Cagemax has grown to become Europe’s largest supplier of high-quality animal proteins and fats.(Image caption: Cagemax)

Cagemax, based in the Netherlands, plays a vital role as a supplier of high-quality animal proteins and fats. In recent years, Cagemax has not only expanded its own global business but has also supported the growth of its clients in the aquafeed, compound feed, fertiliser, bioenergy and pet food sectors.

Growth is a central theme for Cagemax, contributing to the healthy development of animals worldwide through a broad range of proteins and fats. The company is recognised as a flexible partner that readily adapts to changing legislation and dynamic market demand. One thing, however, never changes: the market’s need for quality, competitive pricing and optimal delivery reliability.

Reliable

While market conditions continue to shift, Cagemax remains a stable and dependable partner in an ever-changing environment. The company consistently deploys its expertise and extensive network to offer competitive prices combined with exceptional quality. Logistics are managed down to the finest detail, supported by proprietary storage and transshipment facilities. This enables the team to respond effectively to fluctuating market demand.

Cagemax maintains direct and continuous contact with a wide range of manufacturers, ensuring customers can always choose between different qualities and origins. Solutions are tailor-made not only in the product range, but also in advisory services. Cagemax’s experts stay fully informed of industry trends and possess in-depth knowledge of their products.

Dynamic

Originally focused on ingredients for the pet food industry, Cagemax has steadily expanded into the compound feed, aquafeed, fertiliser and bioenergy sectors. On the supply side, the company is capable of sourcing large volumes, while on the demand side, customers benefit from attentive service and consistently high-quality raw materials. By responding effectively to market dynamics, Cagemax has built long-lasting relationships with customers worldwide, driven by the belief that continuous differentiation is key to remaining indispensable.

Cagemax understands that quality is fundamental to success and long-term business continuity. The company is GMP+ certified and operates fully in accordance with HACCP principles and practices. As each market has its own quality requirements, Cagemax is also certified to meet the strict ISCC-EU standards for the bioenergy sector, supported by a SKAL certificate that guarantees biological and bio-organic products are produced in line with European production directives. To ensure constant product quality, every incoming shipment is carefully analysed in an accredited laboratory.

With a strong focus on quality, delivery, reliability, flexibility and a proactive approach to partnership, Cagemax has grown to become Europe’s largest supplier of high-quality animal proteins and fats.

H5N1 in livestock is considered essential for early risk detection.

Scientists are intensifying efforts to understand how the H5N1 avian influenza virus, widely known as bird flu, is adapting to infect dairy cattle in the United States.

This unexpected development has raised fresh concerns about animal health, biosecurity, and the long-term implications for human health. The virus was first identified in US dairy herds in March 2024, marking a significant shift from historical patterns, as influenza viruses have not traditionally caused outbreaks in cattle.

Researchers believe this emergence reflects the virus’s well-known ability to jump from birds to mammals. However, new scientific evidence suggests that recent H5N1 variants may be better suited to infecting cow cells and tissues than earlier strains. This growing adaptability has prompted global attention from virologists, veterinarians, and public health experts monitoring zoonotic disease risks.

A study published in Nature Communications by the MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research examined a wide range of H5N1 viruses spanning more than 60 years. The findings reveal that the virus’s ability to infect bovine cells is linked to genetic changes that have built up gradually over time. Some strains demonstrated a stronger capacity to replicate in cattle cells, highlighting clear differences between virus lineages and their potential to adapt to new mammalian hosts.

Influenza viruses are known for their rapid evolution, which enables them to cross species barriers. As H5N1 becomes more efficient at infecting mammals such as cattle, scientists warn that the theoretical risk of further adaptation including to humans may increase. Previous events, including the 2009 swine flu pandemic, illustrate how animal-origin influenza viruses can eventually pose global public health challenges.

Current data suggests that the strain circulating in US dairy cattle is among the most capable of infecting bovine cells identified so far. However, researchers caution that other bird-origin viruses could also infect cattle under the right conditions. This highlights the need for continuous surveillance, advanced genomic analysis, and functional testing of circulating strains.

Ongoing monitoring of H5N1 in livestock is considered essential for early risk detection, safeguarding agricultural systems, and strengthening pandemic preparedness in an increasingly interconnected world.

Arla Foods revolutionising Nigeria's dairy sector.

Global dairy giant Arla Foods has stepped up its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s dairy industry, unveiling a long-term strategy to source 50 per cent of its milk locally while importing the remaining half from Europe.

The ambitious plan is aimed at cutting reliance on imports, strengthening domestic production and supporting Nigeria’s growing demand for nutritious dairy products.

