PRODUCTION

The production department is one of the technical departments of NAGRC&DB. NAGRC&DB maintains government breeding farms, ranches and production units for the production of breeding males and females and other germplasm. These are availed to livestock farmers across the country through different uptake pathways. Production and availing appropriate breeding stock of Dairy and Beef Cattle, Dairy and Meat Goats, Pigs, Poultry to livestock farmers The Production Department implements the provisions of the breeding programs stipulated by the NAGRC&DB breeding department to meet farmer needs. These breeding programs are implemented at specific farm/ranch/production units according to the specific mandates

The core mandate of the Production Department of NAGRC&DB is also clearly illustrated in the Animal Breeding Act, 2001 as follows;

Management of the Centre farms for production and selection of superior dams and sires;
Production, procurement and sale of semen, eggs, ova, embryos and their associated equipment
Production and sale of founder brood stock of fisheries resources;
Open nucleus breeding and reproduction extension services to farmer and sale properly bred and recorded outstanding quality livestock to farmers;
Rearing of sire studs for production and sale of semen;
Production, procurement and sale liquid nitrogen and associated equipment

Availing Commercial Products to Livestock producers

In addition to production of breeding stock, the ranches and farms produce and avail to farming communities the commercial stocks of pigs (Camborough), Poultry Day Old Chicks (Kuroiler and Rainbow Rooster), Fish fingerlings, preserved pastures (hay and silage) and pasture seeds.

Capacity building/Training of farmers, Pupils, and Internship for students

The 12 Centre farms are used as training/internship centres for the following categories

Specialized training: Artificial Insemination Technicians and other related Assisted Reproductive Techniques like Embryo transfer, use of ultrasonography, Non-pregnancy Diagnosis.
Placement for Tertiary students to train in all aspects of animal production and marketing, (animal breeding, recording, feeds and feeding, pasture establishment, management, preservation (hay and silage), disease control and management, routine practices like different types of animal identification, castration, dehorning, etc),
Training farmers in in all aspects of animal production and marketing, (animal breeding, recording, feeds and feeding, pasture establishment, management, preservation (hay and silage), disease control and management, routine practices like different types of animal identification, castration, dehorning, etc), establishment and maintenance of farm structures, farm houses, paddocks, fencing, silos.
Hosting one day trainings/farm tours for Primary Pupils to University students
Demonstration of modern livestock management practices to the general public

Outreach programs (offering breeding and other support services)

The staff at the NAGRC&DB Animal Genetic Resources Centres (Farms and Ranches) offer artificial breeding services and other extension work to farmers in the regions where these Centres are located. They also support demonstration of pasture establishment and preservation (silage and hay making) to those farmers.