ILCA
MONOGRAPH
TRYPANOTOLERANT LIVESTOCK
IN WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA
VOLUME 2 -COUNTRY STUDIES
UNDERTAKEN BY
INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK CENTRE FOR AFRICA
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
 
PUBLISHED BY
INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK CENTRE FOR AFRICA • ADDIS ABABA
ILCA PUBLICATIONS
The International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA) is an autonomous research and information
centre, whose activities and publications are funded by the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAFO. The CGIAR members which have funded ILCA to date are the
International Development Research Centre, the United Nations Development Programme, the
World Bank and the governments of Australia, Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France,
Iran, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom
and the United States of America. Responsibility for ILCA publications, however, rests solely with
the centre and such other parties as may be cited as joint authors.
ILCA Monographs and Systems Studies are currently ILCA.s two main series of scientific
publications. Both present information concerned with the livestock production systems of tropical
Africa, though Monographs deal with aspects of systems rather than with whole systems and range
widely in subject matter, comprising several subseries.
ILCA MONOGRAPH
TRYPANOTOLERANT LIVESTOCK
IN WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA
VOLUME 2 -COUNTRY STUDIES
UNDERTAKEN BY
INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK CENTRE FOR AFRICA
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
PUBLISHED BY
INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK CENTRE FOR AFRICA • ADDIS ABABA
Thl s One
 
R568-305-96Z

PREFACE
The first volume of this report, ' Trypanotolerant Livestock in West and
Central Africa: General Study' presents information obtained by the study team
on trypanotolerant cattle, sheep and goats in an integrated fashion covering the
entire study area. Possibilities are also suggested for further evaluation and
research work on the production potential,conservation, and utilization of these
livestock breeds.
This second volume presents more detailed information on the trypano
tolerant livestock found in each of the 18 countries of the study area, Senegal,
The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Upper Volta,
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic,
Gabon, Congo and Zaire. Each chapter includes background information on the
specific country, livestock numbers and distribution, the information available
on trypanotolerant cattle, sheep and goats, research and development activities
and a selected bibliography. References which contain information on a number
of countries are listed in a general bibliography at the end of the volume and a
list of acronyms is also included.
ii
iii
CONTENTS
Preface
Page
1. Senegal 1
Background 1
Livestock numbers and distribution 3
Cattle 3
Sheep and goats 11
Research and development activities 13
Selected bibliography 16
2. The Gambia 19
Background 19
Livestock numbers and distribution 21
Cattle 22
Sheep and goats 27
Research and development activities 29
Selected bibliography 31
3. Guinea Bissau 33
Background 33
Livestock numbers and distribution 35
Cattle 35
Sheep and goats 39
Research and development activities 39
Selected bibliography 40
4. Guinea 41
Background 41
Livestock numbers and distribution 43
Cattle 45
Sheep and goats 51
Research and development activities 51
Selected bibliography 53
5. Sierra Leone 55
Background 55
Livestock numbers and distribution 56
Cattle 58
Sheep and goats 62
Research and development activities 63
Selected bibliography 63
6. Liberia 67
Background 67
Livestock numbers and distribution 69
Cattle 70
Sheep and goats 73
Research and development activities 74
Selected bibiolography 74
IV
Page
7. Mali 77
Background 77
Livestock numbers and distribution 79
Cattle 82
Sheep and goats 90
Research and development activities 90
Selected bibliography 91
8. Upper Volta 97
Background 97
Livestock numbers and distribution 99
Cattle 100
Sheep and goats 109
Research and development activities 110
Selected bibliography 113
9. Ivory Coast 115
Background 115
Livestock numbers and distribution 117
Cattle 120
Sheep and goats 131
Research and development activities 134
Selected bibliography 137
10. Ghana 143
Background 143
Livestock numbers and distribution 145
Cattle 146
Sheep and goats 153
Research and development activities 155
Selected bibliography 161
11. Togo 165
Background 165
Livestock numbers and distribution 166
Cattle 166
Sheep and goats 174
Research and development activities 178
Selected bibliography 181
12. Benin 183
Background 183
Livestock numbers and distribution 185
Cattle 187
Sheep and goats 194
Research and development activities 195
Selected bibliography 195
Page
13. Nigeria 201
Background 201
Livestock numbers and distribution 203
Cattle 206
Sheep and goats 215
Research and development activities 221
Selected bibliography 227
14. Cameroon 233
Background 233
Livestock numbers and distribution 235
Cattle 238
Sheep and goats 243
Research and development activities 245
Selected bibliography 247
15. Central African Republic 251
Background 251
Livestock numbers and distribution 253
Cattle 256
Sheep and goats 259
Research and development activities 260
Selected bibliography 260
16. Gabon 265
Background 265
Livestock numbers and distribution 267
Cattle 268
Sheep and goats 269
Research and development activities 271
Selected bibliography 271
17. Congo 273
Background 273
Livestock numbers and distribution 274
Cattle 276
Sheep and goats 277
Research and development activities 278
Selected bibliography 280
18. Zaire 281
Background 281
Livestock numbers and distribution 283
Cattle 287
Sheep and goats 292
Research and development activities 293
Selected bibliography 297
General Bibliography 299
List of Acronyms 301
vi
CHAPTER 1
SENEGAL
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Senegal lies on the west coast of Africa, bordered to the
north by Mauritania, to the east by Mali and to the south by Guinea and Guinea
Bissau. In the southern part of the country, The Gambia forms a narrow enclave
extending some 350 kilometres inland. The country, with its capital at Dakar, is
divided into eight administrative regions - Fleuve, Diourbel-Ferlo, Louga, Tine.s,
Cap Vert, Sine Saloum, Senegal Oriental and Casamance - and each of these regions
is divided into departments which are sub-divided into arrondissements.
The Direction de la Sante et des Productions Animales is under the control
of the Ministere du Developpement Rural with divisions based on the administrative
system. There are Services Regionaux de la Sante et des Productions Animales,
Secteurs and Sous-secteurs d' Elevage, and, at the local level, Postes Veterinaires.
The study area covers the three regions, Casamance, Sine Saloum and Senegal
Oriental where most of the trypanotolerant breeds are found. The regions with
their capitals are shown in Figure 1 except for Louga which was created recently.
Basic data for the country as a whole and for the study area are given in Table 1 .
Table 1. Background data for Senegal.
Whole Country Study Area
Area 196 200 km
2
111 480 km
o o
1G°50' - 11°20' WLatitude 17 20' - 11 20' W
12°18' - 16°41' 12°18' - 14°40' NLongitude N
Population
number 5 135 000
26.2/km
1 700 000
15.2/kmdensity
Livestock numbers
cattle 2 440 000 1 310 000
sheep
goats
2 660 000 1 039 000
Sources: For population, OAU, 1978: for livestock numbers, national census, 197
Figure 1. Administrative divisions, boundaries of study zone, location of research
centres and development projects.
MAURITANIE
 
__ National boundary ^p Capital
, • Administrative centreAdministrative boundaries
Study zone below this line
Research centres
^ Laboratory working on trypanotolerance and/or trypanosomiasis
£ Centre with trypanotolerant livestock as main activity
(•) Centre with trypanotolerant livestock as subsidiary activity
Development projects
▲ Livestock project focussing on trypanotolerant breeds
A Agricultural project with trypanotolerant livestock component
The three regions under study have a rainy season from June to October.
Sine Saloum has a Sahelo-Sudanian climate, with an annual rainfall averaging 600-800
to 800-1000 mm. Senegal Oriental also has a Sahelo-Sudanian climate, with annual
rainfall averaging 600 to 1300-1500 mm. Casamance has a Sudano-Guinean climate,
with rainfall averaging 1000-1800 mm annually.
