The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence recently hosted a pivotal scientific seminar focused on “The Fundamentals of Halal Nutrition, Feed Quality, and Its Impact on Livestock Production.” This event, held at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Abu Dhabi, is part of a broader initiative to promote modern agricultural practices and enhance awareness of halal nutrition among livestock breeders. By implementing such educational programs, the award aims to empower farmers with the knowledge and techniques needed to improve production efficiency and sustainability.
Promoting Halal Awareness in Agricultural Practices
The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence emphasizes the importance of building knowledge and skills among breeders as a cornerstone for advancing the livestock sector. This approach aligns with the UAE’s vision for achieving sustainable food security, bolstering local production capabilities, and ensuring the stability of food supply chains.
Highlighting the Feed Market for Livestock Breeders
During the seminar, significant attention was given to the “Feed Market” for livestock breeders, launched by the Abu Dhabi Agricultural and Food Safety Authority in 2023. This initiative aims to provide high-quality feed at competitive prices, marking it as the first and largest feed market in the Middle East. Supporting approximately 40,000 breeders in the UAE, it addresses the nutritional needs of over 5 million livestock, thereby reinforcing the industry’s overall productivity.
Impact of Proper Nutrition on Livestock Productivity
Dr. Ahmed Eiswa, a livestock production specialist at the Abu Dhabi Agricultural and Food Safety Authority, led discussions on how proper halal nutrition can directly influence the productivity of meat and dairy. With a select audience of breeders, producers, and agricultural experts, the seminar explored the substantial benefits of nutritious feed in enhancing the quality of animal products, building consumer trust, and promoting relative self-sufficiency.
Scientific Insights into Livestock Feeding
The presentation highlighted the latest scientific insights related to ruminant nutrition, underscoring that balanced and appropriate feeding is fundamental to improved performance and achieving optimal growth rates in both meat and dairy production. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in enhancing the health and immunity of animals, enabling them to resist diseases effectively.
Dr. Eiswa also elaborated on the various types of feed essential for halal production. He stressed the importance of diversifying food sources instead of relying on a single type of feed, which can significantly improve economic viability for breeders. The expert noted that judicious use of concentrated feeds, rich in protein and energy, is vital for increasing fertility rates during breeding seasons and maintaining healthy fetal development. This approach helps reduce complications related to malnutrition at birth and ensures higher weights for newborns, ultimately fostering future production.