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■ Pre -17 century in USA,, Farmers and the Pasteurist Cattles breeders often come into conflicts over land and water rights

■ One of the various factors that contributed to end open range grazing in USA was the invention of the BARBED WIRE in 1874. Farmers began to fence off their farmlands .

■ While open grazing (herding Cattles )lasted in USA the Mexicans made a model of it coming up with “Cowboy” stuff in fashion ( Cowboy hats and boots on a horse ) and modeling as well as in film making and television shows becoming brand ambassadors to great many businesses.
In West Africa , Ranchers too can set the pace for quality life style . eg football club and other social engagements.

■ Land quality became degraded due to over grazing, reducing habitat for native species into extinction such as Monkey, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Dinosaur , Tropical birds and millions of species of rear insects and other Fauna.

■ Ranching is a major contributor to air and water pollution. Run off from ranches include manure , antibiotics, and hormones given to the animals as well as fertilisers and pesticides same with chemicals from tanneries that seep into water.

■ Ranching is a major contributor to the global warming. Livestock are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than transportation. Carbon is released when forest are cleared for pastureland. Manure produces nitrous oxide which has about 300%warming potential of carbon dioxide. Cattles release large amount of methane from their digestive systems

■During the past 40 years about 20% of Amazon rainforest has been cut down much of it for Ranching. – Brazil is the largest exporter of beef in the world.

■ Ranching is the most efficient way to raise livestock for production of Beef. Dairy ,Hide and Skin for leather , Hoof and Horn for ceramics.

■ Many South America countries led by Brazil and Argentina are rapidly developing as a result of the growing ranching industries

■AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.
Established in 1971 by the Federal Government of Nigeria . To provide effective machinery for Central Coordination of Agricultural Research in Nigeria. According to decree establishing it , the council is to advise on National Science policy and financial requirements for the implementation of such policy in respect of Research and Training in Agricultural science and to promote National economy by application of the results of such research and training. The Research Council are subdivided into about six institutions viz :
— Cocoa Research Institute.
— Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research.
— Federal Department of Agricultural Research.
— Federal Department of forestry Research.
— Federal Fisheries Department.
— Federal Department of Veterinary Research this includes LIVESTOCK.
The department was established to provide veterinary services and into animals production as well as bacterial , viral and parasitical diseases of poultry and other Livestock.
THE NIGERIA LIVESTOCK AND MEAT AUTHORITY ( NLMA ). The authority was established by decree Nos 42 of 1971 to formulate and execute plans and policies on livestock development in the country. It is also responsible for the promotion of commercialised and improved methods of livestock production , Breeding, Slaughtering, Preservation, covering all livestock products. Efforts of Federal government in the direction of ranching was shortlived at Mokwa , Manchok, Fashola in Oyo state and Adaba in Anambra.

■ Government Forest Reserve (Game Reserve ) should maintain healthy population of species such as Rhinoceros, Elephant, Leopard and birds that apply to ecotourists promoting travelling with minimum impart on environment and benefits to the locals. The ecosystem is preserved for national development of the Fauna and Flora and must not be degraded by herding animals.

■ Ranching support strong national economy given seasonal employment
to Veterinarians, Engineering staff, Fodder suppliers, Dairy Technologists , Tannery experts, ICT etc.

■ Cattles are herbivores but can feed on some industrial Food wastes.

■ The Western Region Government of Nigeria established the Western Livestock Company in 1956 by the Premier of Western Region – Chief Obafemi Awolowo. With Headquarters and Stock Breeding Centre at Fashola Farm Settlement Ilora, Oyo State. The Fashola Agric Centre was established by the British Colonial Government in 1946. With ranches at Odeda, Imeko, Iperu/ Isara (Ogun State ) , Samonda-Ibadan,Onise-Ire,Shaki (Oyo State ) ,Oloba-Iwo (Osun State ), Agege, Ikorodu (Lagos State ), Akunu, Akoko ( Ondo State ,)Ikun (Ekiti State).
The breed of the Grandparents Stock- the NDAMA imported from Mali had average weight of about 500kg in contrast to other local cows with 200-250kg
The Cows were raised in paddocks and fed on pasture in the rainy season under a shifting rotation management of pasture acreage. In dry season the cows are fed on silage prepared from left over stalk after grains harvest.
However, Western Nigeria Livestock company became moribund due to the arbitrariness during the years of aberration of the military rule. All the grandparents stock were consumed. The project became unsustainable while the equipment were cannibalised. The Economy, Food Security and Social life of SouthWest Nigeria could be resuscitated and create decent jobs through restoration of Ranches.

■ Currently in Nigeria where open grazing is practised, the Cattle routes were gazetted in few regions in the ’60s for nomadic herding from North to the Southern part of Nigeria. However, most of the route have been erased due to the concrete jungle development in cities and villages. This long trekking of animals had contributed to the malnourishment of the animals being emaciated , unhealthy and sickly , hardly can each weigh up to 200-300 kg with very low milk production of about 4–6kg per day due to fatigue and poor feeding . Coupled with intense Pastoralists / Farmers clashes
The beef have no export value, the dairy industry is still at infancy with neither export value while most of the Hide and Skin are mostly consumed as PONMO (stew or soup delicacy). All with no appreciable revenue generation. The once thriving Tanneries are moribund. The farmer/pasteurial herders clashes for right to land and water persists.

■ In 2017 -20, Netherlands with a population of about 17million, landmass 41,543sqkm and Cattles population of about 1.6 million healthy , strong and productive cows (A cow here could weigh as much as 900kg or more with milk secretion of about 35kg per day for about 290 lactating days ) All in about 20,000 small holder ranches . Netherlands was the 2nd largest exporter of 7 Agricultural produce in the world in 2019-2020 Grossed a whooping €21billion or 9trillion Naira. From animal husbandry export. (Meat, Dairy products and other Livestock only). All done with no clash of interest between farmers and herders.
Netherlands has achieved about 500% yield increase using digital platform model in her Agricultural productions.

■CONCLUSION ■
” THE NATIONAL LIVESTOCK TRANSFORMATIONAL PLAN ” IF DEVELOPED CAN UNLEASH THE ECONOMIC POTENTIALS OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY IN WEST AFRICA.

At WUFAS AGR0Net we are Competent and Reliable Food Processing Technologists into Human Capital Development Consultancy in Food Processing Technology enhancing Global Competitiveness and International Best Practices for the teeming youthful population, unemployed graduates and other Food handlers.
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