According to the tsetse distribution map prepared by Toure (1971a) and a
synthesis published by OAU/STRC (1977) all of the Casamance Region is infested with
tsetse, as well as a large part of Senegal Oriental and a strip in the south of Sine
Saloum along the Gambian border and the coast. G. morsitans submorsitans is
found throughout the study area. G. palpalis gambiensis is found in dense forest
and along river galleries throughout the Casamance Region, in the south of Sine
Saloum and in the south and southeast of Senegal Oriental.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
The number of cattle in the departments of the three regions under study is
shown in Table 2, broken down according to the three breeds found in the area -
N'Dama, Djakore and Gobra Zebu. Figure 2 shows the total number of cattle in
each region and the proportion of each of the three breeds. This map also shows the
northern limit of the tsetse belt (according to Toure, 1971a) and the areas where
each breed is dominant, based on field observations.
The N'Dama make up 56% of the cattle population in the study area and about
30% of the total number of cattle in Senegal. The Djakore account for 30% of the
herd in the study area and 17% of the total population. Thus, these two breeds rep
resent slightly less than half the total number of cattle in Senegal.
Statistics in Senegal do not usually differentiate sheep from goats. The
overall figures for small ruminants are given in Tables 1 and 2. It is generally
believed that two-thirds of the total are sheep and one-third goats, and this is con
firmed by the FAO (1978a) which estimates that there are 1.76 million sheep and
0.895 million goats in the country.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTIONS
3.1.1 N'Dama
In the past, two types of N'Dama were identified in Senegal, the N'Dama
petite and the N'Dama grande (Larrat, 1948, quoted in Toure, 1977). The so-called
N' Dama grande are found in Upper Casamance in the Velingara District, which is
Figure 2. Cattle numbers and breeds distribution.
 
 
MAURITANIE
MALI
GUINEE
■ ■ ■ Boundary of tsetse- infested zone
mmm Boundary of zone where Zebu predominate
wm^m Boundary of zone where crossbred cattle predominate
1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. N'Dama x Zebu
6. Zebu
the district where the greatest phenotypic variability is observed (see Figures 3.8
and 3.11, volume 1). It is likely that these cattle in fact contain a small mixture of
Gobra Zebu, which are found in this region as well as in the extreme eastern part of
The Gambia. For this reason, it seems unnecessary to maintain the classification
of MDama grande as a distinct type (SATEC, 1973). In Lower Casamance some
animals of the N' Dama type were observed with atypical horns - short, horizontal
and flat in section - reminiscent of shorthorn cattle. These could represent an influ
ence from the Manjacas, which were reported in the past in the area next to Guinea
Bissau (Epstein, 1971). In Velingara Department, N'Dama with white coats and
black mucosa were observed. These are described as the Guinea Bissau variety in
the discussion in section 3.1 of volume 1. In the south of Senegal Oriental (Kedougou
Department), the typical Guinean N'Dama is found in almost pure form.
3.1.1.1 Performance Traits. SATEC (1973) gives data on N' Dama reproduction
parameters in Casamance. The age at first calving is given as 3. 5 years in Upper
Casamance and slightly lower in Lower and Middle Casamance. The calving inter
val is about 19 months in Lower Casamance and 16 to 17 months in Middle and Upper
Casamance. Eighty percent of calving takes place in the last six months of the year.
The abortion rate is 10 to 20%, which leads to an average calving rate of 56%.
Calves are weaned at around 12 months; castration, when it occurs, is at
about three years. Annual mortality is about 12% overall: 30% for calves under one
year, 15% for one- to two-year-olds, 5% for two- to three-year-olds and 2% for
adults. The N'Dama reproduction parameters seem to be similar in Senegal
Oriental and Sine Saloum.
Some milk production data were recorded by the Centre National de
Recherches Agronomiques at Bambey for the Bambey crossbred (metis de Bambey).
Between 1955 and 1958, 48 cows averaged 521 kg of milk over 266 days, milked
twice a day in the presence of the calf (Gaudefroy-Demombynes, 1958a).
At Bambey, the body weights of about 100 animals on improved feeding
were recorded as follows (Gaudefroy-Demombynes, 1958b):
birth 6 mo 1 yr 1| yrs 2 yrs 3 yrs 4 yrs over 6 yrs
Female (kg) 21.5 80.0 112.0 141.0 183.0 251.0 281.0 300
Male (kg) 24.0 86.0 122.0 142.0 217.0 272.0 350.0 420 - 430
At the Station de Recherches Zootechniques at Kolda, calf weights were re
corded which are presented in Table 3 (personal communication).
Information on meat production is available from a fattening trial carried out
at Dakar-Hann, in which three- to five-year-old animals of four breeds were fed
molassed groundnut husks and cotton seed over a 112-day period. A food conversion
6Table 2. Livestock numbers in the study area of Senegal, 1976 C000)
Region and Total - Cattle - Sheep Goats
Department N'Dama Djakore Zebu
Casamance
Ziguinchor 10.5 10.5
Oussouye 8.5 8.5
Bignona 113.0 113.0
Sedhiou 113.0 113.0
Kolda 170.0 170.0
Velingara 95.0 95.0
8.5 12.5
2.0 3.5
55.0 22.0
40.0 39.5
74.0 112.0
21.0 29.0
Total 510.0 510.0 - - 201.0 218.5
419.5
Senegal Oriental
Tambacounda 174.0 60.0 93.0 21.0 324.0
Bakel 130.0 - 98.0 32.0 154.0
Kedougou 43.0 43.0 - - 80.0
Total 347.0 103.0 191.0 53.0 558.0
Sine Saloum
Fatick 75.0
Foundiougne 41.0
Gossas 46.0
Kaffrine 174.0
Kaolack 64.0
Nioro 96.0
41.0
44.0
48.0
25.0 50.0 146.5
- - 157.2
12.0 34.0 52.5
87.0 43.0 99.5
43.0 21.0 79.0
48.0 - 94.3
Total 496. 0 133.0 215.0 148.0 629.0
National Total 1 353.0 746.0 406.0 201.0 1 606.5
Source : National census, 1976.
ratio (kg feed per kg weight gain) of 9.3 was obtained for the N'Dama, which com
pared favourable with the results obtained for the other breeds (Pugliese and Calvet,
1973). The results of this trial are shown in Table 4.
Table 3. Calf weights at the Station de Recherches Zootechniques at Kolda.
Year Sex Birth 3 months 6 months 12 months
nkg nkgnkgn kg
1975
1976
Source : Personal communication.
Female 17 16.7 16 44.7 15 60.9 15 94.5
Male 26 16.7 26 45.6 26 70.7 26 109.0
Female 23 18.1 20 44.2 14 68.1 2 98.0
Male 35 19.3 30 46.4 16 74.7 4 136.0
Table 4. Results of fattening trial for four breeds at Dakar Hann.
N'Dama Djakore Gobra Zebu Maure Zebu
Number of animals 10 9 9 9
Initial weight (kg) 224 236 245 223
Final weight (kg) 315 341 363 352
Daily gain (g) 809 938 1 060 1 152
Food conversion (kg feed per 9.3 8.1 7.5 6.7
kg gain)
Number of carcasses 5 5 5 5
Dressing out % 54 55 56 54
Source : Pugliese and Calvet, 1973.
3.1.1.2 Index of Productivity. Table 5 summarizes estimates of the main pro
duction traits required to build up a productivity index based on the total weight of
one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow
maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for two basic pro
duction environments, meat and milk production under village conditions in a light
tsetse challenge area (SATEC, 1973) and meat production under improved research
station conditions, also in a light tsetse challenge area (Station de Recherches
Zootechniques, Kolda, 1976).
3.1.2 Djakore
The typical Djakore found in Senegal is described in volume 1, chapter 3. In
addition, a type of Djakore was bred in 1921 at the Centre National de Recherches
Table 5. N'Dama productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Village /low Station/low
tsetse challenge/ tsetse challenge/
meat and milk meat
98 98
56 45
70 90
100.0 104.0
89.6 -
49.6 42.5
237.0 219.0
Cow viability (%)
Calving percentage
Calf viability to one year (%)
Calf weight at one year (kg)
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow per year (kg)
Cow weight (kg)
Productivity index per 100 kg cow
maintained per year (kg) 21.0 19.4
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Sources: SATEC, 1973; Station de Recherches Zootechniques, Kolda, 1976.
