Sustainable management of globally significant endemic ruminant livestock in West Africa (PROGEBE)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/3181

Part of Livestock and Fish program PROGEBE - www.progebe.net

Browse

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 15 of 15
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Transhumant pastoralism, sustainable management of natural resources and endemic ruminant livestock in the sub-humid zone of West Africa
    (Journal Article, 2014-10) Ayantunde, Augustine A.; Asse, Rainer; Said, Mohammed Yahya; Fall, Abdou
    Transhumant pastoralism is one of the dominant livestock production systems in West Africa, and it is characterized by seasonal and cyclical movement of varying degrees between complementary ecological areas. The common pattern of transhumance is moving herds from areas with pasture and water scarcity such as the Sahelian zone to areas where the forage and water are found, often in the sub-humid zone. Whereas the transhumant herds from the Sahel are mainly Zebu breeds, endemic ruminant livestock (ERL) are the dominant breeds in sub-humid zone of West Africa because of their tolerance to tsetse-borne trypanosomosis disease. These livestock fulfill different functions in the livelihood of rural communities in the region. To identify potential areas of interventions for sustainable natural resource management to improve ERL productivity, a desk study that included spatial mapping was performed to review and document the existing knowledge on transhumance in West Africa. Additionally, group discussions were held to analyze the (actual or potential) effects of transhumant herds on natural resource management and ERL in the sub-humid zone. This study covered sub-humid zone in The Gambia, Guinea, Mali and Senegal. The key question we addressed in this study was as follows: What are the key trends and changes in transhumant pastoralism and how do these impact sustainable management of natural resources including endemic livestock? The results of the desk study and group discussions showed that there have been more southerly movements by transhumant pastoralists into the sub-humid zone over the past three decades and this has contributed to growing competition for grazing resources. The presence of transhumant herds in the sub-humid zone has a potential impact on management and conservation of ERL through crossbreeding with transhumant Zebu breeds from the Sahel but only study sites in Mali showed a high risk.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Sustainable management of globally significant endemic ruminant livestock in West Africa: Guidelines for documenting plans supporting a breeding program
    (Report, 2013-12-31) Marshall, Karen
    This document is designed to assist partners of the project ‘Sustainable management of globally significant endemic ruminant livestock in West Africa (PROGEBE)’ in structuring a document detailing the plans behind their national-level animal breeding programs. It, however, will also be useful to others documenting breeding plans for developing country livestock production systems, outside of this specific project.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The potential influence of social networks on the adoption of breeding strategies
    (Journal Article, 2013-05-15) Pali, Pamela N.; Zaibet, L.; Mburu, S.K.; Ndiwa, Nicholas N.; Rware, H.I.
    Smallholder livestock farmers face challenges such as lack of appropriate fora and networks which can motivate and influence the adoption of breeding strategies in West Africa. Efforts to ensure participation of livestock owners in breeding programs such as performance recording, the use of village herd stocks for breeding programs have been documented as has the creation of livestock producer organizations to enhance effective participation of farmers in breeding programs. The study was conducted in southern Mali where livestock such as the N’dama cattle are endemic. We explored baseline characteristics from a household and community survey to determine the potential effects of individual, household and network characteristics on the knowledge and use of livestock breeding strategies. We assume that interaction amongst stakeholders results in transfer of knowledge between stakeholders. Results from the stakeholder analysis of the types of stakeholders present at the site level were used in the Probit and Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) models. Farmers’ organisations were commonly found at the village level. However, despite the presence of these organizations across sites, they do not interact with the technical organisations as often as they should hence a lower incidence of use of livestock breeding technologies across sites. Results from the models confirm the importance of networks as key determinants to improve the adoption of breeding technologies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Valuation of cattle attributes in the Malian humid and sub-humid zones and implications for sustainable management of endemic ruminant livestock
    (Journal Article, 2013-04-01) Fadiga, M.L.
    The preservation for future use of endemic ruminant livestock (ERL) depends on how these breeds are perceived by smallholders in relation to their Sahelian counterparts with a larger frame. These indigenous livestock breeds have unique genetic traits that are important to smallholders’ livelihood. In Mali, the dwindling number of purebred Ndama cattle, a breed known for its tolerance to trypanosomosis, is cause for concern to many stakeholders. Markets are the institutions through which the appropriate incentives to rear endemic ruminant livestock are identified. A revealed preference approach was conceptualized and applied to data collected on observed transactions in randomly selected cattle markets in the Malian humid and sub-humid zones. The results indicate that the body condition, the agroecological origin, and the category of the transacted animal are the three most important attributes. The importance of Body Condition illustrated by the high premium rates paid for excellent body condition combined with the relatively low discount rates for the Ndama and Crossbred breed confirms that if all maintenance costs are accounted for, Ndama cattle with excellent body condition could be as profitable as Zebu. The findings have production, marketing, and animal genetic resource management implications. The results would enable Ndama producers and traders to make more informed production and marketing decisions because they would be better informed about how the attributes of cattle they put on the market are rewarded or penalized. More importantly, while crossbreeding may lead to higher prices, selection within the breed and fattening are the best avenues that could lead to better prospects for Ndama producers. They lead to better prices while protecting the breed for future use.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Directives pour les plateformes d’Innovation: Facilitation, suivi et evaluation
