Profitability, efficiency and comparative advantage of African cattle meat and milk production: The case of trypanotolerant village cattle production

Trypanosomosis, a cattle disease transmitted by the tsetse fly, is a major constraint to increased meat and milk production and rural incomes in mixed crop-livestock systems of more humid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Trypanosomosis affects roughly 10 million square kilometres in 37 African countries and has caused losses of as much as 16 % and 14 % in meat and milk production, respectively. The exploitation of genetic resistance to trypanosomosis through the use of indigenous trypanotolerant breeds of cattle is one approach to the control of the disease. The approach offers potential for increased cattle production and farm incomes, and reduced imports of dairy and meat products. But under what circumstances are trypanotolerant village cattle enterprises economically viable? In this study, the profitability, efficiency and comparative advantage of trypanotolerant N'Dama and West African Shorthorn (Baoule) cattle breeds are estimated using cost-benefit analyses in five sites in The Gambia, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Zaire. All four countries are net importers of beef and milk, and are currently attempting to increase cattle production through the use of trypanotolerant cattle breeds.