Agronomiques at Bambey, the Bambey crossbred. This is, in fact, a stabilized
crossbred, 13/16 N'Dama and 3/16 Cobra Zebu (Hamon, 1969). The result is an
animal which has the frame of the Zebu and the conformation and colour of the
N'Dama (see Figures 3.49 and 3. 53, volume 1). The adult male measures between
125 and 128 cm at the withers, compared with 105 to 110 cm for the N'Dama in
Casamance.
There are no figures on the performance of the typical Djakore. Some pro
ductivity data are available for the Bambey crossbred, but only under research
station conditions. Calves at Bambey from three- to eight- months- old were given
a daily supplement of up to 7 kg of millet and up to 3 kg of groundnut hay. Their
weights were recorded as follows (Nourissat, n.d.):
birth 8 months 12 months
n kg n kg n kg
Female 46 19 +0.5 19 129 + 3 15 146 +
Male 46 21 + 0.3 11 132 + 6 9 142 +
Draught power trials have been reported for 13 pairs of Bambey crossbred
oxen. The average weight of a pair was 754 + 36 kg and the average draught power
was 494 + 23 kg, with maximum effort reaching 623 - 30 kg (Hamon, 1969).
3.2 DISEASES
Information on infectious cattle diseases is contained in the government' s
' Rapport succint sur la situation sanitaire et les methodes de prophylaxie appliquees
au Senegal pendant l'annee 1976' . According to this report, no rinderpest outbreak
has been recorded in Senegal since 1968 in spite of the presence of this disease in
neighbouring countries. In 1978, however, a few outbreaks occurred in the northern
part of the country for the first time in 10 years. Only one outbreak of pleuropneu
monia has been recorded, in Senegal Oriental where there are many N'Dama cattle.
Since the N' Dama are particularly susceptible to this disease, such an outbreak poses
a serious threat. There were 14 reported outbreaks of botulism throughout the
country in 1976, an increase over previous years due to incomplete vaccination
coverage, as this vaccination is not given free. Clostridial diseases are confined to
a few areas where they continue at a low level because vaccination is not systematic.
In the study zone, the incidence of infectious diseases is not very high. Only black-
quarter, anthrax and haemorrhagic septicaemia are enzootic. Some brucellosis also
occurs, especially in Casamance (SATEC, 1973).
Parasitic diseases are often recorded, especially streptothricosis and
scabies, but only the tick-borne fevers, piroplasmosis and rickettsiosis have been
of importance. Gastro-intestinal helminths cause serious damage and are respon
sible for heavy losses among calves. These include Trichostrongylus, Oesoph-
agostorrwon, Bunostomum and Strongyloides . The association of various Stronglus
species with coccidiosis is very common.
A detailed study of animal trypanosomiasis in Senegal was carried out by
Toure (1971b). Although Lower Casamance has a relatively high tsetse challenge,
this region has the fewest recorded cases of trypanosomiasis . In Upper Casamance
and the highlands of Senegal Oriental, trypanosomiasis is not widespread, although
the incidence of the disease tends to increase from south to north. Trypanosomiasis
occurs frequently on the southern border of the Sine Saloum Region and in Senegal
Oriental along the latitude of Tambacounda. Outbreaks are seasonal, with the great
est morbidity between May and October when the tsetse population is largest due to
the rains . Animals are also most likely to be affected when they are in a weakened
condition at the end of the dry season due to food deficiencies (Toure, 1971a).
In Senegal, G. palpalis gambiensis and G. morsitans submorsitans
transmit T. gambiense, T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax. Cattle try
panosomiasis is observed everywhere that G. palpalis or G. morsitans is present,
with a greater incidence of t. vivax compared to T. brucei and T. congolense.
Analysis reveals that T. congolense is more common among N'Dama cattle and the
disease caused by this strain is more severe.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
A succinct description of herd management practises in Casamance has been
published by SATEC (1973). The people settled in this region are agriculturalists
10
with no pastoral tradition except for the Fulani. They generally practise tlevage de
cuillette (occasional sale or slaughter as needed). Among the Diolas, where cattle
are symbols of wealth and religious values, improved husbandry techniques are
generally poorly received, even when they lead to better animal health. Cattle are
used for ceremonies, particularly at the time of circumcision, and the entire herd of
a dead man may be slaughtered at his funeral. Among the Mandingo people, the herd
represents capital which is easily held, but from which the owner draws little or no
profit. The Fulani, Balantes and Toucouleurs show the greatest interest in their
cattle. They use cattle manure on their fields, participate in vaccination campaigns
and increasingly cultivate with draught oxen. These people herd their animals them
selves, in contrast to the practises of other groups in the region.
Herd management is generally the same throughout the region. During the
rainy season, the cattle are herded carefully to keep them away from the crops.
After the harvest, the animals roam freely with little supervision, grazing near the
villages on fallow land or savanna pasture. There is no transhumance as such, though
temporary movements of small groups of cattle occur occasionally. They may be
moved short distances during the rainy season to avoid damaging the crops, and
during the dry season to bring them closer to watering places. At night, the animals
are gathered near the villages in fenced pens or tethered. Non- Fulani owners fre
quently combine their herds and hire a Fulani herdsman to look after all the animals
together, paying him in milk. Thus, in Lower and Middle Casamance, all the
animals of a village are kept together in one herd, or at most two or three.
SATEC (1973) records that herds in this region average about 70 head, with
a great deal of variation. In Lower Casamance, 40.7% of the herds were composed
of less than 10 animals, while 10.4% had more than 100. Herds of average size (20
to 80 animals) were more than 69% of the total in Middle Casamance, while 14.2% of
the herds included more than 100 animals. In Upper Casamance, 63% of the herds
were of average size and 16.1% over 100. The average compositions of the herds in
the region are given in Table 6.
In Senegal Oriental, cattle are generally tended all year round by Fulani
herdsmen who keep them away from the crops during the rainy season and bring
them to the watering places during the dry season. Cows are usually milked
morning and evening, and calf mortality is high. Particularly in Bakel Department,
herds managed by the Fulani average 100 to 150 animals. A typical herd compo
sition would be 41% mature cows, 4% mature bulls, 16% calves, 14% one- to three-
year-old heifers, 14% one- to three-year-old bulls and 11% three- to five-year-old
steers.
In Sine Saloum, during the rainy season, the herds are usually kept at night
on fallow land near the village. The animals are kept in a circle, with the calves
and sheep in the middle and the most aggressive animals on the outside. The bull
is left free. The herdsman sleeps on a covered, raised platform in the middle of
the circle. Generally a wood fire is kept burning until late at night. The cows are
milked around 8. 00 h, and the herd is untied and led to the pasture between 9. 00 and
10.00 h. Calves and small stock are kept near the village, but with the expansion of
11
Table 6. Cattle herd composition in Casamance (%).
Class
Lower Middle Upper Whole
Casamance Casamance Casamance Region
Females under 1 year 15.6 15.8 14.9 14.9
Males under 1 year 11.8 14.2 12.9 12.9
Heifers from 1 to 3 years 13.8 14.6 15.9 15.0
Bulls from 1 to 3 years 7.2 8.9 9.7 8.8
Cows of 3 years and above 44.8 43.3 39.0 41.7
Bulls of 3 years and above 4.9 1.9 6.5 4.9
Oxen 1.9 1.3 2.0 1.8
Source: SATEC, 1973.
cultivation, it has become more difficult to find grazing for the animals near the
villages during the cropping season. During the dry season after the crops are
harvested, the animals stay in pastures near the village without supervision. This
period extends from January to June . The herdsmen untie the animals in the morn
ing and lead them to the edge of the village where they leave them on their own.
