By Dr Ibikunle Faramade
Generally, pastoralism refers to the practice of keeping livestock as a means of either primary or secondary subsistence, ranging from practices such as a mix of plant cultivation and herding to almost exclusive practice of herding. Traditionally, livestock herding therefore involves a trend of movement pattern ranging from sedentary use of rich pasture lands (involving little migration) to semi-nomadic pastoralism (permanent homestead), to nomadic pastoralism (involving frequent homestead movement). For many people, these terminologies could be used interchangeably, but they do not exactly connote the same meaning.
For the purpose of emphasis, nomadic pastoralism involves the practice of livestock husbandry in which both the herder and the flock are in as state of continuous movement from one area to the other depending on the availability of pasture irrespective of geographical boundaries. Nomadic pastoralism is often practiced in semi-arid ecosystems where pasture is either patchy or extremely limited by seasonal drought. This movement is a form of adaptation and survival strategy.
The main reasons why nomadic pastoralism have become a culture include low capital requirement, low fuel / energy requirement and the fact that it does not require a heavy dependence on foods suitable for human consumption (such as grains) to support livestock during periods when plant growth is limited. This practice dates back to the earliest period of human civilization and was practiced in most part of the world.
However, in the process of time, due to expanding human population with consequent exponential demand for animal protein, the bulk of which is derived from livestock, particularly, cattle, livestock production has been developed beyond this primordial stage in order to achieve market weight with minimum input thereby increasing the availability of animal protein, particularly, beef.
Today, we now have improved management systems including semi-extensive and intensive methods of management. In Nigeria, cattle production is essentially concentrated in the hands of cattle herders who practice trans- humance and nomadism. This has created a wide gap between demand and supply and inability to develop the value chain that could enhance economic benefits derivable from this very important sector of the economy. Also, the consequences of nomadism impact the ecosystem negatively and the loss incurred from its negative impact on the ecosystem is greater than the private benefits accruable to nomadic cattle herders.
Other disadvantages of nomadic pastoralism include perennial communal conflicts between the nomads and indigenous communities who suffer great deprivation and chronic existential threats especially, from some marauding and lawless nomadic herders, environmental degradation, promotion of illiteracy due to lack of access to formal education, making them to have negative perception of human civilization, spread of animal and zoonotic diseases.
In the context of animal welfare, nomadic cattle face many challenges, including extreme weather conditions, water scarcity and threats from predator, making animals to live in a state of continuous fear and anxiety, physical exhaustion, malnutrition, increased mortality due to lack of access to animal health service delivery etc. All these are in contrast to the five freedoms of animal welfare, except the freedom to exercise natural behavior.
There are very adverse security implications of nomadic pastoralism in Nigeria. This extends beyond security of lives and properties, but, very importantly, food security. Farmlands are wantonly destroyed, leading to food scarcity and hence inability of many to afford the exorbitant food prices, mutual suspicion among different ethnic nationalities, social disruptions, existential threats and loss of precious human lives leading to generational hostilities.
The time is therefore ripe for the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and other relevant stake holders to implement policies and programs that have been enunciated over the years that could minimize nomadic pastoralism and encourage semi – intensive and intensive system of animal production such as ranching. The benefits are enormous, especially, the achievement of peace, social cohesion and stability, food security, promotion of sustainable livelihoods and sustainable development in Nigeria.
This long-awaited shift from nomadic pastoralism to semi-intensive and intensive animal production system would go a long way, not only to improve the welfare of livestock, but capable of boosting human welfare, especially, the welfare of the herders.
Dr. Ibikunle Faramade is a veterinary pathologist, sustainable development practitioner, animal welfare advocate and a lecturer at the Federal College of Animal Health & Production Technology, Apata. He’s the President/C.E.O. of the Society for Animal Rights Protection, a non- governmental and not- for- profit organization dedicated to the promotion of animal welfare, animal rights and prevention of cruelty to animals in Nigeria. (animalrightsprotection2020@gmail.com; +2348028305284) 
