STUDIES ON ANIMAL TRACTION IN NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA. I. CHARACTERBSATI[BN AND MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS USED FOR DRAUGHT

Abstract

A study was conducted to characterise the animals used for draught in north-westejn Nigeria. Data were collected by use of structured questionnaires administered by personal interviews on 100 farmers in eight local government areas of Sokote State. Information
collected included specieslbreeds of animals used fur draught, snmage~-aen%syh tems employed, type of work done as well as duration of time arlirnals arc kepi fur wtiris. The results showed that 55 % of the farmers use bulls for traction and 43 % use camels. Among the bulls, the Rahaji are the predominantly used (57 '%I, follovgcd by Gudali (28 %,) and Bunaji (15 %). Among the camel?+ the Red strain (Ja) is the most abundantly used (50 %), followed by the White strain (Fari)(38 %) and the Black strain (Baki)(12 %). Over 80 % of the farmers manage their draught animals by the semi-intensive system of production. Mostly, bulls are not kept for work for more than seven years. Majority of farmers however keep camels for more than seven years. Most of the sampled farmers prefer animals to
motorised form of farm power, mainly because of the lower cost of the former.