Agro By-product Feedstuffs and Livestock Management Systems for Rural Livelihoods in Cross River State

Abstract

The study was conducted to ascertain the potential feedstuffs available for livestock management in three senatorial districts of Cross River State, Nigeria. A total of 192 structured questionnaires were administered to sole livestock and crop-livestock farmers in 24 villages at eight per village. At collection only 176 were retrieved from the respondents representing the farm households. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that the livestock farmers comprising both livestock and crop-livestock farmers were made of males (58.0%) and females (42.0%) within the age bracket of 34 -44 years out of which 56.2% were illiterates and 43.8% literate. Crop-livestock farmers (86.4%) dominated the farming operations, managing their livestock under the semi-intensive and extensive systems. The crop-livestock system was worthwhile since farmers recycled agro by-products as feedstuffs for an average of 3 goats and 2 sheep per household. This system will help to improve farmers' income and their livelihoods.