Around 14. 00 h, the herdsmen go out to find the animals, which walk to the watering
places independently. After watering, the herd is led back to the pasture. At
around 17. 00 h, the herdsmen return to bring in the animals and tie them for the
night. The average herd size is between 10 to 60 head and herd compositions are
similar to those observed in Casamance.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
In the three regions studied, the great majority of the sheep are of the
Djallonke type (see Figure 3. 75 in volume 1), while the goats are of the West Afri
can Dwarf type. In addition, in Senegal Oriental near Tambacounda and to the
north, some Maure sheep with short hair (Touabir), some Senegalese Fulani sheep
(Peul-Peul) and some Sahelian goats were observed.
Gueye (1972) indicates an average height of 40-60 cm and an average weight
of 20-30 kg for sheep in Senegal, and an average height of 40 cm and an average
weight of 20 kg for goats. Recently, a multiplication flock of Djallonke sheep was
started up at the Station de Recherches Zootechniques in Kolda, with encouraging
results. Weights for lambs have been recorded as follows:
12
birth 10 days 30 days 50 days 70 days 90 days
n kg n kg n kg n kg n kg n kg
Females 71 1.3 40 2.5 35 3.0 22 4.4 22 5.1 23 5.4
Males 66 1.6 36 2.8 34 3.2 21 5.5 20 6.0 17 6.7
In 1976, the fecundity rate at this station was 122%, with an abortion rate of 1.8% and
a twinning rate of 15. 5%.
Among diseases affecting small ruminants, the peste des petits ruminants
(PPR) will remain a problem for some time.
4.1 INDEX OF PRODUCTIVITY
Table 7 summarizes the estimates of major production traits required to
build up a productivity index based on the total weight of five- month-old lamb produced
per 10 kg of ewe maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for
production under station conditions in a low tsetse challenge area.
Table 7. Djallonke productivity estimate.
Production environment
Parameter 5.
Station/low tsetse
challenge
Ewe viability (%) 95
Lambing percentage 183
Lamb viability to one year (%) 50
Lamb weight at five months (kg) 10
Productivity index per ewe per year (kg) 9.4
Ewe weight (kg) 25
Productivity index per 1 0 kg ewe maintained per
year (kg) 3.8
a. Total weight of five-month-old lamb produced.
b. Estimate.
Source: Station de Recherches Zootechniques, Kolda; country visit information.
13
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
The research centres in Senegal which work on trypanotoierance or with the
trypanotolerant breeds are listed in Table 8 and their locations shown in Figure 1.
5.2 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The Republic of Senegal is at present reviewing its national livestock devel
opment policy. The country has been divided according to ecological conditions and
herd distribution into five zones: (1) the syvo-pastoral zone (Ferlo Basin), which is
planned as a breeding zone (with young males removed from 6 months); (2) the
valley of River Senegal, planned as a rearing and fattening zone; (3) the groundnut
basin, planned as a rearing and fattening zone; (4) Cap Vert, planned to specialize
in intensive industrial fattening and milk production; and (5) Casamance and the
southern part of Senegal Oriental, which is planned in three areas :-
a. South of Tambacounda and Bakel Departments and Upper Casamance, to be
a calving, rearing and fattening zone due to the lower population density and
the existence of vast rangelands,
b. Middle and Lower Casamance, with priority to be given to milk production
from MDama x Jersey crossbreds, and
c. Kedougou Department to specialise in the breeding of pure NDama. Breed
ing stock would be exported from this department to the forest zone of other
African countries.
The Direction de la Sante et des Productions Animales, two marketing organ
izations and five Societes d'Encadrement (extension organizations) are responsible
for the implementation of government livestock policy. The government has decided
that every development project covering a specific region should be centralized and
controlled by one extension organization. Thus, for the regions incolved in this
study, three extension organizations are responsible for development projects: in
Casamance the Societe de Mise en Valeur de la Casamance (SOMTVAC), in Sine
Saloum the Societe de Developpement et de Vulgarisation Agricole (SODEVA) and in
Senegal Oriental the Societe de Developpement des Fibres Textiles (SODEFITEX).
Present development projects concerned with the trypanotolerant breeds are
listed in Table 9, with headquarters locations shown in Figure 1. In addition to the
projects listed in the table, the European Development Fund of the European
Economic Community (EEC) has financed a preliminary study for an extension pro
ject to encourage livestock development in Casamance. The EEC also finances a
project in the sylvo-pastoral zone (outside the study area) and ' Operation Sauvetage
des Veaux 1978' (calf rescue operation) on the lines of a similar project carried out
in 1974.
^Table5.Researchc nt esworkingntrypa otol rancei htEyp no tb eds.
CentreNationaldeCentreRecherches
RecherchesAgronomiquesZootechniques
UnitesExperimentales(UE)
Kolda,inCasamance
Region03
2600hain18plots
Kaolack,inSi eloumRegion
(•)4
ISRA
1or2villages(anexamplesthe
UEThyssaKaymor/Sonkorong)
(Mbodji-Faye,1976)
400N'Damacattle
300Djallonkesheep
ImprovementofN'Dama
cattle,ofDjallonkesheep
andofgrazing(180h
artificialpasture).
Identificationa dcomplete
datasince1973forcattl andsince1976forsheep.
Demonstrationofthevalue
foragereserveandmin r l
supplementation.Trialsys em
ofintegratingagriculturend
livestockproductionatherural level.Milky e dsarerecord fortnightly,calfweig sm nt l
anddultweightsquarterly.
Name
LaboratoireN tionalde
l'ElevageetdR cherches
Veterinaires
Location(refer enceiFigure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Dakar-Hnn
+1
InstitutSBriegalaisd
RecherchesAgronomiques (ISRA),DGRST,Primature
Dakar
Bambey,130ke stof
Dakar<•>2
ISRA
614ha(gcrops,§live
stockgrazing)
ISRA
Breedsan
numbers
Objectivesand
activities
Vaccineproduction.With thelaboratoryparasitol gy
serviceca r esoutexperim nts
ontrypanosomiasis5rypano toleranceandtrypanotolerant
'cattle(Toure,1978).
Bambeycrossbreed(13/
16NDama,3/16Gobr
Zebu,100h ad
Mainlycropresea ch.
Animalbreedingonlyto improvetheN'Damaas
draughtoxen.S me
trialswerecarriedouto
introducetheBambey
crossbreedmowidely ininfestedareasth
south.Annualrepro ductionandweightre
cordsareavailablen
100to5headfrom1966.
ExternalAid
France(IEMVT)
LaunchedbyEEC( DF)
in1972
Ul
Table9.Developmentprojects.
Name
ProjetdeDeveloppementl'Elevage
auSenegalOriental
ProjetdeDeveloppement 1'AgricultureaS nealoum
Ameliorationde1'E evages
PaturagesdansleDepa tem nt
Bakel
Location(head
quarters)(refer
enceiFigure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectivesand
activities
Externalaid
Projectperiod
TambacoundaA5 SODEFITEX,B.P.
Tambacounda
45 AllofSenegalOriental
5000cattle(mainlyDj korend
Zebu
Developmentandincreas dutiliz tion
ofrangelandson1.4millionh
under-exploitedlanditheo theas
oftheregion.Improvementanimal
healthservicesinthregion.T a ni g,
supervisionandmo itori gfthepr
ject.Markingofindividualan malss
envisagedandsurveysofhe dcompo
sitionarebe gcar i dout.
IBRD,BADEA,Kuivait
1976-50
KaolackA6
SODEVA
AllofSinea oum
47000cattle(Zebu,
Djakore,NDama)
46000smallruminants
Integratedagricul urep o jectwithasmallliv stock
componentaimedti rov
inganimalproductionfor
meatanddraughtoxen.
