Nigeria must change the way it manages livestock if the country is to unlock the economic value of its cattle, sheep and goats, veterinary experts have said.
They called for a shift from treating sick animals to preventing diseases, improving productivity and helping farmers make more profit.
The experts spoke at the maiden National Conference of the Association of Ruminant Veterinarians in Nigeria, ARUVIN, in Abuja.
The conference was themed “Enhancing Ruminant Productivity, Health, Market Systems and Climate Resilience.”
The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel A. Anzaky, said livestock production was being affected by diseases, poor nutrition, shortage of feed and water, weak veterinary services and climate change.
He said the challenges were linked and must be addressed together.
“A sick animal does not grow efficiently. Poor nutrition increases susceptibility to disease,” Anzaky said.
He also warned that climate stress was increasing disease risks and reducing access to pasture and water.
Anzaky identified Peste des Petits Ruminants, PPR, as a major threat to sheep and goat production.
He said the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development was strengthening surveillance and control measures, including serosurveillance and sero-monitoring across the states.
But he said Nigeria must stop waiting for outbreaks before acting.
The country, he said, must focus more on early detection, prevention and rapid response.
Anzaky called for stronger community surveillance, better laboratories, improved disease reporting and sustained vaccination where necessary.
He also challenged veterinarians to change their approach.
He said their role should go beyond treating individual sick animals to helping farmers reduce deaths, improve reproduction, strengthen nutrition and increase farm profits.
Professor Abdulkadir Usman Junaidu said the changing livestock industry made specialised veterinary services increasingly important.
Junaidu presented the case for the establishment of ARUVIN, saying the association would help improve ruminant health, productivity and food safety.
He said veterinarians must become productivity experts who can help farmers earn more from their livestock.
Junaidu identified disease prevention, food safety, antimicrobial resistance, nutrition and animal welfare as key areas for ARUVIN.
He said the association would also promote professional training, mentor young veterinarians and contribute to livestock policy.
The President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Dr Moses Arokoyo, said Nigeria should begin to see livestock as an economic asset rather than a problem.
He said the country’s challenge was not a lack of livestock but low productivity, poor animal health and weak market access.
Arokoyo called for more investment across the livestock value chain to reduce poverty and improve food security.
He also urged veterinarians to embrace vaccination, digital technology and other innovations.
The NVMA president encouraged them to study successful livestock systems in countries such as Kenya and Botswana and adapt useful lessons to Nigeria.
Arokoyo said better animal health should be at the centre of Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Anzaky also warned that climate change was putting additional pressure on livestock farmers.
He said changing weather patterns were affecting pasture, water supplies, heat stress, animal movement and the spread of diseases.
He called for better fodder systems, improved water management and climate-smart livestock production.
The veterinary chief also urged stakeholders to adopt the One Health approach, linking animal health with human health, food safety, antimicrobial resistance and environmental protection.
He said government agencies, veterinarians, universities, researchers, farmers, private practitioners and development partners must work together.
Anzaky challenged ARUVIN to go beyond professional networking and provide practical solutions that farmers can use.
The experts agreed that Nigeria’s livestock potential could only be unlocked through better animal health, nutrition, productivity, climate resilience and market access.
They said ARUVIN now has an opportunity to give veterinarians a stronger role in transforming the livestock industry and improving the livelihoods of farmers across the country.