PRESCO PLC BUILDS RANCH,TO EXPORT BEEF ABROAD

PRESCO PLC BUILDS RANCH,TO EXPORT BEEF ABROAD
BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU,

Palm Oil giant ,Presco Plc in a clear attempt to better utilize the by -products of its premium palm kernel

cakes better have now decided to expand its livestock projects into a viable commercial beef cattle farming enterprise with a herd of 3,000 to 4,000 herds .

Checks by The News office Desk of Paedia Express Multimedia Group in Lagos,Nigeria via its 2017 annual report fact sheets now available to it suggests that the brand now wishes to supply a high quality bullock and steer  for slaughtering not just to the Nigerian market but also to  export healthy heifers in other nations of Africa where there is a massive shortage of beef from cattle like Gabon and Republic of Congo amongst others..

It was reliably gathered that the first phase of the project was to help develop its cattle handling facilities on the four estates with Obaretin and Cowan .

This reporter was  informed via the firms fact file that this project will include holding paddocks ,crushing pens and dipping facilities to prevent tick and other insect infestation .

The brand stated that the second phase of its massive livestock project was to take blood samples from all cattle currently owned by Presco Plc ,about 200 herds ,for possible analysis so as to help to eliminate any diseases that may be present in Presco Estates...

The company assured that it was in the process of declaring all of its plantations as quarantined so that animals can be isolated to stop contamination from infected animals outside of its premises which is a major requirement for export.

The company noted that the Third phase of the project will be to purchase heifers from carefully selected suppliers with the animals held in batches of 50 to 100 herd in the supplies isolated premises where blood samples will then be taken for analysis .

It says': only healthy animals without any disease  will then be transported to Presco ,Sokoto Gudali will be the preferred breed to purchase for export due to their short term features which makes handling and transport safer"

;White fulani will then be considered to enable us reach our targets especially for the local market The brand added that its 4th phase will be to vaccinate all her animals against various diseases among which includes tuberculosis, brucellosis, Foot and Mouth Diseases ,Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia among others as cattle will then be kept in Presco quarantine areas for up to six months before export will then take place :

The company added that all export options were currently under investigations in partnership with the Presco logistics department .

Mr Martin Oostihuizen,The officer-in-Charge of the SIAT Presco Cattle project affirmed that from all that has being stated ,it was estimated that it could take three years before the  project goes into a full swing.

The company stated that though they were a leader in the oil palm business in Nigeria but its aim was to also become the leaders in the beef cattle industry as well.