OUTBREAKS OF BLACKLEG OF CATTLE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA (1964-2003)

Blackleg is an endemic disease in both developed and developing countries and is a well-known cause of financial loss to cattle raisers in many parts of the world. The disease is prevalent in the United States of America, India and other parts of Asia and Europe, Latin America, and Africa. In Nigeria, the economic losses of Zebu cattle alone to the disease have been estimated at US $4. 3 million (~600 million naira) annually. A retrospective study was carried out to ascertain the current status of the disease in Northern Nigeria, and it was observed that the traditional style of livestock production by the transhumance Fulani pastoralists of rural Nigeria, who own livestock resources in the country pose a great challenge to the control of the disease. It was concluded that blackleg is still endemic in Nigeria, and its effective control can only be achieved if the traditional livestock production system of the nomads of rural Nigeria is improved.