Fulani Cattle Breeders Want Tracking Chips on All Cows

A Fulani socio-cultural organisation, Cattle Breeders Joint Association of Nigeria, has called for the speedy placement of tracking chips on livestock to prevent cattle rustling.

The group said the chips would also help in identifying cattle.

Cattle rustling, where scores of cattle are stolen by armed men from the rearers, has been a major complaint of herdsmen. This has sometimes led to clashes between the herdsmen and their host communities. The clashes between the nomadic herdsmen and their largely farming host communities have caused the death of thousands of people across Nigeria.

In a stakeholders sensitization meeting in Kaduna on Monday, the group deliberated on issues such as the clashes between herdsmen and farmers, cattle rustling, grazing reserves, livestock identification and tracking, and disease control.

The National Chief Coordinator of the group, Kachia Hussaini, in his speech called on government to include livestock identification and tracking methods for all grazing animals in Nigeria.

“We have resolved to support all government and private sector initiatives towards proper livestock identification and tracking,” he said. “We also condemn in strong terms the attack on unsuspecting Nigerians under the guise of Fulani herdsmen. We therefore resolved to encourage peace building campaigns among Fulani herdsmen and other peace loving Nigerians.”

He said the meeting also seeks to promote cattle breeding management, facilitate control of livestock movements and “adopt new measures aimed at livestock management in Nigeria.”

Mr. Hussaini called on federal and state governments to fast track plans on grazing reserves and livestock identification across the country.