Assessment of Traditional Cattle Management Practices Among Fulani Pastoralists in Plateau State

This study assesses traditional cattle management practices among Fulani pastoralist communities in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Fulani pastoralists maintain the largest cattle herds in Nigeria, and their management systems embody centuries of indigenous knowledge about animal nutrition, health, and resource management. Understanding these practices is important for designing appropriate livestock development interventions that build on existing knowledge rather than displacing it. This study uses a qualitative and quantitative mixed-method design, collecting data from 120 Fulani household heads in Shendam, Kanke, and Riyom local government areas through structured interviews and farm observation. Traditional management practices documented include herd composition, mobility patterns, supplementary feeding, disease recognition, herbal treatments, and marketing practices. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis are applied to quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Findings reveal that sampled herds average 42 cattle per household, predominantly White Fulani (Bunaji) and Red Bororo breeds managed through semi-nomadic patterns with seasonal transhumance of up to 120 kilometres. Mineral lick provision from natural salt sources and legume browse consumption are the primary traditional nutrient supplementation strategies. Trypanosomiasis, haemorrhagic septicaemia, and foot-and-mouth disease are the most frequently cited health challenges, managed through a combination of traditional remedies and occasional conventional veterinary care. The study concludes that traditional Fulani cattle management incorporates sophisticated adaptive strategies that deserve recognition in livestock policy. It recommends participatory range management planning that incorporates Fulani ecological knowledge.

Keywords: Fulani pastoralists, traditional cattle management, Plateau State, transhumance, indigenous knowledge.