Pastoralists have been keeping animals long time immemorial and they possess valuable knowledge that has enabled them to sustain their animals for centuries (Warren, 1992). The Maasai and Barbaig indigenous knowledge (IK) and skills in animal husbandry, range management and forage plants play a significant role in improving sustainable animal productivity, conservation of biodiversity and household food security.
Pastoralists particularly the Maasai and Barbaig are qualified ecologists and specialists in both large ruminants (cattle) and small ruminants (sheep and goats), and are well versed with ethno-veterinary practices and animal health care.
The indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) among the ethnic Maasai and Barbaig are unique and dynamic in nature changing through creativity and innovativeness. This knowledge is usually preserved by adults and passed down to younger generations by word of mouth, practice and informal educational system originating from the elaborate social interaction systems among the members of the Maasai and Barbaig communities.
Women in the Maasai and Barbaig pastoral communities play a significant advisory role in all animal rearing and range management aspects (Ole-Lengisugi, 1998). They constantly provide valuable information to male heads of households about milk yields, animal temperament, maternal behaviour, prolificacy and fertility traits used for selection and breeding.
The Maasai and Barbaig pastoral systems have shown to provide good returns compared to other forms of range management in a similar environment (de Ridder and Wagenaar, 1996). Pastoralists are by any standard accomplished and disciplined range managers having an in depth knowledge of the environment and the ability to manipulate scarce resources at their disposal to optimise production (Tandigaar, 1994). Both men and women of the Maasai and Barbaig ethnics can describe every forage plants' palatability to different animal species they keep; they also understand various plants' seasonality, nutritiousness, toxicity and other pharmacological benefits (Bizimana, 1994).