WorldBank,Fra ce(C isse
CentraledeCoop ration
Economique)
195-76to915
BakelA7
SODEFITEX
DepartmentofBakel(111000ha)
16000AnimalUnits
Organizationa ddevelopmentofn
integratedpasturemanagem nt
systemwithf rbarriers,watering facilities,nimalhealthprogramme
andtrainingcompone t.
USAID
195-75
16
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bremaud, O, Beck, K, Nissen, N and Vindrinet, R (1976). La sante animale au
Senegal. Eschborn and Paris, GTZ/SEDES. H5p.
Diallo, M S (1969). 'L'elevage au Senegal. Bilan. Situation actuelle' . In Colloque
sur l'elevage. Fort Lamy, IEMVT, pp. 26-29.
Gaudefroy-Demombynes, P (1958a). 'Lactation des bovins N'Dama au CRA
Bambey'. Annales du CM, pp. 128-143.
Gaudefroy-Demombynes, P (1958b). 'Croissance des bovins N'Dama au CRA
Bambey'. Annales du CRA, pp. 121-127.
Gueye, E H (1972). 'Ovins et caprins au Senegal. Elevage. Perspectives d'avenir'.
D. Vet. Sc. thesis, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort. 70p.
Hamon, R (1969). 'Creation, amelioration et performances d'une race de bovins de
trait au CNRA de Bambey' . In Colloque sur l'elevage. Fort Lamy,
IEMVT, pp. 503-514.
IBRD (1974). Senegal: Tradition, diversification and economic development.
Washington, D.C. 341p.
Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles (1975). he CNRA de Bambey et ses
secteurs regionaux. 44p.
Laboratoire National de 1' Elevage et de Recherches Veterinaires (1965). Rap-port
sur le fonctionnement pour l'annee 1965. Dakar-Hann. 205p.
Lequien, J (1969). 'Contribution a l'etude des possibilites d' exploitation de la
production laitiere au Senegal et au Mali'. D. Sc. thesis, University of
Nancy. 241p.
MBodji, M (1973). 'L' Utilisation des graines de coton dans 1' alimentation des
bovins' . In Colloque sur l 'embouche intensive des bovins en pays
tropicaux. Dakar, USMVT, pp. 69-75.
MBodji, M and Faye, J (1976). L'Elevage dans l 'unite experimentale de
Thysse-Kaymor/Sonkorong en 1974. Bambey, CNRA, ISRA/DGRST. 43p.
Nourissat, P (n.d.). Croissance des veaux au CRA de Bambey (Senegal).
ISRA, Bambey. 43p.
Pugliese, P I and Calvet, H (1973). 'Type d'animal a traiter en embouche intensive,
resultats de quatres annees d'experience au Senegal'. In Colloque sur
l 'embouche intensive des bovins en pays tropicaux. Dakar, DUMVT
pp. 107-113.
17
SATEC (1973). Etude et definition d'un programme d'intervention en faveur
de l'elevage en Casamance. Project No. 3122-135-15-02. Study contract
No. 901. Paris, Economic Development Fund of the European Economic
Community.
Senegal, Direction de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales (various years)
Statistiques Annees 1962, 1966-1970. Dakar.
Station de Recherches Zootechniques, Kolda (1976). Annual Report. Kolda.
Toure, S M (1969). 'Elevage en zone d'endemicite des trypanosomoses. Situation en
Republique du Senegal. In Colloque sur l'elevage. Fort Lamy, EEJMVT
pp. 129-133.
Toure, S M (1971a). 'Les glossines Diptera glossinidae du Senegal: Ecologie,
repartition geographique et incidence sur les trypanosomes' . Rev. Elev. Med.
Vet. Pays Trop. 24. pp. 551-563.
Toure, S M (1971b). 'Les trypanosomiases animales au Senegal: Epizootologie et
moyens de lutte' . Report No. 1.384, 39th General Session. Bull. Off.
Int. Epiz. 76. pp. 235-241.
Toure, S M (1977). 'La trypanotolerance: Revue des connaissances' . Rev. Elev.
Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 30. pp. 157-174.
Toure, S M (1978). Rapport sur une experience de pathologie comparee entre
bovins zebus et N'Dama sounds a l'infection naturelle par les trypano
somes pathogenes. Dakar-Hann, Service de Parasitologic, LNERV,
ISRA/DGRST.
18
19
CHAPTER 2
THE GAMBIA
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of The Gambia is a narrow strip of land in West Africa on either
side of the River Gambia surrounded on three sides by Senegal. The country, with
its capital at Banjul, is divided into five divisions - Western, Lower River,
McCarthy Island, Upper River and North Bank (see Figure 1).
The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources is made up of five depart
ments, including the Animal Health and Production Department (AHPD) composed of
four sections - the Directorate, the Animal Health Division, the Animal Husbandry
and Production Division and theAnimal Industries Division. The AHPD maintains
five livestock field stations and 26 satellite sub- stations distributed throughout the
five administrative divisions.
In order to increase the effectiveness of government field work in the live
stock sector and to give local stock raisers a greater sense of participation in planning
and decision-making, the AHPD has recently begun organizing Livestock Owner's
Associations around the country. The basic objective of these associations is to
facilitate the communication of information and advice from government agencies to
the stock raisers and to allow them in turn to feed back information to the AHPD on
specific local problems and their aspirations for future development.
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1 . The Gambia has a Sudano-
Guinean climate with one rainy season from June to October. Annual rainfall
averages 1 000 to 1 200 mm. According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map
(1977), G. palpalis is found throughout the country and G. morsitans everywhere
except the extreme western region near Banjul. There are also a few areas in
Senegal and The Gambia where G. longipalpis is indicated on the map, but Tour6
(1971) claims that this species is no longer present.
Snow produced maps in 1972 of the distribution of G. morsitans submorsitans
and G. palpalis gambiensis. He concluded that G. morsitans was present through
out the country except in Western Division and in a small area of the town of Basse,
and that G. palpalis could be found near the coast and over a few kilometres on
either side of the river. In general, the tsetse challenge decreases from west to
east.
to o
Figure1.Adm nistrativediv sions,locatfresea chce es,cat lnumbersa dbr ddistri u on.
 
 
5.DwarfWestAfricanSho thor
2.SavannaWestAfricaSho thorn
3.ShorthornxZebu
5.N'DamaxZebu
—Nationalbound ry
"_~-Administrativeboundaries
River
0Capital
•Administrativecen re
Researchcent es
L^aboratoryworkingontrypan toleranceand/ortrypanos mi sis
0Centrewi htrypa o olerantlives cksm inact vity
5.N'Dama
6.Zebu
21
Table 1. Background data for The Gambia.
Area 11 300 km2
Latitude 13° - 14° N
Longitude
o 0
14 - 17 W
Population
number 540 000
density 47. 8Am
Livestock numbers
cattle 296 000
sheep 113 000
goats 187 000
Sources : For population, CAU, 1978; for livestock numbe:
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
A national livestock census was carried out in 1978 during a contagious
bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) vaccination campaign. Table 2 shows the cattle
population by geographic division and cattle numbers per square kilometre and per
inhabitant.
Table 2. Cattle numbers and distribution in The Gambia, 1978.
Administrative Division
Cattle Cattle per Cattle per
Population km Inhabitant
Western
Lower River
McCarthy
Upper River
North Bank
Total
42 221 22.9 0.24
24 444 16.1 0.59
101 010 35.6 0.99
81 517 40.7 0.93
45 732 20.9 0.48
295 924 26.2 0.59
Source: National census, 1978.
22
This table reveals that The Gambia has one of the densest stocking rates in
Africa^ Cattle numbers seem fairly stable - the stocking rate was 25. 5Am in 1973,
27Am in 1975 and 26. 2Am in 1978.
No precise census of sheep and goats has been carried out. FAO (1978a)
estimated a population of 95 000 sheep and 92 000 goats in 1977, but the government
reports approximately 113 000 sheep and 187 000 goats, giving a ratio of about 3 to 5.
3. CATTLE
Almost the whole cattle population of The Gambia is of the NTJama type.
