he Kaduna State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has expressed its opposition to ranching, advocating instead for the development of grazing reserves.

Speaking to The PUNCH on Sunday, the State Director of Media for MACBAN, Ibrahim Bayero-Zango, argued that Nigeria was not ready for the transition to ranching, which he described as a highly mechanised form of livestock farming.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, however, affirmed its commitment to fully implementing the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Development, chaired by Prof Attahiru Jega, noting that open grazing would not be immediately phased out across the country.

The ministry clarified that while ranching remained a strategic alternative, open grazing would still be practised in areas where it remained viable.

Speaking in Kaduna on Tuesday, Bayero-Zango said “There’s the modern ranching model, where you have grazing reserves on vast land in forests, carved out into specific hectares for herders.

“In these reserves, grasses are cultivated for the cattle, and dams are constructed for them to drink.

“The other type is fully mechanised ranching, which involves complete confinement of the cattle.”

He said MACBAN preferred the former system of grazing reserves, which he said better suited local realities and traditional herding practices.

“Our local farmers are not yet ripe for ranching. Ranching involves total mechanisation, and many Fulani herders own large herds — 500, 300, or even up to 1,000 cows.

“To adopt ranching, these herders would be forced to sell off a significant portion of their livestock just to manage the costs. That is neither practical nor acceptable to us,” he said.

Bayero-Zango maintained that developing grazing reserves with the necessary infrastructure, including water sources, healthcare facilities for animals, and security, remained the solution to the persistent farmer-herder clashes and other challenges associated with open grazing.

“Let the government develop grazing reserves with all facilities in place, and let the herders move there. That is what we prefer. Open grazing can be phased out in such a controlled environment,” he suggested.

He added that the association was willing to work with the government to ensure the success of such grazing reserves but reiterated their rejection of the modern ranching system.

“Our position is clear: ranching, in the sense of total confinement, is not suitable for Nigeria at this time. Developing grazing reserves is the way forward,” Bayero-Zango added.

Speaking on the development, the livestock ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Ben Goong, reiterated its alignment with the Jega-led committee’s position, emphasizing a context-specific approach to livestock management in Nigeria.

“The recommendation of the Ministry of Livestock Development is going by with the recommendation of the Jega-led Presidential Committee on Livestock Development,” Goong said.

He explained that the ministry was acting on the committee’s advice, which recognised the complex realities of livestock rearing in Nigeria.

“We are implementing the recommendations of the Jega-led Presidential Committee on Livestock. So, we are running with that, we are flying with that, we are implementing that,” he said

Speaking further, he said the committee recommended that open grazing, as Nigerians understand it, is an age-long practice that is not going to be phased out immediately.

“In areas where that is suitable, it will be continued. In areas where it is not suitable, ranching is the option and that is what we are going with. It is going to be a mix,” he said. (PUNCH)