Effects of insurgency on traditional cattle feedlot management in maiduguri, nigeria

Abstract

The outbreak of insurgency in Maiduguri in 2009 and the subsequent targeted attacks on the lives and property of innocent civilians including livestock farmers has had a severe disruptive effect on Agriculture in northeast Nigeria. Efforts aimed at economic recovery and rehabilitation of the conflict ravaged regions requires information and an understanding of how the insurgency affected the communities so that aid aimed at financial inclusion could be appropriately directed. Thus, this study was designed to highlight the traditional feedlot cattle management in Maiduguri. The price of the cattle and feed materials as well as profit in 2008 and 2015 were compared. It was found that the preferred choice of feedlot cattle is the non- indigenous Ambala cattle breed. Compared with 2008, the cost of the bulls and feed materials had significantly increased in 2014 and 2015 but the average profit remained unchanged. The farmers earned up to ₦40,000 profit per head of cattle. It is recommended that financial inclusion strategies intended for post-insurgency socio-economic recovery in Maiduguri and other affected areas of north-eastern Nigeria should include building of secure feedlot cattle enclosures with proper facilities for tethering, feed storage, and waste disposal. Quality assurance and hygienic management of such places should be according to global best practices. In addition, establishment of a meat processing plant as well as provision refrigerated transportation trucks can help the farmers to maintain their profit margin and avoid stress associated with road transport of live animals. The government should design and implement a program to breed Ambala cattle using Assisted Reproductive Technology for the development Nigeria’s beef industry.