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Tag: Cattle

  • Nigeria records steepest cattle price rise

    Nigeria records steepest cattle price rise

    Cattle prices across West Africa climbed sharply between 2024 and 2025, with Nigeria recording the steepest increases as inflation, rising feed and transport costs, and strong festive demand collided with tightening supply, according to market data and industry reports.

    A  RaboResearch report had warned that global cattle prices were set to rise, a forecast that has since played out across much of the region.

    In response to growing demand and the need to modernise livestock trade, a 24-hour International Livestock Market was launched in December at Volivo in Ghana’s Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.

    The market, provided by the Lower Volta Association of Small-scale Miners and Farmers, includes production and processing zones, logistics infrastructure and a trade centre. Designed as a comprehensive agribusiness hub, the facility aims to strengthen Ghana’s livestock value chain, expand regional trade and create sustainable employment, particularly for youth and women.

    When fully operational, it is projected to generate more than 1,600 direct and indirect jobs for farmers, traders, transporters, processors and allied service providers.

    Across Nigeria, however, price pressures have been especially acute. From northern pastoral hubs to major urban livestock markets in Abuja, Lagos and the South East, buyers faced year-on-year price increases ranging from 50 per cent to well over 100 per cent, according to market observations and media reports.

    In 2024, small cows weighing under 200 kilogrammes typically sold for between ₦150,000 and ₦250,000 in markets such as Maiduguri, Kano and Kara near Lagos. Medium-sized cows, weighing between 200 and 350 kilogrammes, traded in the ₦250,000 to ₦400,000 range, while large cows exceeded ₦400,000 depending on breed and condition. These prices reflected relatively stable supply conditions and proximity to Sahelian cattle corridors.

    By 2025, prices had escalated sharply across all size categories. In Abuja’s Durumi livestock market and other major urban centres, small cows were commonly priced between ₦500,000 and ₦600,000, while medium-sized animals sold for between ₦800,000 and ₦1 million. Large cows, particularly premium breeds such as Sokoto Gudali, were reported to be selling for as much as ₦1.5 million to ₦2 million.

    Read Also: Kwara South council chairmen shut cattle markets over insecurity

    Regional disparities that once favoured northern buyers also narrowed significantly. In 2024, medium-sized cows in Maiduguri and other northern markets traded for as low as ₦150,000 to ₦350,000, while prices in southern markets such as Kara and Ibadan ranged from ₦200,000 to ₦450,000. By 2025, even northern markets experienced steep increases, with average cows approaching ₦500,000 during peak festive periods.

    Ghana’s cattle market followed a different. In 2024, adult cows weighing roughly 400 to 600 kilogrammes sold for between GHS2,500 and GHS5,000 in northern rural markets, with higher prices in Accra and Kumasi reflecting transport and processing costs. At prevailing exchange rates, this placed Ghanaian cattle broadly in the $400 to $800 range.

    Last year, however, Ghana experienced a rare seasonal softening of prices ahead of Eid-ul-Adha. Reports from the Kumasi abattoir indicated that cattle arrivals surged to more than 4,000 animals in June, compared with about 1,000 during the same period the previous year. The influx, supported by a stronger cedi and increased cross-border inflows, pushed prices lower.

    Cows that sold for around GHS20,000 during the 2024 festive season were trading closer to GHS15,000 in 2025, while others fell from GHS15,000 to approximately GHS10,000, according to the Ghana News Agency via Modern Ghana. The contrast with Nigeria underscored how currency strength and improved supply flows can moderate seasonal demand pressures.

    In Senegal, cattle prices remained elevated throughout the period, with medium to large cows often valued between XOF800,000 and XOF1.5 million, equivalent to roughly $1,300 to $2,500. Senegal’s market structure, which places increasing emphasis on genetic improvement and controlled imports rather than large-scale live cattle inflows, has helped keep prices firm between 2024 and 2025.

