Drought and the Changing Pattern in Sheep Breeds in Sokoto-Rima River Basin, Nigeria

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Abstract Drought is a global environmental hazard that impacts livestock production adversely. It is a major problem in the Sokoto-Rima River Basin (Semi-arid agro-ecological zone), Nigeria. However, existing literature suffers a knowledge gap on the effect of drought on the changing pattern in sheep breeds. The cluster sampling technique was used to administer the questionnaire to 450 farmers who were sampled from 15 agricultural settlements in fifteen local governments in the basin. Data were analysed using qualitative methods and the Standardised Precipitation Index. Farmers and quantitative reasoning confirmed the frequency, severity, and extremity of drought on sheep. The drought accounted for 56.67% of all rainfall anomalies. Four breeds of sheep were discovered, while responses showed that more than half of the farmers in the basin reared sheep, and single breed accounted for over three-quarters of breeds. Balami was the most reared sheep breed and 4.44%, 7.26%, and 32.26% more than Yankasa, Uda, and Hausawa, respectively. This breed with Uda was more reared than other combined sheep breed. Most farmers changed breed due to drought effect, with half of them formerly rearing Yankasa. Farmers were affected in the range of one to five drought impacts. The size reduction was the greatest consequence of drought on sheep while death of sheep, reduction in offspring and milk yield, and infertility in rams were also important. Understanding drought characteristics, its’ effect on changing of sheep breed, and the nature of drought impact on sheep will aid drought planning. This paper makes recommendations for mitigation and management strategies in Sokoto-Rima River Basin.

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