Livestock intelligence
Designing and deploying livestock information management systems, with real-time analytics for disease surveillance and productivity tracking.
What we do
Eight capabilities. One systems-thinking framework.
CHOLD Initiative employs a systems-thinking framework combining technical innovation with grassroots engagement. Each capability below carries a defined scope, a strategic objective and the impact we hold ourselves to.
STRATEGIC APPROACH
Five core pillars of operation
Every technical intervention, research study and policy engagement falls within five aligned pillars.
Research & development
Conducting applied research to solve context-specific challenges and promoting indigenous knowledge alongside evidence-based innovation.
Traditional leadership
Empowering traditional leaders as development allies and bridging cultural governance with scientific advancement.
Value chain strengthening
Supporting market access, infrastructure and supply chain efficiency while promoting local agribusiness and entrepreneurship.
Capacity building
Training stakeholders in animal health, data use and system design, building institutional capability across levels.
Key focus areas
Where the work concentrates
Livestock Information Management Systems (LIMS)
Livestock Research & Development
Disease Surveillance & Risk Reduction
Innovation for Rural Livelihoods
Traditional Leadership & Governance Models
Supply Chain Optimisation
Emergency Preparedness & Coordination Infrastructure
Government System & Programme Strengthening
Technical capabilities
Explore each capability in detail.
Select a capability to see its scope, strategic objective and expected impact.
Capability 01
Livestock Information Management System (LIMS)
The data backbone. Without it, every other intervention is guesswork.
Scope
- Develop, deploy and maintain digital and field-integrated systems to collect, store, analyse and visualise real-time data on livestock populations, ownership, demographics, health status, production, movement and services.
- Integrate geospatial tools (GIS) and IoT devices (such as RFID tags and sensors) to track livestock health and movements.
Strategic objective
- Establish a centralised, integrated and interoperable database to inform evidence-based policymaking, resource allocation, sector monitoring and transparent resource planning.
Impact
Enhanced transparency in livestock value chains, improved breeding programmes and reduced duplication of effort by stakeholders.
Reliable livestock data across rural and semi-urban communities
Increased visibility and inclusion of smallholder livestock owners
Informed policymaking and rapid response to sector challenges
Capability 02
Animal Disease Surveillance
Detection close to the herd, response coordinated from the centre.
Scope
- Establish integrated surveillance systems (including grassroots informants, mobile reporting apps, veterinary partnerships and emergency reporting dashboards) to monitor, detect and respond to livestock diseases, both zoonotic and transboundary.
- Train veterinarians and community health workers in rapid diagnostic testing and reporting protocols.
Strategic objective
- Reduce the spread and impact of animal diseases through early detection, reporting and coordinated response.
Impact
Safer livestock trade, higher farmer confidence and minimised economic losses from epidemics.
Early containment of transboundary and zoonotic diseases with lower economic losses for producers
Strengthened One Health response at community level
Strengthened national capacity to contain zoonoses and comply with international health standards
Capability 03
Traditional Leader Engagement
The distinctive part of our model, and the part most often skipped.
Scope
- Integrate traditional institutions into livestock governance, resource management and peacebuilding initiatives.
- Partner with Emirs, Obas, chiefs, religious leaders and local councils to promote vaccination drives, sustainable grazing and gender-inclusive programmes.
- Develop culturally tailored communication materials: radio programmes, workshops and community fora.
Strategic objective
- Ensure local ownership, cultural relevance and security in livestock initiatives through community leadership.
- Achieve 80% community adoption of modern livestock practices through trusted intermediaries.
Impact
Conflict mitigation over grazing lands, improved women's participation and preservation of indigenous knowledge.
Reduced communal and farmer–pastoralist conflicts
Enhanced compliance with animal health and movement protocols
Strengthened indigenous knowledge integration
Capability 04
Livestock Research & Innovation
Homegrown answers to context-specific problems.
Scope
- Conduct applied and participatory research on animal health, genetics, feed systems, climate adaptation, indigenous practices and digital technology application.
