Summary
This participatory epidemiology study engaged Fulani pastoralists in Kwara State to document and rank the most significant cattle diseases affecting their herds, using focus group discussions, disease impact scoring, and seasonal calendars. Eight priority diseases were identified, including leptospirosis and foot-and-mouth disease. The work demonstrates how participatory methods and indigenous knowledge can improve understanding of livestock disease burdens in pastoral production systems.
UK applicability
Whilst this study is specific to Nigerian pastoral contexts and Fulani herding practices, the participatory epidemiology methodology may offer transferable approaches for engaging UK pastoral and extensive livestock farmers in disease risk assessment, particularly for endemic transboundary diseases. Direct application to UK conditions is limited by differences in production systems, climate, and existing disease surveillance infrastructure.
Key measures
Disease priority ranking; seasonal disease occurrence; indigenous disease knowledge; herd impact assessments
Outcomes reported
The study identified and ranked eight priority cattle diseases affecting Fulani pastoral herds using participatory epidemiology methods, including leptospirosis and foot-and-mouth disease. Findings integrated indigenous pastoral knowledge with systematic disease impact scoring and seasonal calendars.
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