Some Zebu and crossbreds (Gobra Zebu x NDama) are found in the eastern part of
the country, but no exact report of their numbers is available. They probably account
for less than 10% of the national herd. The crossbreds look exactly like the Djakore
of Senegal (see chapter 4, volume 1). There is no information on their productivity.
3.1 N DAMA BREED DESCRIPTION
The Gambian NDama (see Figures 3.7 and 3. 12, volume 1) is slightly taller
than the typical Guinean type. Its coat is generally lighter, with white and grey
fairly common.
Some production data under village conditions have been obtained, mainly from
surveys undertaken by Clifford (1977), while figures on the productivity of the breed
under improved management are available from the Yundum Experimental Station.
3.1.1 Performance Traits
Dunsmore et al. (1975) give countrywide data on NDama reproductive
performance . They found an age at first calving between 34 and 40 months and a
calving interval of 29 months, giving a calving percentage of 41%. Clifford (1977)
has recorded calving rates of 35% in 1974-75 and 42% in 1975-76 in a high tsetse
challenge area, compared with 50 and 60% for the same two years in a low challenge
area. At Yundum Experimental Station, under no tsetse challenge or a very slight
challenge, the age at first calving ranges from 28 to 40 months, with an average of 35
months, and the calving interval averages 13 months.
Under traditional management, the mortality rate for calves to one year is
about 30%, from one to two years about 12% and for adults about 3% (IBRD, 1976).
Clifford (1977) indicates that total annual mortality in a high tsetse challenge area
averages 20%, compared with 10% in a low challenge area. Corresponding calf mor
tality figures are 35 to 45% under high challenge and 5 to 10% under low challenge.
23
During a field survey body weights were determined under traditional manage
ment conditions. 2 302 animals were weighed using a weighband (Clifford, 1977).
The following results were obtained :-
Age in years 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5 - over
Female 40.4
46.3
98
101
154
141
153
182
187
188
191
200
244
283
221
310
310
Male
Castrate
In the same study, Clifford observes that one- and two-year-old animals
weight on average about 10 kg less under high challenge than under low challenge. He
records average adult female weights of 237 kg under low challenge and 222 kg under
high challenge .
In development project plans, average adult liveweights under traditional
management are estimated at 295 kg for bulls, 227 kg for cows, 340 kg for oxen, 113
kg for one-year-old steers, 181 kg for two- to three-year-old steers, 227 kg for
three- to four-year-old steers and 259 kg for four- to five-year-old steers.
Body weights obtained under improved management conditions from a random
sample at Yundum Experimental Station in 1976 were as follows (kg):
Age in Months Birth 6 12 18 24
Females (n:30) 20.4 97.5 130 172 190
Males (n:30) 20.4 92.4 140 181 206
During a draught power trial, a pair of oxen ploughing paddy fields achieved
a rate of 0. 03 to 0. 04 ha/hour (a person can plough by hand at a rate of 0. 002 to
0. 005 ha/hour). The oxen harrowed the same fields at a rate of 0. 065 to 0. 099 ha/
hour and levelled at a rate of 0.052 to 0.100 ha/hour.
3.1.2 Index of Productivity
Table 3 summarizes the estimates of major production traits required to
build up a productivity index based on the total weight of one-year-old calf plus the
liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow maintained per year. This
productivity index has been derived for three basic production environments, meat
and milk production under village conditions in a high tsetse challenge area and in a low
challenge area and meat production only under improved ranching conditions with no
or very light tsetse challenge.
3.2 DISEASES
Annual vaccination campaigns are carried out against rinderpest and CBPP.
The other chief infectious diseases are anthrax, blackquarter and haemorrhagic
septicaemia. An important activity of veterinary posts is spraying for lice, ticks
and mangemites with portable hand-pump sprayers. The major disease problem of
N'Dama cattle in The Gambia is anaemia caused by trypanosomes (Mclntyre et al.,
1975). The most common trypanosome found in N'Dama cattle is T. congolense,
24
Table 3. N'Dama productivity estimates.
96.0 98.0 98.0
38.5 55.0 92.4
92.560.0 92.0
95.0.
69.3
105.0
98.9
135.0
-
30.1 64.9 116.6
222 237 255
Production Environment
Parameter Village/high VillageAow StationAow
tsetse challenge/ tsetse challenge/ tsetse challe-
meat and milk meat and milk nge/meat
Cow viability (%)
Calving percentage
Calf viability to one year (%)
Calf weight at one year (kg)
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow per year (kg)
Cow weight (kg)
Productivity index per 100 kg cow
maintained per year (kg) 13.6 27.4 45.7
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
b . E stimate .
Source : Clifford, 1977 and country visits.
rather than T. vivax,h\it it appears that T. brucei is more common than was suspected.
This trypanosome was found in approximately 50% of the cases diagnosed as positive on
microscopic examination for other trypanosomes (Mclntyre et al., 1975).
An experiment comparing the responses of Zebu and N'Dama cattle exposed to
an artificial challenge (inoculation with T. brucei at three levels) was carried out by
Mirray et al. (1977). Cattle were maintained under village husbandry conditions,
tethered at night and grazing during the day. No supplementary feed was given and
they were investigated carefully prior to inoculation for evidence of pre-existing
disease. In all, 120 cattle were involved, with 48 slaughtered in the course of the
experiment for sequential pathological studies. Of the remaining 72, 29 of the 39
Zebu died from the infection, but none of the N'Dama died.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
A description of cattle herd ownership and management patterns in The Gambia
will be quoted here from USAID (1977):
With regard to cattle in The Gambia, there are two basic systems of
herd management. In one, the ownership and herd management functions are
combined in the same person or group of persons. In the other, the owner
ship of the cattle is in the hands of a single person or group of people who do
not have any direct, daily managerial supervision over them. Herd manage
ment is the responsibility of one or more herders, usually Fula CFulanfl
men who are paid by the owners .
25
In general terms, one is likely to find that ownership and direct
management of a herd are correlated with ethnic group and herd size. The
Fula who are concentrated geographically in the eastern half of the country,
are primarily herders by preference and training. They tend to have manage
rial control of the majority of the cattle in the country either through direct
management of their own cattle or hired herding of cattle belonging to other
ethnic groups . Chief among these other ethnic groups are the Mandinka, the
Wolof and the Serahuli. These groups are primarily sedentary agriculturalists
concerned with cash and food crop production or, as in the case of the
Serahuli, heavily engaged in commercial activities. While they own cattle for
a variety of reasons, they are not generally noted for their stock-handling
abilities or knowledge and thus generally depend on hired herders for stock
maintenance.
Slightly more than half of the herds in The Gambia, which commonly
number from 50 to 150 animals, are owned by a principal owner and several
other unrelated individuals . The former will often own more than half of the
animals in the composite herd. A quarter of the herds are owned either by a
single person or jointly by a single family unit, usually Fula. Slightly less
than a quarter of all herds are owned by several unrelated owners with each
having approximately the same number of animals. Owners of fewer than 30
animals are said to have a great inducement to join with others in forming
these composite herds since they find it individually infeasible to support a
hired herder from the produce of their own animals. In the absence of such
arrangements, these smaller herds are likely to be owner-managed.
The interest taken by cattle owners in their stock varies from an
almost total preoccupation in the case of the owner/manager (see Figure 3.10,
volume 1]; to daily owner inspection when the herder brings the herd
conveniently close to the village; to weekly, monthly or even yearly visits
when the owner and herder are not in close proximity to each other. In some
extreme cases owners may never see their animals but depend wholly on
reports from the herder as to their location and state of wellbeing. It seems
presently the custom in non-owner-managed herds that the hired herder has
the primary responsibility for daily management decisions regarding herd
welfare with the owner intervening only on major items like cattle sales and/or
decisions about purchases of production inputs and services.
When hired herdsmen are employed, they always receive part of their
remuneration in kind - namely milk - but many also receive accommodation
and food. An increasing number are paid an agreed sum of between US$0. 60
and $0. 90 per animal per year.
