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Abstract
Manhandling of ruminants, inadequate housing, feeding and inefficient pricing systems are constraints to productivity. Hence, this investigation was conducted to examine the management and marketing strategies of ruminants in Lafia, Wamba and Doma markets. Data were collected in each market for a period of twenty days, through direct interactions and participatory observations. The data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The results showed that White Fulani, Red Bororo, Yankasa, Balami, Uoda, Red Sokoto, West African Dwarf and their Crosses were available for sales. They were restrained and manhandled during transactions. It was observed that only sheep and goats were partially housed and animals unsold were herded or transported back home. There were similarities in their feeding regime and there were little or no differential prices among the ruminants in the three markets. However, bulls were priced lower (30.7%) than cows, bucks lower (11.1%) than does whereas, rams were priced higher (20.0%) than ewes. More significantly, more females were supplied (54.6%) and sold (59.5%) compared to the males. Also, the results showed that there were more cattle in stock at Lafia market (87.1%) compared to Wamba market (12.9%) and none (0.0%) at Doma market. Similarly,sheep in stock was observed highest (50.0%) at Lafia market, followed by Doma (26.5%) and Wamba (23.5%) markets. While goats in stock were very close at both Wamba (24.3%) and Doma (24.0%) markets, the values were however, less than that recorded at Lafia market (51.7%). The management and marketing strategies of ruminants observed in this study were unsuitable for optimum productivity.
Keywords: Ruminant, Management, Marketing Strategies, Nasarawa State.,