SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTION IN KANO STATE

Abstract

Milk production in Nigeria is dominated by cattle as virtually nothing in terms of milk comes from Nigerian goat and sheep. However, due to unorganized nature of the Nigerian dairy industry and other challenges, the potential of indigenous cattle to provide milk as the main income earner remains unknown to majority of the cattle farmers. The study examines the socioeconomic characteristics and general constraints affecting dairy cattle production in some selected local government areas of Kano State, Nigeria. A total of 123 dairy cattle farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using well-structured questionnaires. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The finding of the results showed that majority (93.90%) of the respondents were male with majority (39.00%) falling within the age range of 31 – 40 years. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents had no formal education. The result also indicated that 48.00% of dairy farmers owned between 20-40 cows with more than 20 years dairy experience. About 96.70%, 95.90% and 78.90% of the dairy farmers prefer bull service, employed hand milking and milked their cows two twice a day respectively. The findings of the constraints affecting dairy cattle production in the study area revealed that high cost of feed, diseases and parasites and lack of grazing land were the major constraints affecting dairy cattle farming in the study. Dairy farmers are encouraged to preserve excess feed to be used during period of scarcity. Provision for feed during the dry season and adequate veterinary care were recommended.