Antibiotic use hinders Nigerian egg powder production, farmers say

Nigerian poultry farmers face significant hurdles in competing with imported egg powder, as major food companies are hesitant to purchase locally produced versions due to the common use of antibiotics in treating birds. This practice contrasts with European producers who increasingly rely on probiotics.

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The reason is that in Nigeria, we use some of the major antibiotics to treat some of our birds, but in Europe, they don’t use antibiotics. They have probiotics they are using. The antibiotic elements shouldn’t be in the egg powder. It has a detrimental effect on human consumption.

Mojeed Iyiola, Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, explained that antibiotic residues in egg powder pose a detrimental effect on human consumption. This concern leads companies like Cadbury to prefer imported egg powder, despite the availability of local eggs.

Iyiola emphasized the need for a shift in production practices, advocating for specialized farms dedicated to producing eggs from birds that have not received antibiotics. "Any egg that we are going to be using for the egg powder, it has to be specially produced. Such birds that are producing that kind of egg, shouldn’t be treated with antibiotics, no matter the case of their sickness," he stated.

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Any egg that we are going to be using for the egg powder, it has to be specially produced. Such birds that are producing that kind of egg, shouldn’t be treated with antibiotics, no matter the case of their sickness.

The farmers are also calling on the Lagos State Government to expedite the launch of a proposed egg powder factory in Igbodo, Epe. They believe this facility could provide a crucial solution to the substantial losses incurred from the weak demand for fresh eggs. Processing fresh eggs into powder would extend their shelf life and create a vital alternative market, especially amid concerns over food affordability and mounting losses within the poultry sector.

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The factory is yet to begin functioning. We acknowledge that Lagos State has tried their best, but the best will not be materialised until the factory starts operation. So instead of losing eggs like this, we convert it to egg powder, and that is more storable.