Livestock dealers in Hadejia, Jigawa, on Wednesday expressed concern over rising cost of animals in the area, Naija247news reports.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The dealers said they were experiencing low sales due to sprawling price increase in recent months.
A check at Hadejia and Malammadori markets, indicated that prices had gone up by about 50 per cent, as against what was obtainable in the past three months.
A well bred ram is sold for N50,000 as against its previous price of N25,000.
An average sheep attracts N17,000 and goat goes for N7,000 as against N10,000 and N5,000 respectively.
Prices of cattle also indicates similar increases, as a medium size cow is sold at N120,000 as against its old price of N85,000.
Dealers at the markets attributed the situation to significant drop in the supply of livestock.
Alhaji Ubale Saidu, a cattle dealer, said the trade had been witnessing disturbing movement in the demand and supply chains.
Saidu said the supply of livestock from Borno and Yobe had dropped due to security challenges.
“Cattle breeders from the neighbouring states are no longer coming here due to the security situation.
“Our main supply route is from Niger Republic, through Maigatari market, and that alone could not meet the demand,” he said.
Ibrahim observed that the trend had forced prices up, leading to poor market condition.
Another trader, Malam Musa Inuwa, however, blamed the hikes in prices on lack of adequate pasture.
Inuwa noted that cattle breeders relied on feeds available from the markets in spite of its exorbitant prices.
“Livestock production is expensive because of the high cost of feeds.
“Cattle breeders are exposed to using feeds due to the non-availability of pasture, especially during dry season,” Inuwa said.
Inuwa called on the Jigawa Government to establish feeds mill to encourage livestock production in the state.
NAN reports that Jigawa is one of the major livestock production centres in the country with an estimated more than 10 million animal population.