title: Improved productivity and sustainable pastoral systems in an era of insecurity-Fulani herds of the southern Jos Plateau, North-Central Nigeria.
abstract: This study investigated the productivity and management of sheep and cattle kept by Fulani pastoralists of Bokkos local government area on the Jos Plateau, North-Central Nigeria. Despite the challenges related to insecurity and restricted access to natural resources, results show large breeding herds with above average productivity and reproductive performance. The management strategy was focused on providing both milk and increased cattle numbers for pastoralists and beef to satisfy the high market demand. High natural herd growth and moderate offtake rates allowed households to maintain herd sizes with a small net increase in cattle numbers. Sheep productivity in these herds was characterised by high births, high mortality and high offtake, leading to overall negative herd growth. The use of hired herders is on the rise in response to natural resource conflict, insecurity and reduced family labour availability due to alternative livelihood strategies. Disease and related mortality remain significant constraints to productivity which could be addressed by increased access to quality veterinary care. However, any further increases in livestock numbers would put additional strain on already inadequate natural resources.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK. amajekodunmi@ug.edu.gh.|Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana. amajekodunmi@ug.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Ayodele O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Majekodunmi
authors.affiliation: Trypanosomiasis Department, Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research, P.M.B. 03 Vom, Plateau, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dongkum
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinic, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01 Vom, Plateau, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Tok
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Langs
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Welburn
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003612:Dairying; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D055864:Droughts; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000069466:Red Meat; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014329:Tropical Climate
keywords: Cattle; Fulani; Nigeria; Pastoralism; Productivity