How food supplements keep away diseases

A scientist (C) explains how the supplements are processed during the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic recently. Photos by Lominda Afedraru

In most cases, livestock farmers rearing cattle, goats, and pigs and keeping poultry, among others rely on vaccines and drug administration in case of any disease challenges.
However, a section of veterinary scientists majoring in animal nutrition have come up with a formula of administering nutritious food supplements that are capable of keeping farmers’ animals healthy.
This was revealed during the 16th Seeds of Gold edition which took place at the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) at Kituuza, Mukono District. Seeds of Gold had the opportunity to interview the experts about details of the food supplements and how to administer the same to the animals and below are excerpts.
Aloysius Muwanga, an animal scientist, encourages farmers to use food supplements on their farms.

Supplements
The food supplements are a new feed in the market which the scientists are importing from the Netherlands. It is processed from herbal plants mainly planted in India including soy bean oil as part of the mixture and the scientists are optimistic that next year they will be able to process them within the country.
Once animals are fed on these various food supplements, it saves farmers from frequent drug administration and vaccination leading to healthy animal production.
One outstanding advantage is that the feed supplements contain highly active bentonite montmorillonite which helps in absorbing toxins and metabolic waste. This helps in defence against parasites.

Diseases
Muwonge explained that farmers keeping livestock and poultry in the country are faced with the challenge of infectious animal diseases which may be caused by viruses or bacterial infection. This could lead to diarrhoea and respiratory infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia and rhinorrhoea among others. This may weaken the animals and eventually lead to death.

Types of supplements
Mineral guide
It contains mineral features including salt which is required for healthy bones of the animals. It helps in regulating mineral metabolism in animal bones for a healthy living. For the case of poultry it helps in the development adequate eggs cells for good formulation of the yolk.

Stabiliser
This helps in stimulating the animal digestive track, supports healthy intestinal function, constipation effects and bloat stabilisation. This can be applied when the animal is suffering from diarrhoea.

Body cleanser
The body cleanser stimulates defence against parasites including ticks and this will reduce the receptivity of internal and external parasites. Apart from applying common deworming measures, the supplement feed can be of help.

Detox
The detox food supplement is meant to rebuild the internal organs mainly liver and the kidney and it helps in regenerating these organs in case of any infection. If animals are infected with consumption of feed containing aflatoxin, farmers can apply the detox to help stimulate its rate of infection.

Lung free
It stimulates the respiratory organs of animals, supports healthy lung functioning, dissolves mucus and facilitates proper coughing in a bid to eliminate it.

Administering
According to Muwanga, the food supplements are mixed with animal feed which in this case could be hay, silage, and animal cake feed or mineral blocks.
This is because the products are not that palatable for the animals to consume directly.
The mixture is in form a sticky clay and once mixed with feed the animals can consume it directly.
For supplements such as detox, lung free and stabiliser, these can be given to the animals in case any related infection is spotted.
Packaging
Muwanga packages all types of food supplements in measurements of 100 gramms at Shs11,000, 250 gramms at Shs21,000, 500gms costing Shs37,000, 1000 gramms at Shs67,000 and 10 kilogrammes at Shs500,000.
At the moment the marketing outlet is located in Entebbe but soon the scientists will reach out to various outlets in Kampala and the surrounding areas.