In an ambitious effort to slash its $1.5 billion annual dairy import bill, Nigeria is importing high-yield dairy cows from Denmark to double milk production within five years. Despite having over 20 million cattle, the West African country mostly has traditional pastoralist breeds that produce little milk. As a result, it has to import milk to meet 60% of its dairy needs. Now, with Danish heifer imports and improved breeding techniques, the government aims to boost output from 700,000 to 1.4 million tons annually. Complementing this push, Nigeria has registered eight new pasture grasses for the first time in nearly five decades and launched a genetic resource strategy with the UN.
Business Day