    A comparison of medium-sized cow prices across selected West African countries highlights the divergence. In Nigeria, prices rose from ₦250,000–₦400,000 in 2024 to ₦800,000–₦1 million in 2025. In Ghana, medium cows averaged GHS2,500–GHS5,000 in 2024 and remained similar or slightly lower in 2025 ahead of Eid due to improved supply. In Senegal, prices remained broadly stable at XOF800,000–XOF1.5 million across both years.

    Seasonal demand linked to Eid-ul-Adha, Eid-ul-Fitri and Christmas continues to drive sharp price spikes across the region. At the same time, insecurity has emerged as a growing structural factor. A report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) found that cattle rustling has become “a primary economic tool” for violent extremist organisations and some state-affiliated militias operating across the Sahel.

    As these groups expand southwards, the tri-border area encompassing Burkina Faso’s Sud-Ouest, Côte d’Ivoire’s Bounkani and Ghana’s Upper West has become a critical hub for illicit livestock trade. The report identified Ghana’s Upper West region as the primary “laundering hub” for stolen cattle, noting that animals rustled in conflict zones are driven across porous borders into Ghana or Côte d’Ivoire to obscure their origins. By April 2025, the report said, Ghana had emerged as “the most significant laundering zone by volume”.

    “The impact on local communities is devastating,” the report noted, adding that a single raid can wipe out a herder’s entire life savings. Without stronger cross-border coordination and comprehensive data to track livestock movements, GI-TOC warned that cattle rustling would continue to fuel regional instability and undermine peace-building efforts across West Africa.

    Separately, researchers at the Roslin Institute, working with the University of Makerere in Uganda, have demonstrated how detailed cattle movement data can support disease surveillance and policy planning. By analysing official trade and movement records, the team identified key hubs and seasonal patterns that could guide targeted interventions against highly contagious Transboundary Animal Diseases.

    “Understanding and managing these diseases is crucial,” the researchers said, particularly in countries where livestock plays a central role in livelihoods and economic stability. They added that improved data could help authorities allocate resources more effectively, prevent outbreaks and reduce the wider economic risks associated with livestock trade across sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Kano boosts cattle markets, empowers youths with milk collection centres

    Kano boosts cattle markets, empowers youths with milk collection centres

    The Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), supported by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), has boosted cattle markets across the state with milk collection centres.

    Five major milk collection centres have been built and equipped in milk producing communities. One of them is Falgore Milk Collection Center, located at Falgore Cattle Market in Doguwa Local Government Area.

    Each of the milk collection centres has a 550 litre milk storage tank and accessories.

    The centre also has an office, a solar-powered borehole, toilet facilities and a veterinary clinic, all provided with solar lights.

    The centre, which will soon be officially launched, is already producing over 20,000 litres of milk daily, it was learnt.

    The development has improved the livelihoods of cattle breeders, especially the Fulani community, as thousands of youths are being engaged. Huge revenues are also being generated, thereby transforming the entire benefiting areas.

    Nazifi Ado Yakubu, the veterinary doctor lauded the state government for ensuring regular vaccination of the cattle and other ruminants against diseases that could kill them.

    Munir Madaki, the Sarkin Kasuwa Kara Falgore, said the community now vaccinates thousands of cows on every market day, therefore, generating millions of Naira revenue.

    Read Also: Katsina reopens petrol stations, cattle markets

    Appreciating the Abba Yusuf administration, Madaki said “the milk centres have prioritised cattle rearing and breeding in our community.”

    Fulani cattle breeders in Doguwa lauded the intervention, stating that it has brought an end to the conflict that once plagued them.

    Before the intervention by KSADP and the IsDB, Falgore was affected by activities of idle youths involved in criminality, it was learnt.

    Madaki attributed the success story to the government’s engagement with the Fulani communities in which the government was able to feel the pulse of the people. This intervention has also empowered Fulani youths, who were previously engaged in nefarious activities. Today, hundreds of them are involved in the milk collection business, selling dairy products directly to companies and exporting them,” he said.

  • Stakeholders seek cattle registration to boost livestock farming

    Stakeholders seek cattle registration to boost livestock farming

    The Federal Government has been urged to establish a reliable cattle registration system to enhance traceability efforts and empower livestock producers and processors to develop a solid reputation for providing top-quality and safe beef.

