Cattle Rearing and its Contribution to the Nigerian Economy: An Econometric Analysis

Scholars in their quest to study the fortunes or otherwise of the agricultural sector has dwell so much on crop farming to the neglect of livestock production. By the early 1970s, as the general standard of living improved, the demand for meat in Nigeria exceeded the domestic supply. Thus, 30 to 40 percent of the beef consumed in Nigeria was imported from Niger, Chad, and other neighboring countries. In the mid-1970s, Nigeria began importing frozen beef in response to export restrictions initiated by its neighbors. This study therefore is targeted at empirically examining the impact of cattle rearing and its contribution to the Nigerian economy. Using various econometric tools of analysis, the variables for study were tested for stationarity and all variables became stationary at first difference. In the same vein, evidence reveals that series in the model (GDP, Cattle-Prod and Agric-Exp) exhibit long-run equilibrium relationship judging from the Johansen cointegration result. Major findings from the OLS regression output reveals that cattle rearing have no significant contribution to the Nigerian economy during the period under reference. The study therefore recommends that in view of the importance of cattle rearing to the Nigerian economy, the government should first and foremost bring the age-long clashes between herdsmen and farmers to a peaceful end for improve output in the livestock sub-sector. Ranching – a method of raising livestock under range conditions – has been suggested as the best solution to the incessant Fulani herdsmen / farmers crises. Secondly, the Federal Government must as a matter of urgent importance do all that is within its reach to contain the menace of cattle rustling prevalent in the country. Finally, government should create well-equipped special reserves across the country with irrigation, dams, educational, health and recreational facilities where these herdsmen can be stationed with their cows to avoid the incessant farmers-herdsmen clashes. We must come to terms with the reality that these herdsmen also need decent living and care from government.