Nigeria imports cows from Denmark to slash $1.5bn annual milk import

Nigeria is importing dairy cattle from Denmark as it aims to double its milk output within five years.

This is part of a plan to cut dairy imports that cost the country $1.5 billion a year, Livestock Minister Idi Maiha said in Abuja on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Despite boasting one of Africa’s largest cattle populations, Nigeria’s milk output of 700,000 tonnes a year lags its annual consumption of 1.6 million tonnes.

This shortfall means the country imports around 60% of its milk.

“Our goal is ambitious but achievable; to double Nigeria’s milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually in the next five years,” Reuters quoted Maiha as saying.

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Maiha said Nigeria’s cattle population, exceeding 20 million, consists largely of low-yield pastoralist breeds.

The minister stated that a Nigerian farm has already imported over 200 heifers from Denmark, building its herd through intensive breeding.

He noted that eight new pasture species have been registered, the first in 48 years, adding that a national strategy for animal genetic resources with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization has been launched.

“With over 20.9 million cattle, 60 million sheep, and 1.4 million goats already, we are not starting from zero, we are building from strength,” Maiha stated.

The Star