SOCIO-CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS, KNOWLEDGE, AND DOMESTICATION POTENTIAL OF THE AFRICAN BUSH FOWL (Francolinus bicalcartus) IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Animal protein deficiency remains a persistent challenge across sub-Saharan Africa due to population growth and high conventional livestock costs. This study evaluated the socio-cultural perceptions, indigenous technical knowledge, and captive husbandry potential of the African Bush Fowl (Francolinus bicalcaratus), across eight Nigerian states as a strategic pathway toward domestication. Using a multi-stage stratified sampling technique, a mixed-methods survey was conducted among 276 respondents, with data analyzed via Chi-square (X2) tests. The findings revealed that economic pragmatism overrides traditional animistic taboos, with an 85.5% cumulative majority willing to rear African Bush Fowl domestically. Across religious lines (X2 = 72.138, p = 0.000), Islamic affiliation correlated with the highest willingness (85.2%) due to its Halal classification, while traditionalists expressed high rejection rates due to ritual restrictions. Cultural acceptance (X2 = 8.505, p = 0.386) was high among the Yoruba (87.8%), Hausa (82.6%), and Fulani (75.0%) demographics, driven by the bird's market value. An educational paradox emerged (X2 = 12.183, p = 0.143), where willingness dropped to 18.0% among tertiary graduates due to spatial constraints and urban alienation. Because public interest is firmly established, immediate research must focus on overcoming technical bottlenecks, specifically optimizing low-cost aviary designs and developing localized incubation protocols to improve hatchability.