    One of them, a former Dean, Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Uyo, Prof. Ini Akpabio, emphasised the need of establishing an online identification and registration system now that the Federal Ministry of Livestock was operational.

    This system, according to him, would enable customers to access detailed information about registered cattle via barcode scanning. Additionally, he highlighted that the updated system would assist the government in identifying and tracking livestock during instances of animal disease outbreaks or food safety concerns.

    Citing the example of Botswana, he noted that its beef   sector commanded global acceptance having established a standard policy on identifying animals, including history, location and movement.

    The Chief Executive, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Dr Olufemi Oladunni said it should be possible for Nigerians to  know the breed, dietary preferences, and health records including vaccination status of the registered cattle among other things by  scanning the barcode.

    Read Also: Tinubu: Govt won’t allow those with clear political agenda tear nation apart

    He said: “In a modern livestock management system it will be necessary to go into that for effective and efficient production system.”

    Head, Inspectorate and Compliance, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Olufemi Adebayo Atunbi, described livestock as a huge industry with the prospect of increasing revenue for the government.

    He said steps should be taken to ensure the beef industry had the resources to seize new export opportunities to remain competitive and continue to be a sustainable driver of economic growth.

    One way to achieve this, he continued, is by promoting and implementing traceability to improve control capacity in animal health programmes,   handling of outbreak issues and commitment to the requirements of importing countries.

    This, according to him,   will enable the government to trace disease more quickly and effectively and help safeguard national public health and food safety but   will also strengthen Nigeria’s position in international markets.

    By registering their cattle, he said farmers can protect the national herd from diseases as well as establish international trust in the sector’s ability to deliver high-quality, globally recognised products.

  • Herdsman, 134 cattle killed in fresh Plateau attack

    Herdsman, 134 cattle killed in fresh Plateau attack

    Gunmen on Tuesday, killed a herder and 134 cattle and flocks at the Fanzo community in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State.

    Alhaji Dan Azumi, who lost 21 cattle during the incident confirmed yesterday that a herder was injured.

    He explained that the incident occurred while the cattle were being reared in the area.

    Dan Azumi said: “The incident occurred when suddenly the gunmen stormed the area and started shooting sporadically. They killed one of the herders and injured another.

    “The gunmen also rustled more than fifty of the cattle. Some of them died while others were slaughtered because they had already sustained gunshot wounds. It was an unprovoked attack.

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    “The Sector Four commander has called us for a meeting. He asked us not to take the law into our hands and assured us that they would investigate the matter. We are law-abiding citizens and we are calling on the security in the area to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    “Additionally, we are urging the security forces to recover our rustled cattle,” he added.

    The state chairman of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, who also confirmed the incident, called on the security agencies to identify, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “Government and security agencies should not keep quiet about

  • ‘Train crushes 52 cattle to death in Kaduna’

    The Kaduna State Police Command on Sunday said no fewer than 52 cattle were crushed to death by a train along Kasarami – Jere axis in Chikkun Local Government Area in Kaduna State.

    The Commissioner, Malam Ahmad Abdulrahaman refuted reports that the cattle were killed by other means.

    ” Their is nothing like attack but purely it was train accident, so nobody should panic”, he told newsmen in Kaduna

    According to him, the cattle  were crushed to death at about 11:45  this morning by a speeding train going  to Abuja from Rigasa Railway Station.

    He also explained that  the 27 cattle that sustained injuries were  slaughtered by the chief butcher of Kasarami village.

    He said  no human casualty was recorded.

    “When the information of the accident reached the command, I quickly mobilised our men to the scene  to assess the situation.

    The CP  described the accident  as pathetic. He said the herdsmen  were moving  to Funtua Local Government in Katsina State.

    “They innocently inquired on whether there were rail services on Sunday, but were misinformed that there was none.

    ” I have summoned the traditional rulers of the area, youths and farmers on the need to continue to live in peace and to avoid crossing the rail track indiscriminately with farm produce and animals.

