The federal government is deploying digital technology to safeguard indigenous livestock breeds, ensuring their sustainability and integration into modern production systems.

Speaking at a ministerial briefing in Abuja on Friday, Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha announced that the government had digitised cattle routes, grazing reserves, and water resources to enhance livestock management.

“With the click of a button, we can now monitor activities in all grazing reserves nationwide,” Maiha stated, emphasising that technology would play a crucial role in tracking and protecting native breeds.

The government has also established a Gene Bank to preserve the genetic makeup of indigenous livestock. This initiative aims to maintain their adaptability to local environments and resistance to diseases while incorporating them into modern breeding programmes.

“We are already talking about decisions of this country to create a gene bank where we can store all our local Indigenous genetics. Because they have been producing them, they are Indigenous; they are adapting, and they are resistant to diseases. Therefore, we don’t want to push them away.” he said.

Additionally, the National Animal Identification Tagging System has been introduced to trace cattle movements and curb rustling.

To support these efforts, Nigeria is attracting a $2.5 billion investment from a Brazilian meat processing company, highlighting the growing interest in the country’s livestock sector.

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“We had a commitment from a Brazilian company, the biggest player in the meat industry, to come to Nigeria and invest a total of $2.bn,” he said.

Maiha noted that over 417 grazing reserves, spanning more than five million hectares, are being mapped and equipped with essential infrastructure, including veterinary clinics and water facilities.