Abdoulie G. Dibba
The Network of Animal Breeders and Multipliers on Sunday, 28 February 2016, at the Sahel Plaza on the Kairaba Avenue exposed 
it members to the ABC of animal breeding practices.
In his introductory remark, Dr Omar Touray said the objective of the Network is to try and bring together all the people in the area of animal husbandry and multiplication with a view to overcoming the challenges facing them in order to satisfy the demand of the consumers.
He said they are at the formative stage with a total membership of 30 throughout the length and breadth of the country within three months, adding that the membership will grow as time goes on.
On what prompted the formation of the Network, Dr Touray said it is the recognition of the numerous problems that consumers confront in terms of market access and affordability particularly during the Muslim Tobaski feast.
He noted that in the past, access and affordability of ram during Tobaski was not a problem because there used to be a ‘Livestock Show’ where consumers can access rams which they breed in the country. But today, he added, almost 90 percent of the rams that are slaughtered in the Gambia come from outside.
“With this network, we want to go back to memory days where 90 percent of the livestock that we need are provided by our breeders and farmers through the help and support of the network,” said Dr. Touray.
He said the Network is ready to go into partnership with the Department of Livestock, ITC and development partners to make sure that their members use the best breeding and multiplying practices as well as preserving the country’s own breed for the benefit of the common consumers.
For his part, Abdourahman Loum, the interim Secretary of the Network, announced that membership is open to all adult animal breeders and multipliers in the Gambia and that anyone who wishes to become a member can contact him on 9980637 or 7238500.
After the opening remarks, Momodou Jeng of ITC took the participants through the breeding goals, the general design for breeding program and the model.
