Animal Reproductive Management Practices of Fulani pastoralists in the Humid Rain Forest of Imo State, Nigeria

Pastoralist communities in Nigeria are increasingly moving and settling southwards in the humid tropical rainforests in response to changing environment. This creates conflicts and threatens pastoral access to shared natural resources, thus, impacting on the sustainability and future of pastoralism. To appropriately capture all contending issues, there is the need to properly understand various pastoral practices in the zone. In this study, the reproductive management practices of Fulani pastoralists in the humid rainforest of Imo state, Nigeria was investigated in order to generate research clues needed for the development of policies and intervention strategies for natural resources utilization in the zone. Data were generated with the aid of questionnaires, personal interviews and field observations. Out of the 50 questionnaires distributed, 22 were completed and returned. Information generated revealed that most Fulani pastoralists in the study area were male aged between 20 and 40 years, with limited or no western education. They rear mainly cattle, which they inherited for the purpose of 100% breeding and dual purpose (milk and meat production). More than 77% of their herd was White Fulani breed of cattle. There was little or no interest in controlled mating resulting in 100% free pasture mating and more than 75% uncontrolled breeding. It was observed that a bull to cow sex ratio of 1:9 was rampart (68%), with more than 86% of the respondents mating their heifers for the first time at between 21 and 30 months of age and 100% mating their bulls between 11 and 20 months. There is the need for the adaptation of reproductive management of the White Fulani cattle reared in the zone to rational resource utilization, conservation and improved management programs that will eliminate conflicts.