Strategic objective
- Generate homegrown solutions and innovations that increase livestock productivity, resilience and inclusiveness.
Impact
Significantly transform the livestock sector by generating context-specific solutions that improve animal productivity, health and climate resilience.
Evidence-based interventions tailored to local needs
Wider adoption of best practices in animal husbandry
Stronger partnerships with academia and research institutions
Capability 05
Livestock Business Analytics
Turning production and market data into decisions a smallholder can act on.
Scope
- Collect and analyse production, cost and market data to generate insights for policy, private investment and smallholder profitability.
- Provide training and tools to farmers and cooperatives on market trends, cost-benefit analysis and value-addition opportunities.
- Develop dashboards for predictive analytics on feed prices, demand forecasting and export potential.
Strategic objective
- Increase economic viability, private investment and competitiveness of smallholder farmers and livestock enterprises by offering actionable insights and market intelligence.
Impact
Increased income for farmers, reduced post-production losses and diversified livestock products such as dairy and leather.
Data-informed business models for farmers and cooperatives
Better financial planning with reduced financial risk in livestock production
Enhanced investment in underdeveloped value chains and rural agribusinesses
Capability 06
Livestock Supply Chain Management System
From farm to fork, with the losses engineered out.
Scope
- Map, digitise and optimise supply chains for meat, dairy and by-products by tracking production, aggregation, cold storage, logistics, certification and sales to improve efficiency and reduce losses.
- Pilot blockchain solutions for traceability from farm to fork.
Strategic objective
- Optimise livestock logistics, input delivery and market access for rural producers while connecting smallholder farmers to formal markets.
Impact
Higher farmer revenues, reduced spoilage and compliance with international export standards such as EU sanitary requirements.
Greater trust in local livestock products among consumers and traders
Reduced post-harvest and transit losses
Lower market access barriers with improved price stability and traceability
Capability 07
Emergency Coordination Centres (ECCs) & Animal Laboratories
Infrastructure that turns an early warning into an early response.
Scope
- Design and support the construction of Emergency Coordination Centres for coordinating rapid animal health responses, disease outbreaks and climatic emergencies, equipped with communication technology and rapid response teams.
- Construct biosecure laboratories for diagnostics, vaccine trials, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research and export product certification.
Strategic objective
- Enable 24/7 emergency response and strengthen domestic diagnostic and research capacity for endemic and emerging livestock diseases.
- Institutionalise rapid response capacity for livestock emergencies and disaster preparedness.
Impact
Faster containment of crises such as droughts and pandemics, and innovation in veterinary medicine.
Improved inter-agency coordination across federal, state and local levels
Improved surveillance quality and quicker mobilisation during outbreaks or droughts
Strengthened early warning-to-action pipeline
Capability 08
Government System / Programme Strengthening & Optimisation
Building the state's capacity to deliver, rather than substituting for it.
Scope
- Support MDAs (including FMARD, NVRI, NALDA and VCN) to improve livestock policy implementation, service delivery and coordination.
- Provide technical assistance in institutional planning, data management and inter-agency collaboration.
- Build capacity of public livestock personnel at federal, state and LGA level through training, mentorship and system digitisation.
- Enhance accountability, transparency and M&E systems across government livestock programmes.
- Facilitate policy harmonisation between national and sub-national levels.
Strategic objective
- Strengthen the institutional, operational and technical capacity of government agencies to deliver inclusive, efficient and resilient livestock development programmes.
Impact
Improved coordination among federal, state and local livestock actors
Increased efficiency in programme delivery and resource use
Enhanced sustainability and scalability of national livestock interventions
Strengthened data systems for evidence-based livestock policymaking
Greater reach and quality of veterinary, extension and regulatory services
Intervention areas
Species and systems we work across.
Cattle, small ruminants, poultry, pigs and working animals, alongside the wildlife interfaces where zoonotic risk concentrates.
Cattle & dairy
Small ruminants
Poultry
Wildlife interfaces
Commission this work
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We deliver as a technical partner on government programmes, donor-funded projects and public-private initiatives.