Egg powder production as a remedy to egg glut in Nigeria

Abstract

The importance of eggs in Nigerian nutrition cannot be overstated; being a complete diet, it remains a major supply of protein in infant, children and adult’s diets. The egg is a perishable animal product due to its high moisture and nutritional content, making it vulnerable to microbial assault and nutrient loss, especially during storage. The occurrence of egg glut during specific times of the year has become a nightmare for poultry farmers in Nigeria. Although techniques for preventing quality deterioration and wastage may not be an absolute solution, advanced steps such as egg powdering can be considered a long-term solution to egg glut and wastage, with numerous advantages over preservation and storage techniques. This paper thus reviews the causes, features and remedies for the egg glut situation in the contemporary Nigeria poultry industry, exploring its economic potentials, advantages and the prospects.