The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) has warned that the price of a cow could go up as high as N2 million if the Southern Governors, starting from the Lagos State Government passes the proposed anti-open grazing law.
The association’s zonal secretary for South-West, Maikudi Usman, made the disclosure during a one-day public hearing organised by the state House of Assembly on the anti-open grazing bill.
Mr Usman said ranching, as being proposed by the government, was capital intensive and his members could not afford it.
“If cattle are bred in one place, the price could go up to about two million naira each. We agreed with some local chiefs in other states that anyone who wants to rear cows in a location should register and should indicate when he is leaving,” he disclosed.
The Miyetti Allah leader added that the best way to breed cattle was to move them from one place to another, saying that they were moved to different places during the rainy and dry season.
“Our breeders are not used to breeding cattle in one place. They move from here to another place. When we say we will keep cattle in one place, the owner of the cattle will not have funds to feed the animals in one place.
Making further excuses, Mr Usman pleaded with the government for more time to enlighten herdsmen on breeding cattle in one place rather than encroaching on farmlands.
