Socio-Economic, Husbandry and Constraints of Baggara Cattle under Extensive and Semi- Extensive Systems in South Kordofan State, Sudan

This study was conducted to evaluate the husbandry practices, impact on socio-economic status of the herders and contribution of Baggara cattle in South Kordofan State in milk production, in addition to the constraints facing its production. Information about management practices was collected via a questionnaire and direct interviews with cattle owners, the data include 80 herders from the extensive and semi-extensive production systems. The results indicated that the age of majority of cattle owners (48.75 %) was more than 40 years and the family members are more than 5 persons. Illiteracy among the herders was 25.0%, and 12.5% of the herders had university education. Significant (P?0.05) differences were found between possessions of the herds and sources of fund. Only 15.0% of the cattle herders offer supplementary rations to their cows during the late pregnancy in semi-extensive system compared to 80.95% in the extensive production system. The water offered to the cattle herds was from rain, pipes and wells. Most of the herds (95%) were under health supervision. Moreover, twice a day milking was the common practice in all the herds. The main constraints facing the herders are low productivity, marketing, feeding and managerial problems. However 97.5% of the cattle herders practice the sale of traditional dairy products. The present study recommended initiation of milk collection and processing centers for sustainability and livelihood. Also marketing attitudes should also be encouraged within the traditional production systems.