The same report (USAID, 1977) gives a description of typical cattle husbandry
practices under village conditions:
The calves do not graze with the main herd but are kept tethered in the
mornings - until the herd is out of sight - and then released. They remain in
the proximity of the tethering site with little or no supervision or care. Little
or no water, mineral salt, and/or supplementary feeds are supplied to the
26
calves on a routine basis. Apparently some substantial number of calves
also suffer from a local belief that mutilation by slashing on the flanks is
beneficial for unthrifty animals. Immature and adult animals are often
tethered without feed, water or other supplements for upwards of fifteen hours
of each day (See Figure 3.5, volume 1}. This practice is said to reduce
productivity by denying the individual animal sufficient time for grazing
during the best times of the day - early morning and late evening - and to
reduce reproductive efficiency by limiting sire access to cows in season to
short periods during daylight hours when the herd is released.
During the rainy season according to Dunsmore et al. (1976) there is
an abundance of natural forage. However, herdsmen often complain that not
only is dryland farming increasingly encroaching on their traditional grazing
areas but that cropped fields frequently are so close together as to prevent
access to what good grazing exists. Disputes and litigation over damage to
growing crops are said to be increasingly frequent. During the dry season,
the cattle and other livestock maintain themselves on the standing straws,
crop residues, floodplain and swamp grazing, and woody browse. . . .
The net result of the variable and inadequate feed supply in The
Gambia is that animals grow at a very slow rate by modern standards and
probably never reach their full genetic potential. Periods of satisfactory
growth during the rainy season each year are followed by several months of
inadequate nutrition when the animals, at best, maintain previous weight
gains and generally lose weight.
Turning to management of breeding herds, there seems to be considerable
variation in calving seasons in different parts of The Gambia. 'In some districts, the
calf drop occurs during the early months of the dry season (November - December);
whereas in other districts calving occurs during the rainy season. Both periods
would seem to have distinct disadvantages from the point of view of calf survival and
growth (USAID, 1977). Blair Rains (1975) emphasizes another important problem
affecting both the development of calves and the reproductive efficiency of the dams
the extended suckling period allowed by the herders : ' The objective seems to be to
keep the dam in lactation for as long as possible to sustain milk supply for the herder
and his family Csee Figure 3.14, volume ll. Few calves are weaned earlier than
12 months of age and many are still suckling at 18 to 24 months, when the calf is
often nearly as big as its mother.'
The management of draught oxen differs in some respects from that of the
rest of the herd. Peasant farmers are increasingly renting draught oxen for land
preparation at the beginning of the planting season, and during the dry season cattle
herds composed of as many as 40% oxen can be observed. Ox ploughing costs about
D 5.7 (US $ 3.60) per acre (0.4 ha), with one pair of oxen generally ploughing about
4 acres (1.6 ha) a day. The period of field preparation is very short - about three
weeks - and the oxen must be in good condition at this time. Although they are herded
with the other animals at the beginning of the dry season, but with bells attached to
their necks, as the critical ploughing season approaches they are given some supple
mentary feed and are even sometimes kept in the owner' s compound to be in peak
27
condition at the beginning of the rains.
There have been a number of estimates of herd composition in The Gambia.
The most recent work based on actual field samples is that of Clifford (1975),
showing marked differences in herd structures in different parts of the country.
These findings are shown in Table 4. The principal differences are higher retention
of females in some herds, a higher percentage of castrates in others, and some
evidence of different mortality rates, particularly among calves and yearlings.
Table 4. Herd composition in two areas of The Gambia, 1974 (%).
Age in Years
Sapu Area (n: 2032)
Females Males Castrates
Keneba Area (n: 276)
Females Males Castrates
0-1 8.7 7.8 0 2.5 5.1 0
1-2 10.0 8.5 0 7.2 8.3 0
2-3 4.5 4.3 0 5.1 4.7 0
3-4 4.8 3.0 1.3 3.6 4.4 0.7
4-5 12.1 2.7 2.5 7.2 4.0 3.3
5-10 17.4 0.8 2.2 18.5 2.9 13.0
over 10 9.1 0.0 0 8.7 0.0 0.7
Total 66.6 27.1 6.3 52.9 29.4 17.7
Source: Clifford,, 1975.
At the division level, estimates of herd structure are all very similar, except
for Upper River Division. The typical herd structure is 70% females, 25% males and
5% castrates, except in Upper River where herds are typically composed of 63%
females, 25% males and 12% castrates (drawn from Dunsmore et al., 1975).
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
The typical West African Dwarf sheep and goats are found in The Gambia
(see Figure 3.71, volume 1). Coat colours vary from white to tan to black in various
combinations - quite often the animals are black in front and white in back.
Macadam (1974) inspected many flocks in the western part of Western Division
in 1973, weighing and examining sheep. Mortality rates appeared to be high, with
lamb mortality possibly at about 50%. The body weights he recorded are presented
28
in Table 5. Clifford (personal communication) found low prolificacy among sheep in
The Gambia, with twinning particularly rare in areas under medium to high tsetse
challenge.
Table 5. Body weights of sheep in Western Division (kg).
Number of
Permanent
Teeth n
Adult Females
Mean Range
Adult Rams
n Mean Range
Adult Castrates
n Mean Range
2 48 21.3 11.8-33.1 31 24.5 16.8-41.7 17 25.9 17.7-36.7
4 45 25.9 17.2-32.7 9 30.8 25.4-46.5 16 30.8 24.5-41.7
6 54 24.5 15.4-33.1 2 34.5 34.4-44.0 14 31.8 23.1-43.5
8 92 26.8 15.4-44.5 1 40.8 13 37.6 29.0-19.9
Total 244 24.9 11.8-44.5 43 27.2 16.8-46.5 60 31.3 17.7-49.9
Source : Macadam, 1974.
4.2 DISEASES
A report published by the Animal Husbandry and Production Division in July
1976 identifies the major disease problems of sheep and goats in The Gambia as
peste des -petits ruminants (PVR) originating in Senegal, which causes heavy
losses among both species, sheep pox (Dermatophilus) and heartwater. Streptoth-
ricosis is widespread only among sheep (Bremaud et al. , 1976). Internal parasites
are present which do not cause mortality by themselves, but lower the resistance of
animals to other diseases . Clifford (personal communication) has never identified
any trypanosome in the blood smears of sheep or goats, even after inoculation.
However, anaemic sheep and goats are found in the field
4.3 FLOCK MANAGEMENT
The 1976 report of the Animal Husbandry and Production Division indicates
that sheep are generally herded with cattle in The Gambia, especially during the
rainy season. One family typically owns three to six sheep, which are taken out by
the children to graze during the day, possibly tethered in the fields, and collected in
the evening. Macadam (1974) reports that sheep are usually crowded into small pens
at night near the farmer's house, occasionally floored with cut palm beams. Accord
ing to the Animal Husbandry and Production Division report, families from one
village sometimes combine their animals into a large flock which is usually tended
by a young boy or a shepherd hired from outside the village. In such a situation, the
village goats are usually herded with the sheep and the flock is brought back to the
village in the evening.
During the rains, sheep are tethered in a fallow area or herded on the fallow
29
or on uncleared land. Once the crops are harvested, the flocks move freely in the
stubble during the day and return to the village or family compound at night. As the
dry season advances, sheep tend to move closer to the village areas where they are
fed household waste .
Goats appear to receive less attention than sheep. Even when sheep and goats
are herded together, the goats usually separate to graze and browse. It is felt that
goats are more prolific than sheep, but that their numbers are kept down because
they are more often slaughtered for meat.
There are some differences among tribes in the preference for mutton or goat
meat. It is generally believed that the Mandinka traditionally prefer goat meat, while
the Wollof prefer mutton because they believe it is unhealthy to eat goat meat, but
this difference is not absolute.
