to end up in the dust bin so I decided to buy a dog. Apart from food being given to my dog, we also supplement it with leftover food. My snails too take their own share. 3. It serves as an effective means of disposing our excess vegetables - Another reason to raise small animals is because they can also be coordinated with growing your own food. We often feed excess vegetables from the farm to our chickens and rabbits. It is a good way to supplement free range and commercial feed. Our scraps are turned into meat. 4. It creates marketplace alternatives - Raising your own small animals for meat is an example of creating alternatives to the regular market. When the marketplace doesn't provide what you want, how you want it, when you want it, and at a price you can to afford, this can serve as an alternative. 5. It helps save money – Since meat is usually the most expensive item on the shopping list, producing your own meat will help families a great deal in saving substantial amount of money. This month alone I was able to save N6,500 on meat because I decided to smoke some catfish from my farm and keep them in the freezer. It even saved the family from overconsumption of red meat. 6. It helps to improve your health –Red meat is the most available type of meat and most families are left with few alternatives. With some snails, rabbits, catfish at your backyard your consumption of red meat will be reduced. Moreover, eating snail and rabbit meats which are low in cholesterol will subsequently improve your health. 7. It helps you plan your monthly budget – In Nigeria, no one notifies you of increase in any produce or commodity. You wake up one morning and discover that the price of a product has doubled. For example a crate of eggs that I used to buy for N500 suddenly become N900 after the festive season. With a small flock of egg- producing birds, you are sure to maintain your budget for the month. Next week, we will be discussing different ways that we can use to keep animals on a small scale at our backyard. Happy faming! WRITTEN BY:YAHAYA ABUBAKAR