A dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a multipurpose domestic animal that remains central to the subsistence, economic and social livelihoods of pastoralists in the study area. This paper analyses and reports the views of pastoralists regarding reproduction, ecotypes, and breeding in dromedary camels in some selected villages of the Nigeria-Niger corridor. Two villages (Kursilla in Diffa Region and Gujjo in Zinder Region) in southeastern Niger Republic and one village (Garin Alkali in Yobe State) in northeastern Nigeria were purposively selected for this study. Data were collected using formal questionnaires and focus group discussion.

Results showed that dromedary camels in the study area mate and calve during the early-dry season of October to December. Different signs used by pastoralists to detect rut, oestrus and pregnancy in camels were reported. Different camel ecotypes were defined based on coat colour. Though the dark-brown ecotype was the most preferred, camels in the study area were bred more towards an “ideal herd” rather than an “ideal animal”. This probably brings to light a survival strategy that supports pastoral life in a fragile ecosystem, which depends largely on the complementary performance of assortment of camel ecotypes in different seasons of the year. Overall, results show that pastoralists in the current study possess a repertoire of knowledge about their camels which, when harnessed and repackaged according to the peculiarities of their production environments, could enhance the efficiency of their production systems and livelihood.