    (Training Material, 2013-03-31) Swaans, Cornelis P.M.; Pali, Pamela N.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Guidelines for innovation platforms: Facilitation, monitoring and evaluation
    (Training Material, 2013-03-31) Pali, Pamela N.; Swaans, Cornelis P.M.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Traditional breeding objectives and practices of goat, sheep and cattle smallholders in The Gambia and implications in relation to the design of breeding interventions
    (Journal Article, 2012-12) Ejlertsen, M.; Poole, Elizabeth J.; Marshall, Karen
    This paper describes the traditional breeding objectives and practices of West African Dwarf goat, Djallonke sheep, and N'dama cattle keepers in The Gambia and discusses the implications of these on the design of breeding-related interventions to improve livestock productivity. Data were collected via surveys implemented within three study sites in The Gambia, where traditional mixed crop-livestock smallholder farming predominates. The surveys comprised a participatory rural appraisal conducted in nine communities and a household questionnaire targeting 238 households. Livestock-keeping households were classified as 'poorer' or 'wealthier' based on the number of cattle owned. The most important objectives for keeping all species of livestock for the poorer groups (0 to 10 cattle) was 'savings and insurance', followed by 'income' and 'ceremonial/dowry' for the small ruminants and 'manure' and 'draught' for both cows and bulls. In contrast, for the wealthier group (more than 10 cattle), savings and insurance was the fourth to seventh ranked production objective (depending on species), with the most important production objectives being ceremonial/dowry for goats, income for sheep and manure for cows and bulls. An analysis of breeding practices indicated that breeding animals are selected on criteria which partially align to the breeding objectives, animals are rarely purchased for the purpose of breed improvement, knowledge of the cause and consequence of inbreeding is low and breeding decision makers may not necessarily be the livestock owner, particularly if the livestock owner is a women. Given this, it is suggested that capacity building on breeding-related issues, particularly in relation to the selection of breeding animals and specifically targeted at the different socioeconomic groups of livestock keepers, may be an appropriate, effective and relatively low-cost breeding intervention.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The role of working animals in the livelihoods of rural communities in West Africa
    (Journal Article, 2012-09-03) Mburu, S.; Zaibet, L.; Fall, Abdou; Ndiwa, Nicholas N.
    In mix crop livestock systems, farmers derive their livelihoods using natural resources based strategies and off farm income. In these system livestock is both a source of food, fiber cash income and draught power valued in agricultural production and transport. Using the sustainable livelihood framework the contribution of working animals to income, food security and poverty alleviation is discussed in the context of rural West Africa. We use data collected in selected communities to test empirically the impact of ownership of working animals on poverty alleviation. Specifically, a poverty index is developed based on asset ownership and income from different sources including forest and off farm income. Then, this index is regressed on ownership of working animals and other important socio-economic determinants to provide evidence of the role of draught animals in poverty alleviation. Additional discussion also addresses the issues of constraints to the optimal contribution of working animals to the livelihoods and strategies to further improve the role of these working animals are highlighted.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Sustainable management of globally significant endemic ruminant livestock in West Africa: Estimate of livestock demographic parameters in Senegal
    (Report, 2012-08-28) Ejlertsen, M.; Poole, Elizabeth J.; Marshall, Karen
    This report describes the results of a 12-month retrospective survey for estimating livestock demographic parameters of endemic ruminant livestock (ERL) kept by smallholders in selected sites in Senegal. The demographic parameters estimated included natural rates, such as parturition, abortion and mortality rates, as well as management rates, such as offtake and intake rates.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Sustainable management of globally significant endemic ruminant livestock in West Africa (PROGEBE): Summary for decision making—The Gambia
    (Brief, 2011-08-15) Fall, Abdou; Ayantunde, Augustine A.; Quirós, Carlos F.; Baltenweck, Isabelle; Poole, Elizabeth J.; Njuki, Jemimah; Marshall, Karen; Zaibet, L.; Said, Mohammed Yahya; Sanginga, Nteranya; Johnson, Nancy L.; Ndiwa, Nicholas N.; Mburu, S.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Livelihood strategies in endemic livestock production systems in sub-humid zone of West Africa: Trends, tradeoffs and implications
    (Journal Article, 2011-02) Zaibet, L.; Traoré, S.; Ayantunde, Augustine A.; Marshall, Karen; Johnson, Nancy L.; Siegmund-Schultze, M.
    Rural livelihoods in West Africa depend largely on livestock. The sub-humid and humid zones of the region, however, are highly affected by the tsetse flies, vector of trypanosomosis, by severely limiting livestock production and livelihood options. Endemic ruminant livestock breeds are trypanotolerant, but perceived as inferior compared to other breeds in terms of productivity. The paper shows trends of relative decline in endemic population as a result of increased crossbreeding, largely with zebu cattle and Sahelian sheep and goats, and considerable decline in habitat quality due to forest conversion, logging activities and bushfires. The trade-offs between livelihoods and income strategies and endemic ruminant and habitat conservation are captured by an understanding of the socio-economic conditions and potential drivers of breed choices and forest use within households and communities. The paper shows that livelihood analysis is an important step in understanding impacts and therefore responses to development projects and to ensure that the poorest categories are not excluded from development interventions.