• Animal Nutrition Laboratory

The Animal Nutrition Laboratory is a fundamental facility within the Department of Animal Science, dedicated to the chemical analysis and evaluation of feed materials. It provides the essential data required to formulate balanced diets that optimize livestock growth, reproduction, and health.

Core Capabilities: Proximate Analysis
The laboratory specializes in Proximate Analysis, a series of analytical procedures used to determine the nutritional components of feed samples. This includes:

Dry Matter (DM): Determining the moisture content to calculate the actual nutrient density.

Crude Protein (CP): Measuring nitrogen content to estimate the protein available for muscle development and milk production.

Ether Extract (EE): Assessing the crude fat content, which serves as a concentrated energy source.

Crude Fiber (CF): Measuring the structural carbohydrates, essential for ruminant digestion and gut health.

Ash Content: Determining the total mineral content by burning off organic matter.

Research and Industry Services
Beyond student training, the lab plays a critical role in Ghana's agricultural economy:

Feed Quality Control: Assisting local farmers and commercial feed millers in verifying the quality of their ingredients (such as maize, soy meal, or fishmeal).

Alternative Feed Resources: Researching the nutritional value of non-conventional feedstuffs, such as agro-industrial by-products, to reduce production costs for smallholder farmers.

Metabolizable Energy Estimation: Calculating the energy value of diets to ensure animals meet their physiological requirements without waste.

Supporting Academic Advancement
For MPhil and PhD candidates, the Animal Nutrition Laboratory is where theoretical formulas are tested. Students gain hands-on experience with specialized equipment like Kjeldahl distillers for protein analysis and Soxhlet extractors for fat determination. This practical expertise is vital for those moving into roles as nutritionists, farm managers, or research scientists.

• LIPREC: Direct access to the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre for practical field training

The Livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC) serves as the primary field station for the Department of Animal Science, acting as a bridge between laboratory research and real-world agricultural application. Located at Legon, it provides the "living laboratory" where students and faculty conduct large-scale experiments and practical training.

Core Objectives of LIPREC
LIPREC is designed to support the three pillars of the University’s mission: Research, Teaching, and Outreach.

Practical Teaching: It is the main site for the animal science component of the BSc. Agriculture program. Students move from the classroom to the field to handle livestock, learn husbandry techniques, and observe animal behavior firsthand.

Graduate Research: MPhil and PhD candidates utilize the facility to manage experimental flocks and herds. This includes conducting feed trials, monitoring growth rates, and collecting biological samples for analysis in the Molecular Genetics or Nutrition labs.

Demonstration & Outreach: The centre showcases modern, sustainable farming practices to local farmers and industry stakeholders, helping to modernize Ghana's agricultural sector.

Facilities and Livestock Units
The centre is organized into specialized units to cover the breadth of the animal production sector:

Poultry Unit: Focuses on layers and broilers, as well as the genetic improvement of local chicken ecotypes.

Small Ruminant Unit: Dedicated to the management and breeding of sheep and goats, focusing on heat tolerance and parasite resistance.

Cattle Unit: Manages dairy and beef herds, providing data on milk yield and pasture management.

Monogastric Unit: Includes piggery and specialized research into species like the grasscutter, supporting domestication and selective breeding initiatives.

Integration with Departmental Labs
LIPREC does not operate in isolation. It forms a continuous feedback loop with the department's technical facilities:

Feed formulation is designed based on data from the Animal Nutrition Lab.

Feeding trials are conducted at LIPREC.

Biological samples (blood, tissue, or meat) are taken back to the Molecular Genetics or Meat Science labs for final analysis.

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