    He added that a similar meeting will hold with officials of the railway corporation on how to avert such an accident in future.(NAN)

  • Cattle and citizens

    This article had appeared on this page before. It is being republished as an acknowledgement of change in policy response to what has become a national crisis spawned by conflicts between nomadic pastoralists and farmers. The recent decision of the federal government to establish ranches in 10 states of the federation marks a major change from obsession with grazing zones  to ranching, a model that represents global best practice in meat and milk production.

    Tim Marshall in a recent book, Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Global Politics has a conclusion that could have been written specifically in relation to politics of cattle production in today’s Nigeria: “As the twenty-first century progresses, the geographical factors that have helped determine our history will mostly continue to determine our future…. Of course, geography does not dictate the course of all events. Great ideas and great leaders are part of the push and pull of history. But they must all operate within the confines of geography.” This quote, like the rest of the book, has lessons for the whole world and more immediately for Nigeria that is under serious stress of coming to terms with nature in a century more empowered by science and technology to cope with the constraints of geography.

    Desertification may be a remote cause of the problem between herdsmen and farmers in states below the Sahel belt in the northern part of Nigeria, but desertification is not peculiar to Nigeria. About 900 million people in the five continents live in zones that are threatened by desertification. But most countries adopt new techniques to cope with such challenges of geography. Nigeria must find ways to acquire such knowledge to save itself from creating easy solutions that may create similar or worse problems in the future for its citizens and its cattle.

    Indiscriminate cattle grazing has not always been a problem in the country. Those who were born before independence would know that up to the 1970s when the Sahel had not moved down as radically as it has in the last twenty years, it was unheard of that herdsmen harassed farmers in the South and largely in the middle-belt. One immediate cause of herdsmen/farmers clash is the fear of Fulani herdsmen to accept the unworkability of the old system of roaming with cattle across states as well as the fear of adopting new modes of cattle raising. Just as many Nigerians are mourning with Benue State over recent killing of men, women, and even children allegedly by herdsmen, the officers of Fulani socio-cultural organisation, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) are insisting that it is only annulment of Benue State’s Anti-Open Grazing Law that can prevent violence. The Organisation’s Secretary General, Alhaji Saleh Bayeri, indirectly holds the government responsible for the recent tragedy in Benue: “Naturally, the government should know that the Fulani that keep multiplying in human population and their animals should know that they need a space to occupy and carry out their legitimate business.”

    Bayeri’s call for a space for herdsmen to occupy and carry out legitimate business raises two issues that the federal government must address fast. One is demand for a space for herdsmen and the second is what type of space and why. The interest of GAFDAN seems to be in favour of the pre-colonial mode of cattle farming: nomadism and roaming. The second problem concerns government’s readiness to intervene intelligently and equitably in the clash of interests between animal and plant farmers in different parts of the country.

    So far, it appears that the federal government’s latest intervention is to create “cattle colonies.” The Agriculture Minister, Audu Ogbeh, has attempted to distinguish between cattle ranch and colony: “Ranching is more of an individual venture for those who want to invest, but cattle colony is bigger in scope and size. … Cattle colony is not using Fulani herdsmen to colonize any state. It is going to be done in partnerships with state governments that would like to volunteer land for it. Federal government will fund the project and those wishing to benefit from it will pay some fees.”

    The distinction between cattle ranch and colony befuddles the federal government’s policy on this urgent matter of economic restructuring. How big must a ranch become to qualify for a colony? Is the federal government planning late in the ethos of market economy to run cattle farms or colonies in partnership with states or individuals? Why would the federal government feel comfortable with privatising telecommunication, electricity, banking, fertilizer, and even education while calling for restoration of government/private partnership in cattle business? Is the federal government now ready to return to a mixed economy mode it had stopped since establishment of Bureau of Public Enterprise? FG’s decision to pay for space to serve as colonies and charge cattle farmers “some fees” smacks of special subsidy to cattle farming? Is this policy going to be extended to other forms of farming, especially farmers in non-cattle producing states of the federation? What is the extent of involvement of the National Assembly in formulation of this policy so far?

