Survey of Small Ruminants Production in Some Parts of Kano State Nigeria.

Survey of Small Ruminant Production in some parts of Kano State, Nigeria. The study gathered data on herd sized, breeding practice,feed and health Management and economic factor Influencing Production. A survey was conducted by the way of personal interviews with one hundred (100) respondents comparising in three (3) selected markets. Widil,Dambatta and tarauni (yan awaki) livestock market kano.The study aimed to provide better understanding of smallholder and pastoral/extensive sheep and goats farming system in kano state, Nigeria as an example. The results showed that (58%) of the pastoral/extensive farmers and (48%) of the smallholders indicated livestock as their main activity. Small ruminant ranked closely behind cattle in their important. (34%) of the households kept only sheep, (18%) only goat and (48%) both species. The survey demonstrated the relative importance to the farmers of tangible benefits of farming sheep and goats (e.g regular cash income,meat, manure and incase of goats, milk) versus intangible benefits (e.g the role of small ruminants as an insurance against emergencies). Regular cash income and an insurance against emergencies where the highest priorities. (78%) of the farmers reported animal sales over the previous (12) months of the survey date. The income was spent on school fees (32%), Purchase of food (22%), farm investment (18%), Medical expenses (10%), Off-farm investment (9%), social activities (5%) and re-stocking (4%). Indigenous genotypes where predominant among the pastoralist and mixed crosses predominant among the smallholders. Over (98%) of the farmers reported incidence of disease especially pneumonia ( in pastoral/extensive areas), Helminthosis, tick- bone disease, diarrhea and foot-rot. Over (98%) of the farmers fed supplement in both dry and wet season. In conclusion, the foregoing issues needed attention in genetic improvement programmes with more emphasis on the conversation and utilization of indigenous ruminant genotype.