Survey of cattle rearing by herdsmen in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of clashes between herders and crop farmers elsewhere necessitated the survey of cattle
rearing by herdsmen in Lagos State to obtain baseline information on the herders, their cattle and the
commonly grazed forages. Self-administered questionnaires were administered on the herders in Epe,
Badagry and Ikorodu Local Government areas being the agrarian zones of Lagos State. Data obtained were
analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results on the socio-economic characteristics showed that all the
respondents that reared cattle were male and mostly (77%) married. About 70% of respondents have been
in the business for over 20 years. 70% of the farmers attended only Quranic school. They mostly (63%) lived
with their family who assisted in milk processing. The breeds of cattle reared were White Fulani (50%),
Keteku (20%), Sokoto Gudali (20%) and others 10%. The herd size of respondents varied between 11-20
bulls (73%), 16-30 cows (57%) and 20 calves (50%). Most (57%) of the herders grazed their cattle for one
to four hours daily. Respondents (67%) also reported incidence of clashes with crop farmers which were
settled by the community leaders through restitution. Continuous grazing was mostly (70%) practiced. The
commonest forages selected were; Panicum maximum, Chromolaena odorata, Sida acuta, Centrosema
pubescens and Tridax procumbens. It is concluded that cattle herders and the residents cohabit in Lagos
State.