Abstract:
Between
March and November
1996, a diagnostic
study of urban cattle rearing was
carried
out in Sokoto,
northwest
of Nigeria.
Thirty-six
(36) herders
and 56
herdsmen
were randomly
selected and interviewed
on various aspects of the subject
matter using structured
questionnaires.
The following
findings
were obtained:
The
cattle were owned mainly by traders and civil servants
of Hausa and Fulani ethnic
groups.
Sokoto-Gudali
cattle constituted
over 70% of the total study cattle
population
(6,031), with female animals
(cows and heifers) constitute
about 90%.
Grazing
of the animals was done by paid herdsmen
(and their herdsboys)
for about
five hours daily in six grazing areas. Identified
problems
in the gazing practice
were
non-adequacy
of forage supply, lack of all year round accessibility
of the grazing
areas, encroachment
onto the grazing
areas and cattle routes by government
agencies
and individuals,
and loss of stock through
injury and death caused by road
accidents.
Major herd health problems
were foot and mouth disease,
cattle pox,
dermatitis,
brucellosis,
and diarrhoea.
Ethno-veterinary
practices
and consultation
with veterinarians
were taken for preventing
and treating
the identified
disease condition.
