By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Livestock rearing has long sustained families in Kano State, with cattle symbolising wealth and food security.
But a quiet shift is underway as rare, foreign-bred goats turn small-scale farmers into high-value livestock entrepreneurs.
Exotic breeds such as the Saanen goat, Damascus goat, and Gulabi goat are increasingly prized for their milk yield, meat quality and prestige value.
Malam Sunusi Ali Musa said he ventured into exotic goat breeding out of passion after noticing growing interest in uncommon animals.
His initial investment in Saanen goats, known for high milk production and disease resistance, later transformed into a profitable enterprise attracting buyers within and outside Kano.
Another breeder, Malam Isma’ila Ahmad, described the Damascus goat as one of the most sought-after breeds due to its adaptability to heat and quality meat.
He added that the Gulabi goat, with its distinct white coat and long ears, is valued for both production and status.
Market findings show the scale of the trade: a pair of Damascus goats sells for up to N3.5 million, while a single Gulabi goat can fetch N3 million.
Most breeders source animals through informal trade routes across Libya and Niger Republic due to limited capital for direct importation.
While traders say profits are strong, concerns are mounting over the absence of formal quarantine and regulatory oversight.
Veterinary expert Dr Aminu Bashir warned that unregulated imports pose disease risks to local livestock and called for government intervention to formalise the growing sector.
As Kano consolidates its position as a livestock hub in northern Nigeria, exotic goat breeding is emerging from a niche pursuit into a multi-million-naira agribusiness, redefining the economics of small ruminant farming in the state.
