A study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding brucellosis among cattle farmers practicing open and zero grazing systems in Rwanda. The cross-sectional study was designed in which a total of 330 rural cattle keeping households were included; 198 from zero grazing areas and 132 from open grazing areas. To collect and assess data on brucellosis knowledge, attitudes and practices, a questionnaire was administered to households’ respondents and obtained data analyzed using SPSS descriptive statistics. More than half of the respondents (63.6 %; 210/330) had heard about brucellosis with significantly (p < 0.05) more respondents from open grazing study areas (75.8 %; 100/132) having heard about brucellosis compared to respondents from zero grazing areas (55.6%; 110/198). Of the respondents who had heard about brucellosis, 3.8 %; 10.0 % and 4.3 % could correctly name at least two ways through which cattle contract brucellosis, at least two brucellosis clinical signs in cattle and at least two farm animals which can contract brucellosis, respectively. A total 5.2 % among farmers, (6.6 % in zero grazing study areas and 3.0 % in open grazing study areas) were using PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) while assisting cattle in parturition or handling aborted materials. Artificial insemination was practiced by 66.2 % (131/198) among zero grazing farms while no farm among open grazing farms reported using artificial insemination. Only a total of 8 farms, all of which were zero grazing, had vaccinated their cattle against brucellosis. Majority among respondents (63.9 %; 211/330) indicated they would seek veterinary help if their animal had or was suspected of having brucellosis. Brucellosis knowledge among surveyed respondents was generally poor. An intervention training program is needed to raise farmers’ knowledge and improve farmers’ practices and attitudes regarding brucellosis.

Keywords: Brucellosis, Cattle, Grazing, Knowledge, Practice, Attitude