Adoption of Silvopastoral Agroforestry System for a Sustainable Cattle Production in Nigeria

Abstract

Silvopastoral systems are agroforestry systems that involves a combination of tree growing with the production of livestock. This type of agroforestry system has the potential to improve hydric  balance, enhances biodiversity conservation, increases organic livestock proximity index, allows  cleaner cattle production, improves cattle production per hectare, improves carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gases and significantly reduce /eliminate herder -farmer conflicts in Nigeria .  Hence, this paper reviews and introduces the adoption of silvopastoral agroforestry system for a sustainable cattle production in Nigeria using literatures. Types of silvopastoral systems includes  Fodder bank systems, live fence or boundary systems, hedgerow intercropping systems and tree plantation with animal grazing systems. There is limited information on silvopastoral system in Nigeria, hence the need to carry out more research and studies on its acceptability and sustainability in the future.