Feedlot
The current demand for the eradication of open cattle grazing by stakeholders in Nigeria and adoption of restricted grazing system in many States of the federation demanded that urgent action be taken to facilitate the birth of the ranching System, which has been ascertained to be economical and more sustainable, as well as capable of bringing to an end the very many ills of the open grazing which has brought untold hardship on farmers and avoidable conflicts between farmers and herders.
Current Situation
About 1,873,667 heads of cattle (468,416.75MT of beef) are required annually, in order to meet part of the protein requirements of the over 24-Million citizens of Lagos. Local production stands at 3,099.75 mt (12,399 heads of cow). The deficit is huge leading to a dependency on cattle from other parts of the country.
A the plan to establish a Modern Feedlot was conceived in 2020 under Mr. governor. In order to meet the protein requirements of the people, there is need to put in place a sustainable system of production of red meat, considering the fact that 99.34% of the red meat consumed in the Lagos are not produced there.
The Feedlot will ensure that the gap between demand and supply for red meats are met with minimum impact on the land and cultivated farms that are usually encroached by cattle grazers under the open grazing system.
Benefits of the feedlot system:
• Economies of production, as they are the most economical way to raise large number of cattle for beef production, by ensuring maximum production at minimum cost;
• The use of the least size of land to raise cattle for beef production, thereby reducing the cost of production, while making more land available for other productive activities;
• More people are fed as a result of maximised production.
• That inherent bio-security challenges associated with cattle that are not produced under controlled and monitored production environment are eliminated.
• Traceability through proper tagging of animals and coding of routes. This will mitigate against animal diseases and cattle rustling that generate through free-range grazing, thereby reducing unnecessary and avoidable Herders/Farmers’ clash.
• Secure the State against foreign threats occasioned by marauding headmen whose nefarious activities are becoming national issues.
• Revenue generation since all the animals will be tracked and volume of transaction easily captured for necessary levies, takes and fines.
The State kicked off with a pilot model situated on 10ha in Iya-Afin in Badagry, where over 500 cows are bred for processing. An average cow, with adequate care weighs an average of 450kg-500kg, compared to what is obtainable in the open market at an average weight of 300kg.
An additional 750ha of land has been acquired at Igbodu, Epe for a more organized and integrated red meat value chain with a view to having investors collaborate with the State Government to establish a world-class feedlot.
Partnerships are also being enhanced with governments and private sector players from Namibia, Brazil etc for expertise, knowledge sharing and functionality.
