Description
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Nigeria’s cattle population is put at 16 million (FAO, 2009). This is made up of two broad breeds,
the Zebu breeds which include: Bunaji, Rahaji, Gudali etc and the Taurines breeds which
include: Kuri, Keteku, N’dama etc (Blench, 1999). The breed mostly fattened by small holder
cattle fattening operation is the white Fulani which constitute about 60% (Alawa et al., 2007),
this breed is reported to have a higher dressing percentage when compared with other
indigenous breeds of cattle (Adamu and Alawa, 2005). Bunaji is the most numerous and widely
distributed breed of cattle in Nigeria (Ahamefule et al., 2007) representing about 51% of the
national cattle population (Ikhatua, 2010) owned mainly by the normadic fulani people.
Cattle fattening is not a new practice in Nigeria, its practice has gained prominence as an
important business in the livestock industry. It gives the farmer year round employment which
provides him extra income and also provides a fast source of meat to meet the high demand for
high quality protein needed in human diet. The Northern region of Nigeria is a home to most of
the nation’s ruminant livestock. The region is however, characterised by long and pronounced
dry season of 6 -9 months, which is affected with serious feed shortage for ruminants.