It is no longer uncommon for an urban family to keep a small flock of birds for supply of chicken and eggs. Apart from poultry, there are several other small animals that can be raised,  even the smallest plots can support a few carefully chosen animals. Meat is usually the most expensive item on most families shopping list. Producing  some of your meat won’t be a bad idea, since it is what we eat everyday. There are different small animals that can be raised at our backyards. These are : rabbits, goats, poultry-broilers and layers, snail, quail, grass cutter, catfish, duck, etc.  Keeping small animals can be a source of fun and good fresh food. In this article I will focus on  animal farming on a small scale –even in the city.

7 reasons why you need to produce your meat.

1. Know what is in your meat

Well, with all the concern about treatment of animals, you can be sure that your animals for meat and eggs are well cared for. You can be sure that they are indeed organic and free range. It’s always nice to know what’s on and in the food you are eating.

2. Effective way of disposing leftover food

Leftover or excess food can be used to feed almost all the animals mentioned above. Your leftover rice, beans can be used to feed your chickens. Yam and plantain peels are also good food for your snails. No family should throw away any leftover food. In my house I realised that my kids are always having leftover which used to end up in the dust bin so I decided to buy a dog. Apart from food given to my dog, we also supplement with leftover food. My snails too take their own share.
3. Transfer excess vegetables

Another reason to raise small animals is because they can also be coordinated with growing your own food. We often feed excess vegetables from the farm to our chickens and rabbits. It is a good way to supplement free range and commercial feed. Our scraps are turned into meat.

4. Creating market place alternatives

Raising your own small animals for meat is an example of creating marketplace alternatives. When the marketplace doesn’t provide what you want, how you want it, when you want it, and at a price you can afford.

5. Helps to save money

Since meat is usually the most expensive item on the shopping list, producing your own meat will help families a great deal in saving substantial amount of money. This month alone I was able to save N6,500 on meat because I decided to smoke some catfish from my farm and kept them in the freezer. It even saved the family from over consumption of red meat.

6.  It helps to improve your health

Red meat is the most available type of meat and most families are left with few alternatives. With some snails, rabbits, catfish at your backyard, your consumption of red meat will be reduced, and eating snail and rabbit meats which are low in cholesterol will subsequently improve your health.

7. Helps to plan your monthly budget

In Nigeria, no one notifies you  of increase in any produce or commodity.  You wake up one morning and discover that the price of a product has doubled. For example, a crate of egg that  I used to buy for N500 has become N900 after the festive  season. With small flock of egg producing birds you are sure to maintain your budget for the month. Happy faming!