SOJI AJIBOLA
Rabbit farmers in Oyo State have reportedly lost animals worth millions of naira to an outbreak of a virus known as Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus ( RHDV).
FirstNews findings revealed that the ravaging virus is impacting negatively on the economy of the farmers as they are now recording losses.
Most farmers, as reliably informed, can no longer meet up with the high demands of the consumers, as they are being left with fewer rabbits on their farms.
Specialists in Animal husbandry and veterinary experts disclosed that Calicivirus was first discovered in China in 1984 and was reported to be a swift rabbit killer with no symptoms.
While recounting her experience, one of the affected farmers, Mrs Janet Adeosun, put her loss at an average of N5 million.
According to her, “I have fumigated the entire environment more than four times now, and I have used gas flaring to burn all galvanized hutches and some that are mixed with widens and by February I will be restocking with improved breeds.”
Speaking in the same vein, the founder of Olayinka Farms in Oyo, Mr Onaolapo Olayinka, said, “I list 57 rabbits, actually, ten fully matured Hyla rabbits that cost N23,000 each, 20 weaned Hyla at N15,000 each, 15 weaned Hyla buck at N4,000 each, seven New Zealand white grower at N8,000 each and five English spotted weaned rabbit at N5,000 each were lost to the outbreak.”
Vice President of Oyo State Rabbit Breeders, Abayomi Okunade, said he had lost not less than 500 rabbits whose monetary value was more than N1 million since the outbreak.
He lamented that rabbit farmers in the state have been battling the outbreak through self-help.
“I tried to fumigate my farm, and I heat up the whole cage area. The government doesn’t know that we exist. We are just trying to create awareness,” he said.
However, the Director of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Ibikunle Abiodun Ismail, said the government has the resources to support rabbit farmers.
He said, “The extension service organ trains farmers, and if they have to seek for loan, there are established institutions like Bank of Agriculture. The support is both financial and technical. The technical aspect is being handled by Agricultural Development Projects. They train farmers, sponsor programmes on radio and television to educate them.
“We also have the veterinary department in the state and in all the local governments. If they have any complaint, they go to the veterinary doctor of the state, they come to the local government as well, and they will render services to them to prevent the sidease, which they will pay for at subsidised rate.
“There’s also annual vaccination programme for ruminant and non-ruminant animals.”
A veterinary physician and senior lecturer at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Dr. Gbenga Alaka, explained that Cacilivirus is new in Nigeria because it was first reported in August.
“We believe it was introduced through the importation of some exotic rabbits into the country,” he said.
He advised rabbit farmers against introducing animals from infected stocks to their farms.
“They have to quarantine any animal they are buying, and ensure they are not from an infected source. And if you already have the disease on your farm, you should clear out your stock, properly clean, disinfect the pen, allow to rest for six months before you introduce a new set of rabbits,” he said.
He counseled farmers against treating animals themselves, and rather, allow professionals to come to their aid and offer proper diagnosis so as to mitigate the problems.
Another veterinarian and lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Adeola Olusoji, said the best way to prevent infection in a pen from new animals should be to quarantine them for at least fifteen days before they are mixed with the others.
A specialist of small and laboratory animal testing, Dr. Odumuyiwa Adejumobi, who also teaches at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, said farmers should embark on strict bio-security which involves discouraging strangers into their colony, and those working in the farm should always keep themselves clean by washing their hands, clothes, and equipment with soap, water and disinfect regularly