Study Reveals Regional Disparities in Livestock Methane Emissions in Nigeria

A recent study conducted by Netzence in partnership with 3logi and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has unveiled the disparities in methane emissions from livestock across regions and seasons in Nigeria. The research, led by Professor Sadiq Sani, indicates that the North Central Zone exhibits higher methane emissions linked to greenhouse gases compared to the South West.

The study highlights that livestock systems in the North Central region, characterized by larger mature animals and extensive agro-pastoral practices, produce higher methane emissions per head due to factors like higher baseline enteric methane output and environmental exposure. In contrast, the South West region's livestock, dominated by semi-intensive systems with a higher proportion of young and mid-aged animals, shows lower emissions.

The study emphasizes the impact of environmental conditions, herd composition, animal size, diet, and grazing patterns on methane emissions in Nigerian livestock systems.