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The Lagos State Government has called on the private sector to partner with it to establish feedlots in the state for cattle rearing and fattening.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, made this call on Wednesday at a Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Red Meat Value Chain held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, that the partnership has become necessary as it would ensure better production and supply of cattle for consumption in the State.
Olusanya said the feedlots would help revive and resuscitate cows that might have travelled from far cities where they have come to Lagos before slaughtering them, as the feedlot system would also help in fattening the cows before taking them to the slaughter slabs, which would improve the quality of beef as well as help butchers and meat sellers to make more profit.
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According to her, “We have been having discussions around the transformation agenda centered on abattoirs, transportation and markets but there is a revised plan to have a more holistic approach to the red meat value chain.
“We are not just focusing on abattoirs alone, which are a processing angle, we are starting right from the animal identification and traceability systems, meaning right from the source or point of origination of the cattle.
“That is why we want to establish feedlots in the State so that we can have cattle fattening centers. When a lot of the cattle come in here and land at the animal market, they’re usually very weak; by the time they get to the slaughter, they have water and weight loss.
“Having feedlot centers means that the cattle can rest, they can be fattened so that people can make more profit, and you have even more wholesome beef on your table.
“We will like to deliver and achieve all of these things this year if possible, so you can start off with a pilot project. So we want relevant private sector to partner with us to establish the feedlots. The state government is already working towards ensuring that the setup of feedlots happens this year.
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“So we are actually taking off in March for the establishments of the feedlots but everything is going to be private sector drive as government is only going to create the necessary enabling environment.
“So establishing the feedlot system is critical not just for the fattening alone, but for the purpose of rearing the cattle themselves. We have land in Lagos that can be used for this and that is what Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu wants in the State.”
The Commissioner further explained that there is the need for more abattoirs in the State so as to cater for the needs of the over 22 million people in the State thus the need for public private partnership investments in the sector, that the reason why there are illegal slaughter slabs springing up within the State is because there are not enough abattoirs to take care of slaughtering the cattle.
Olusanya stated that the transportation of meat carcasses using only the designated Eko refrigerated meat vans as well as marketing of beef in standardised meat shops where there would be no avenue for consumers to touch the meat before buying would henceforth be strictly enforced going forward.
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