ABSTRACT
A survey of the draught cattle husbandry practices and the potential impact of such practices on the health and productivity as it relates to work hours of these cattle was carried out during the months of November March(dry season) and during the months of June-September(wet season) in seven rural communities around Zaria. It was observed that these animals are kept under a typical traditional husbandry system, where no special housing or periodic health care is provided for these animals. Consequently common health conditions seen were more during the dry season, (64.75%) than during the wet period (38.72%). The clinical parameters of the apparently healthy draught cattle as compare to those clinically sick showed significant changes in the age, weight, working hours and work output. The variation in the body weight of the clinically sick cattle shows that the animals with diarrhea had significantly (P
Key words: Draught Cattle, Husbandry, Health, Workhours, Wet, Dry Months
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