The Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) commenced operations in 2008.

The Nigerian Institute of Animal Science Act, Part 1 Section 2 (h) & (i) mandates the Institute to regulate all matters pertaining to Animal Husbandry in Nigeria, as well as advising and encouraging enactment of laws and regulations for the industry. All these require professional practice and industry standards/regulations which are currently absent.

Climate change issues and global warming have indicted livestock operations for emitting 18% of total Green House Gases for which the FAO has instructed new production techniques and management by all countries to mitigate the problem. This requires an agency that will regulate livestock operations and enforce standards. Standards for operations and professional practice must thus be set.

The Nigerian Livestock Farmer has experienced various setbacks over the years mainly due to the use of sub-standard inputs. Commercialization of the livestock sector will remain difficult without regulations and standards.

The Institute in doing this identified the array of activities in the various sectors of the Livestock Industry with the view of taking a holistic approach in the process of establishing Standards for the Nigerian Animal Husbandry Industry. The standards developed by the Institute are expected to guide the operations of the Industry. Such Standards are expected to improve the efficiency of production, stimulate growth in the industry and address the issue of Animal Feed Safety, Food Security and Food Safety.