    With or without climate change, the world is changing in geographical terms and is likely to continue to change. Undoubtedly, science and technology are now deployed to assist humanity to cope with constraints of geography. The federal government needs to get more scientific techniques from global best practices in cattle farming. Given the recent tragedy in Benue, policy wonks cannot afford to go to sleep. But while they are doing necessary comparative studies on raising cattle in states vulnerable to desert encroachment, the government should pay immediate attention to investigation that can lead to prosecution and punishment of those who had given Nigeria the worst name possible in international relations: a country practicing genocide.  Policymakers need to benefit from two Nigerian proverbs. The Igbo proverb says roughly in English “life is like a dance, you need to follow the dance in order to enjoy it.” The Yoruba version says, “it is the contemporary dog that is used to chase the contemporary rabbit.” Both proverbs promote adaptability to new modes and methods. The challenge for the ministries of agriculture and the environment is how to fight desertification frontally and how to adopt new ways to produce cattle.

    If herdsmen were children of upper or middle-class men and women in our country, they would have cried foul for being hired to nurse cattle for the rich at great risk to their being. If the country had created an educational system akin to what exists in Kaduna today—free and compulsory basic education for all—it would have been impossible for current owners of cattle to find herdsmen to follow cows across the country.  Such difficulty must come to cattle owners if part of the goals of national development and integration include ensuring equality and equity. Having herdsmen in the 21st century should be discouraged; potential herdsmen should be in school like the children of owners of the cattle they are hired to herd. Young herdsmen who after receiving Basic Education choose to become cattle farmers should be given opportunities to own ranch, even if they need to take loan guaranteed by government to buy land for ranching.

    The media is already celebrating creation of ranches in 10 states as symptomatic of radical change from government’s earlier preoccupation with establishment of Grazing Zones to adoption of ranching as the hallmark of modern animal farming. Undoubtedly, this is a noticeable change. However, citizens require further explanations on there are further explanations on philosophy and method behind selecting the states to be provided with ranches. How does selecting each state to house some of the 94 ranches fit into the agricultural and land management of the ‘lucky’ states to benefit from about N180 billion? Has the federal government acquired sites for ranches for government use and later for transfer to private cattle farmers? What steps are taken to ensure that federal government’s acquisition or purchase of land that is constitutionally under the jurisdiction of states does not derogate from the power of the state to manage state resources on behalf of citizens in a federation? While the nation justifiably celebrates the priority of ranch over grazing, citizens are likely to get a clearer picture of the new  policy, as more details of the policy emerge. (Not in the original essay)

  • Ebonyi to FG: We have no land for cattle ranching

    Ebonyi state government, yesterday told Federal government that the State has no land for cattle ranching.

    The federal government had some days ago listed Ebonyi as among the ten states that have provided land for cattle ranch.

    But addressing journalists after the state Executive Council meeting, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Barrister Ikechukwu Nwobo told the federal government that there was no vacant land for cattle ranch in the state.

    Nwobo said “the state executive  council frowned at the news making rounding that the State has directed or provided for a cattle ranche in Ebonyi State.

     The highest organ of Ebonyi state is the state executive council and the state security council and any decision taken by this council is the last bus stop for the people and government of Ebonyi state. Whether the federal government  consulted us, we are not aware of that. The State Executive council has decided and made sure that there is no land for ranching in Ebonyi State.

    “We never provided land for ranching in Ebonyi State and it is still our position and that those  land they said is for ranching is for those Northern state that have always been doing ranching which have been gazzeted before now.

    “We have no idea that we were included in the ranching, we were not gazzeted. There is no land for any ranching in Ebonyin state and we are not aware that we are among those mentioned as ranching states.

    “The Ebonyi State through the executive council wishes to state that the government has not provided or released any land for ranching, it has no plan to  do that. The ranching programme being done by the federal  government does not include Ebonyi State and it has been redirected to those states in the North where the farmlands have been gazetted and have ranching ground which they will now revitalized”.

  • Ortom: one million cattle invaded us after Cat Race

    Ortom: one million cattle invaded us after Cat Race

    •IDPs reject military’s medical outreach

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said that over one million cattle invaded the state after the military launched Operation Cat Race (Ayem Akpatuma).

