Nigeria Identifies 470 Grazing Reserves to Curb Cattle Roaming

The Nigerian government has identified 470 grazing reserves across the country as part of measures to end open cattle roaming. Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this during an interview, emphasizing the need to rehabilitate settlements for pastoralists.

This initiative is part of a broader framework to reform the livestock sector and implement a national dairy policy. Maiha noted that the current practice of open grazing is unsustainable, as long-distance cattle movement negatively affects productivity and contributes to Nigeria's inability to meet local dairy demand.

The government plans to introduce electronic jaw tags for cattle to improve monitoring and security, triggering alarms if animals stray outside designated boundaries. Currently, the average milk yield in Nigeria ranges from 1 to 2 liters per cow daily, significantly lower than in countries like Kenya, where cows produce up to 30 liters.

The government aims to enhance livestock genetics, feed systems, and disease control to boost local milk production and reduce reliance on imports.