I wish to thank the numerous healers and herders in Butana for their willingness and compassion in providing the basis of the information recorded in this publication. Special thanks are to Sheikh M. A. Hardallo, paramount chief of Butana (Shukriya) and Sheikh E. Awad of Sadda, Butana, who have hosted several research teams, including the author, over the years.
This research was possible through grants form the Dryland Husbandry Project (DHP) - Sudan - based at the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), University of Khartoum; the Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) and the Environemtnal Network for the Horn of Africa (PENHA, London, U.K.)
I also wish to thank Dr. Zariemariam Fre and Dr. Mustafa Soliman of PENHA and Dr. Tegegne Teka of OSSREA for their encouragement and assistance. Special thanks are due to Dr. Mohamed O. Abdalla, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum for his invaluable help in the preparation of the text.
