Cattle Production In Nigeria

Livestock production is a source of employment and livelihood to many Nigerians.

Cattle are the most predominant and highly valued livestock in Nigeria (Tewe, 1997). They are kept for beef, hide, milk and for traction (Tukur and Maigandi, 1999), and to many as status symbol. The livestock system employed by the farmers is characterized by traditional system of production. Under this system, there is involvement of traditional methods in all aspects of cattle production including health (Abubakar and Garba, 2004)

Among all livestock that make up the farm animals in Nigeria, ruminants, comprising sheep, goats, and cattle constitute the farm animals largely reared by farmers in the county’s agricultural system. Nigeria has a population of about

The zebu as locally recognized by the cattle reares in northern part Nigeria include the bunaji, rahaji, sokoto gudali, adamawa gudali, azawak and wadara. The available breeds of sheep in the country are the udda, yankasa, balami and the West African dwarf (WAD) sheep and the breeds of goats are the West African dwarf (WAD) goats, saheal/desert goats and the sokoto red/maradi. Lombin (2011) in nasiru, (2012) reported that Nigeria has a livestock of about 16.3 million livestock of cattle, 40.8 million goats and 27 million sheeps, 151 million poultry, 3.7 million pigs, 900,000 donkeys and 90,000

Marketing of cattle just like any other markets in the state is in crucial human invention. It is a function of so many factors among which are: pricing, transportation, financing and risk bearing. Agricultural marketing in the tropics is one of the most important sectors of the economy and as such, has substantial impact on the economy where it operates. The importance of agricultural marketing cannot be over emphasized since it brings about specialized production for better skill and efficiency, thereby providing opportunities for exchange of goods and services (Olukosi et al, 1990).

Objectives

The broad objective of the study is to examine marketing of ruminant by Fulani herds men in the study area. The specific objectives are to;

1. Identify the breeds ruminants being offered for sales by Fulani herdsmen in the study area

2. To determine the marketing channel being utilized by the Fulani herdsmen in the study area

3. To estimate the economic analysis of returns in investment from