Steady decline of native goats in South West worries stakeholders
Goat farming plays a very important role in the economy of the traditional smallholder farming system in Nigeria. This is not unconnected to its huge domestic demand as one of the main meat and milk-producing animals. Aside being one of the choicest meat and milk source, goat meat is enormous among health conscious people because of its low cholesterol content.
As goat farming is expanding for both domestic and commercial purposes across the world, a good number of breeds have evolved over the years. These include Red Sokoto; Sahel; Alpine; Spanish; Saanen and West African Dwarf (WAD), among others, but one of the best strains widely accepted in Africa and a number of continents is the WAD goats.
It was learnt that while some of these breeds are famous for milk production and production of quality skins and fiber, the WAD breed, aside producing milk and meat, has high genetic reproduction, production potential and good leather for export market.
According to research, WAD goats can breed year round. The gestation period for a doe (female) is between 145 to 153 days and starting a WAD goat farming business requires low initial investment capital. WAD goats don’t require huge area for housing because of their body frame, which is comparatively smaller than other higher livestock.
The WAD goat is one of the few goat breeds to produce kids that can be marketed directly from their mothers. Kids mature early and are market-ready from as early as 12 to 14 weeks. The females are excellent mothers; the WAD goat’s strong maternal drive gives farmers little or no headache in the aspect of breastfeeding.
It also has all the characteristics needed for goat farming under extensive and intensive conditions, including hardiness, adaptability, growth and carcass quality. However, according to reports, the WAD goat is one of the most underestimated goat breeds in Nigeria, despite its potential of adding enormous value to the breeding industry.
This is evident with its steady decline in the Southwest, considered as one of the regions specialised in rearing of the breed in the country, coming after the Southeast and the South south.
The Guardian observed that compared to the 1950s to early 1990s, where the goats are a common place, even in Lagos, the flocks are becoming smaller, with some farmers even opting out of goat farming business.
Unlike then, when the strong peculiar musky smells of male goats, known as Billy goats or the bucks permeates villages or goat farms, considered as one of the traits of the WAD breed, this odour has vanished with the wind as improved breeds have taken over the region.
It was learnt that the breed is scare in the market currently and where available, it comes with a very high price, as the few farmers currently rearing the breed have resorted to hoarding it to avoid total extinction.
Currently, the region relies solely on the Northern states and the middle belt for other breeds of the goat, which are not only different in physique and size but also have different tastes from the traditional WAD goats.
The Managing Director of Selena Farms, concessionaire of Oloba Cattle Ranch, Oloba, Osun State, Mr. Sola Omidiran, who confirmed this, said the breed is fast diminishing because “most of our dwarf goats in the Southwest are not reared for commercial purposes and most of the goats eaten in the region are from the stock that are farmed as an hobby, which are not replaced fast enough.”
He said urbanisation too is part of the challenges causing the disappearance of the breed, noting that farmers breeding the WAD goats in their houses no longer have the kind of space to breed like in the past.
Omidiran added that only few farmers are into the venture, breeding the goats on a commercial scale. He said: “I suspect that the South South and the Southeast might have more breeders because they eat goats more than the Southwest. I remember that one development agency approached me before on a similar project in the Southeast.
“The Southwest is losing better source of protein, because goat meat has always been a good source of protein. It is also known to have better meat. We are losing lots of revenue by not growing and harnessing the economic impact of goats rearing in the region.”
Omidiran advised farmers and other stakeholders in the goat industry in the region, to make conscious efforts to revive breeding of the WAD goats on a commercial scale, to avert the looming extinction of the breed in the region.
Another farmer, Alhaji Ayinla Kamoru, a resident of Owode-Ota, Ogun State, identified animal theft, urbanisation and financial pressure as some of the challenges causing the decline of the breed in the country.
While noting that reviving the rearing of the breed can contribute immensely to the economy of the region and also assist the farmers financially, he added that if government and agriculture research institutes can initiate interventions, youths will be encouraged to embrace the venture.
“The flocks are becoming smaller at a faster rate and some farmers are opting out for another line of business. I believe that if the industry is in a good state, it will open a new vista of opportunity for the region.
Related
Latest
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.