LIONPRO has completed an advanced livestock nutrition training seminar in Bukavu, DRC – further strengthening our commitment to sustainable and efficient farming across Africa
The full – day training gathered farmers, feed traders, aquaculture producers, and livestock professionals who wished to expand their knowledge of modern feeding systems for poultry, fish, pigs, and ruminants. The seminar was fully organized and financed by LIONPRO, with all content delivered by livestock nutrition specialist Dr. Shyaka Innocent, using the official LIONPRO training manual and practical formulation examples. Throughout the day, participants were introduced to the core principles of animal nutrition, feed formulation, efficient use of protein ingredients, and best practices for improving productivity. The poultry module explained how balanced feed formulations for chicks, growers, layers, and broilers can be achieved using key ingredients such as Meat and Bone Meal (MBM), Blood Meal, PCP (Protein, Calcium & Phosphorus), and Soybean Meal, all of which play an essential role in achieving proper amino acid balance, digestibility, and cost-efficient performance. Using charts and tables from the training material, farmers learned how to formulate complete diets for layers and broilers using just a small selection of reliable, high-quality ingredients.
The aquaculture section addressed the rising importance of tilapia and catfish farming in the region. Participants explored pond and cage management, water quality standards, stocking densities, and the impact of feed quality on growth performance. Nutrition accounts for up to 75 – 80% of aquaculture production costs, as highlighted in the LIONPRO manual, so the training focused heavily on the use of highly digestible protein sources such as MBM, Blood Meal, Poultry Meal, and Soybean Meal to improve feed conversion and fish survival rates.
In the swine module, Dr. Shyaka explained how genetics, growth stages, and nutrient requirements intersect with feed formulation. Farmers learned how to create nutritionally balanced diets for piglets, growers, finishers, and breeding sows using a combination of maize, rice bran, wheat pollard, and LIONPRO’s protein ingredients, ensuring that rations meet protein, calcium, and phosphorus needs at each stage of production. The training provided highly practical guidance on reducing feed costs while maintaining optimal growth and animal health.
The seminar concluded with a detailed overview of ruminant nutrition, particularly for dairy cows. Participants explored the importance of dry matter intake, the balance between forages and concentrates, mineral supplementation, rumen function, and how reliable protein sources can improve milk yield and herd performance. Example rations from the training material demonstrated how LIONPRO ingredients can be integrated to enhance feed quality and consistency.
Throughout the seminar, farmers actively engaged with questions, shared their experiences, and discussed how to apply modern livestock nutrition practices on their own farms. This high level of interaction demonstrated strong demand for practical, evidence – based training that helps reduce feed costs, increase productivity, and improve long-term farm sustainability.
With this successful training in Bukavu, LIONPRO continues to strengthen its presence and support across Africa by combining high – quality feed ingredients with professional technical education. The company remains committed to helping farmers achieve better performance through improved feeding strategies and reliable ingredient sourcing.
More LIONPRO trainings and farmer support programs are planned in the coming months, bringing advanced nutrition knowledge to even more communities committed to professional, efficient, and sustainable livestock production.