    He spoke at the funeral site of the 73 victims of the New Year’s Day attack, when Senior Pastor, of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche, and his wife Becky, visited.

    Ortom appealed to the military to flush out the invaders so that the over 160,000 displaced people can return home.

    According to him, over 60 people have been killed since the mass burial; three of them last week in Guma Local Government Area.

    Pastor Enenche, who anointed the land, prayed for God’s justice and judgment against the killers and their sponsors.

    Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Anyiin, Logo Local Government Area, have rejected the medical services sponsored by the military team on Operation Cat Race.

    There are over three camps in Logo, with over 100,000 IDPs.

    The medical team arrived at Anyiin yesterday with medical equipment, but the IDPs and other residents rejected the offer, saying “we want the enforcement of anti-open grazing law”.

    Most victims said they could not accept the treatment while Fulani herdsmen destroyed their crops and killed people under the guise of grazing.

    Iorhen Abur told The Nation that the military should arrest Fulani militia and make their homes safe for them to return before talking of treatment.

    The military team stayed at the camp for over five hours with no patient to attend to, and so left with their equipment.

    Spokesman of the 707 Special Forces Brigade could not be reached for comments.

  • ‘I joined kidnap gang because I wanted to start cattle business’

    ‘I joined kidnap gang because I wanted to start cattle business’

    A notorious kidnapper arrested by Niger State Police Command at Ashuira village in Rafi Local Government, Yusuf Adamu, has said lack of money to start cattle business made him to join a kidnap gang.

    He said he was tired of rearing goats, cattle and sheep for another person and wanted to have his own, adding that he joined abductors because he heard people made money from kidnapping.

    Adamu said: “The goats and sheep I reared belonged to another person and I needed money to start my own business. That was why I joined kidnappers.

    “After operations, I was advised by a member of the gang to leave, but I refused because a lot of people are making money from kidnapping. I was desperate to start my business.”

    He said his wife never knew he was an abductor, lamenting that his marriage would be over if she heard of his arrest and involvement in kidnapping.

    “I did not tell her that I kidnap and there is possibility that at the end of this matter, she will divorce me. l am finished, ” Adamu said.

    The command had arrested two abductors at Ashuira village after they were trailed to their hideout.

    The kidnappers, Adamu, 20, from Zurmi in Zamfara State and Ibrahim Abubakar, 27, from Pandogari in Rafi Local Government of the state, were nabbed after a victim, Yahaya Sule, who lives at Ashuira village, reported to the police that gunmen invaded his home, killed his son Abubakar Yahaya 32 and kidnapped two of his children, Kabiru Yahaya and Halira Yahaya.

    The Nation learnt that based on the information, the anti-kidnapping squad engaged the hoodlums in a shootout, which lasted for hours, during which the two kidnappers were injured.

    Police spokesman Muhammad Abubakar said the victims have been rescued.

    He said investigation is on, adding that the suspects will be arraigned soon.

  • Kano’s grazing reserve‘ll take care of five million cattle, says commissioner

    Kano’s grazing reserve‘ll take care of five million cattle, says commissioner

    The Kano State Government’s proposed grazing reserve in Falgore game reserve has the capacity to cater for over five million cattle, it was learnt yesterday.

    Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Dr Yusuf Gawuna, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

    He said that the reserve would accommodate the herdsmen and their cattle, thereby discouraging them from moving to other states in search of pasture.

    The commissioner said, ‘‘Falgore Game Reserve can take care of millions of herdsmen and their cattle.

    ‘‘The location has been designed to accommodate markets, recreational centres, ultra-modern abattoir, tourism centre and factoriesý that would make herdsmen transact their businesses without any hindrance.’’

    The commissioner said the state government had engaged the services of consultants and that a document had been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to convert the forest to a grazing reserve.

    He said from the assessment of the consultant the modern grazing reserve would cost about $30 million to develop.

    ‘‘The place is too big, we are in talks with private organisations that are coming in ýto invest and see how we can develop the forest.

    ‘‘We are also in talks with professional partners from South Africa ýfor Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. They will also assess the forest and submit their report to the governor,’’ Gawuna said.