The company restated this vision at the 2025 Arla-Dano Farm Open Day, where it highlighted strategic investments designed to position the dairy sector as a catalyst for improved nutrition, sustainable livelihoods and national food security. According to Arla, its approach is firmly rooted in sustainability, local capacity development and continuous knowledge transfer across the entire dairy value chain.

At the heart of this initiative is the Arla-Dano Farm in Damau, Kaduna State, a modern, world-class dairy facility regarded as one of the most advanced in West Africa. The farm features cutting-edge cow-monitoring technology, prioritises animal welfare through free-range housing and sand bedding, and uses specialised cooling systems. Solar-powered milk cooling further ensures optimal quality while supporting renewable energy adoption.

To enhance local value addition, Arla has also commissioned a yoghurt factory adjacent to the farm. The facility produces Cool Cow yoghurt made with 100 per cent fresh milk sourced directly from the Damau operation. The company says this marks a major step towards processing raw milk into high-quality, locally made dairy products for Nigerian consumers, while boosting confidence in home-grown brands.

Beyond production, Arla is investing heavily in human capital through the Nigerian Dairy Centre of Excellence, launched during the open day. The centre serves as a national hub for training, research and innovation, targeting farmers, students, veterinarians and industry professionals to professionalise dairy farming and build a skilled workforce.

Sustainability remains central to operations at Damau. Arla reports that current milk yields average 30 kilogrammes per cow per day, with plans to increase output to 35 kilogrammes, significantly lowering the carbon footprint per litre of milk. The farm also uses solar energy, recycles manure as fertiliser and applies efficient irrigation systems.

Looking ahead, Arla plans to expand local milk sourcing, strengthen partnerships and scale up training and technology investments. The company reaffirmed its goal of achieving a 50–50 balance between locally produced milk and European imports within the next decade, reinforcing its long-term commitment to food security, economic empowerment and a resilient Nigerian dairy value chain.

Ranching Shaping Nigeria's Livestock Future.

The Federal Government has reinforced its commitment to ranching as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s long-term livestock development strategy, signalling a major shift towards sustainable agriculture, food security and economic diversification.

This position was restated during an inspection visit by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, to Manchong Integrated Farms Limited in Nasarawa State.

Leading senior ministry officials and key industry stakeholders, the Minister described the farm as a compelling demonstration that modern ranching is not only possible in Nigeria, but also scalable, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable. According to him, the facility challenges long-standing assumptions that ecological and climatic conditions limit the success of ranching systems in the country.

Maiha explained that the farm operates a fully integrated livestock model, combining structured animal management with year-round feed and fodder production, effective water management and genetic improvement programmes. He observed that the farm maintained lush green pastures even during the dry season, underscoring the potential of climate-smart agriculture to transform Nigeria’s livestock value chain.

The facility reportedly cultivates improved grass varieties such as Mombasa, Napier and Brachiaria, manages over 300 cattle across both beef and dairy breeds, and produces surplus animal feed annually. These achievements, the Minister noted, align with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development’s reform agenda aimed at boosting productivity, reducing import dependence and strengthening rural livelihoods.

Building on these outcomes, Maiha disclosed plans for the ministry to collaborate with Manchong Integrated Farms on fodder seed production and genetic improvement initiatives. He added that the farm’s existing supply of fodder to states including Jigawa and Yobe positions it as a strategic hub for scaling a national feed system. Such a system, he said, would support small-scale livestock producers, stabilise supply chains and enhance overall sector efficiency.

The Minister further revealed that the facility would serve as a pilot centre for planned breeding programmes under the ministry’s reform framework. New genetic materials, he noted, would be developed and multiplied at the farm before being distributed nationwide.

Earlier, the owner of Manchong Integrated Farms, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said the project was designed to demonstrate ranching as a practical solution to farmer–herder conflicts, particularly in northern Nigeria. He stressed that replicating the model could reduce insecurity, promote peaceful coexistence and unlock significant economic opportunities across the region.

Dogara highlighted the sector’s vast economic potential, noting that the global dairy and beef market is valued at about 2.5 trillion dollars, while northern Nigeria accounts for over 70 per cent of the country’s livestock population. He said capturing even a fraction of the global market could generate substantial revenue for Nigeria.

Also speaking, a livestock business partner to the Botswana Embassy in Abuja, Mr Clinton Agbo, described the farm as a strong platform for international collaboration, adding that discussions were ongoing to establish a pilot programme with a Pan-African outlook led by Nigerian stakeholders.