The productivity of Sahel goats and sheep under transhumant management in Northern Burkina Faso

Wilson, R.T. 1988. The productivity of Sahel goats and sheep under transhumant management in Northern Burkina Faso. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa 36: 348-355.

Results of a 2-year study on goats and sheep in northern Burkina Faso are reported. In both goats and sheep, females comprised more than 75% of flock numbers. Intervals between parturitions in goats were 312 days overall but were significantly affected by the season of the previous birth: in sheep the interval was 280 days, this also being affected by season. There were 1.08 kids born per litter in goats and 1.06 lambs in sheep: litter size in sheep differed significantly between seasons and between years of parturition. Kids weighed 12.8 kg at 150 days, there being differences due to season and parity: lambs weighed 14.9 kg, this weight being affected by season, parity and litter size. Seasonal variations in weights of adult female goats and sheep were marked, being about 12% below the overall annual average weight for each age class in June (end of dry season) and 12% above the mean in November (post rains). Annual productivity was 22.1 kg of live young per breeding goat per year, 874 g per kg of breeding goat per year and 2.08 kg per kg metabolic weight of breeding goat per year. The corresponding figures for sheep were 23.8 kg, 806 g and 2.01 g. Season had the most important influence on productivity but this was also affected by parity in sheep.