People in The Gambia generally give four reasons for keeping sheep and
goats: for the tabaski (Moslem feast) celebrations; as a means of saving, possibly
to buy cattle (six to ten chickens have the same value as one sheep or goat, and four
to eight sheep or goats have the same value as one bovine); to slaughter for guests;
and to comply with the custom of keeping a 'charity sheep' . This is a white cas
trated male, kept in the compound and given special food until about four years old
and then slaughtered for tabaski, but only if a replacement is available.
Sheep and goats are sometimes milked to pay the shepherd or for home con
sumption. Goat' s milk is believed to have special medicinal properties or it may be
consumed simply because no cow's milk is available. Small ruminants may also be
milked by the owner's children who consume the milk on the spot. This milk is
never sold.
5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
Three research programmes underway in The Gambia are concerned with
N'Dama cattle. These are described in Table 6.
5.2 MULTIPLICATION HERDS
An N' Dama Multiplication and Improvement Project has been submitted for
financing. The planned annual output would be about 800 young heifers for export, a
number of selected young bulls for distribution to village herds and for export, and
young oxen to be trained under the Oxen Training Scheme.
5 o
Table6.Researchc ntresa dprogramm siThG mbi
Name
Organization responsible
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectivesand
Activities
Externalaid
YundumExperimental
Station
TrypanosomiasisResearchiThe
Gambia
Location(and referencein
Figure1)
Yundum,8kmfromBa j l
•1
AnimalHealthandProduction
Department(AHPD),Banjul
200ha
210N'Dama(85breeding
females)
ImprovementofthN'Dama breed.Castrationtrialsand
studyoftheeffectdicalcium
phosphate.Identification,
breedingperformancesince 1005andweightstmon hly
intervalssince1008.
MilkRecordingSchemes
13areasind fferentvisio s
Twoareas:Kenebainthw stof
LowerRivDivision,160kmwe tof
MangaKankowithh ghtse sec alle ge,
andSapuinMcC rthyIslaD vision,70
kmwestofGeorgetown,und rli htset e
challenge.+2
AHPDAHPDwiththeparticipationof
LivestockOwners'Associati ns
N'Damaandsome5ebu
N'Damalact tingows(10c
eartaggedr ndomlyinchofthe
13areas)
Projectperiod
ComparisonofartificialtrypanosomeEvaluati nothemilkpr d c ion infectionnN'Damaand5ebucattle.oN'Damacowsund rtrad ional
Epidemiologyofnaturatrypanosomemanag ent.
infectionsnv llagecatt e.Comparative
studiesinearly1276of60N'Damaan
605ebus3sincelate1278,blood
samplesfromvillageherdsrecl nic ly examinedatregularintervals.Datah e
beencollectednabout2000animals.
ContinuationofTheGambiaGovernment/ GlasgowUniversitycollaborativetrypan somiasisresearchw rk.Partic pat on
ofILRADandFAO.
August1278toFebruary1 2
31
5.3 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Banjul is in charge of a
rural development project aimed at strengthening the agricultural extension services,
improving animal health and livestock services, supplying credit to farmers and
improving crop and livestock marketing.
A second project, The Gambia Mixed Farming and Resource Management
Project will be carried out with financing from USAID. The Final Project Paper has
already been written.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blair Rains, A (1975). 'Report on surveys of cattle owners and herdsmen in The
Gambia'. Miscellaneous Report 180. London, Ministry of Overseas
Development.
Bremaud, O, Beck K, Nissen N and Vindrinet, R (1976). 'Animal health in The
Gambia'. Eschborn and Paris, GTZ/SEDES.
Clifford, D (1977). 'An epidemiological study of trypanosomiasis in NDama cattle
in The Gambia' . Report presented at the Fifteenth OAU/STRC Meeting, held
in Banjul, 25 - 29 April.
Dunsmore, et al. (1975). 'The land resources of The Gambia and their development'.
London, Ministry of Overseas Development.
IBRD (1976). 'The Gambia: Appraisal of a rural development project' . Washington,
D.C.
Macadam, 1(1974). ' Information bulletin on Gambian sheep project' . VS/LAB/2A/(38).
Abuko, Veterinary Department.
Mclntyre, I, Urquhart, G, Jennings, F, Greig, W, Murray, P and Clifford, D
(1975). 'Report to the Rockfeller Foundation on trypanosomiasis research in
The Gambia and Glasgow' . New York.
Murray, P K, Murray, M, Morrison, W I, Wallace, M and Mclntyre ,W I M (1977).
' Trypanosomiasis in N' Dama and Zebu cattle : An experimental investigation' .
Report presented at the Fifteenth OAU/STRC Meeting, held in Banjul, 25 - 29
April.
The Gambia, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Animal
Health and Production (1976). 'Small ruminants in the Gambia' . Banjul.
32
The Gambia, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Animal
Health and Production(1977). 'Annual Report for 1976'. Banjul.
The Gambia, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rural Development
Project 1977. 'Annual report July 1976 - June 1977' . Banjul.
Toure, S M (1971). 'Les glossines Diptera glossinidae du Senegal: Ecologie,
repartition geographique et incidence sur les trypanosomes' . Rev. Elev.
M6d. Ytt. Pays Trop. 30. pp. 157-174.
USAED (1977). 'Gambia integrated livestock sector development' . Project Identifi
cation Document. Abidjan.
33
CHAPTER 3
GUINEA BISSAU
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Guinea Bissau lies on the west coast of Africa, with Senegal
to the north and Guinea to the east and south. It includes the adjacent archipelago of
Bijagoz with the island of Bolama. The country is made up of eight regions plus
Bissau, the capital. Each region is divided into three to six sectors, with 34
sectors in all. The administrative boundaries and regional centres are shown in
Figure 1. The Bolama region includes the Bijagoz archipelago.
The Department of Veterinary Services, with headquarters in Bissau, is part
of the State Commissariat for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. There is a re
gional Veterinary Services office in the main town of each region.
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1 .
Table 1. Background data for Guinea Bissau.
Area
Latitude
Longitude
Population
number
density
Livestock numbers
cattle
sheep
goats
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for cattle numbers, national census, 1977;
for sheep and goat numbers, agricultural statistics, 1975.
Most of the country has a Sudano-Guinean climate with one rainy season from
May to November. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1 400 to 2 600 mm. The
2
36 125 km
O 0
10 55' - 12 40' N
W
13°40' - 16O40'
530 000
14.7/km
166 016
25 253
74 735
£igure1.Administratived v ions,locatofresearchc ntresa ddevelopmentp jec ,c ttlenumb rsanddistribution.
 
ResearchC ntres
9Centrewithtrypano olerantlivestockasm nact vity
Developmentprojects
AAgriculturalp ojectwithtrypan to ranlivestockcomp nent
5.DwarfWestAfricanShorthorn
2.SavannaWestAfricShorthorn
3.ShorthornxZebu
4.N'Dama
-45.N'DamaxZebu
6.Zebu
35
southern area has aGuinean climate, with rainfall at the higher end of the range.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), Glossina
palpalis, G. longipalpis and G. morsitans are found throughout the country,
and G. fusca in the south. However, no information is available concerning the
exact distribution and level of challenge.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
A cattle census was carried out as part of a 1977 national vaccination campaign,
with results shown in Table 2. Though these figures are given as representing the
total herd, in fact, the vaccination campaign probably only reached about 80 to 85% of
the cattle in the country. Thus, the actual total number of cattle in Guinea Bissau is
probably closer to 200 000. About 75% of the animals vaccinated were in Bafata and
Gabu Regions in the east, and 9% were in Cacheu Region on the northern part of the
coast.
Table 2 also gives figures for the sheep and goat population. There are about
100 000 small ruminants in Guinea Bissau, with about three times as many goats as
sheep. The distribution of sheep is similar to that of cattle, with about 76.4% in
Bafata and Gabu Regions. Goats are fairly evenly distributed throughout the country.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
3.1.1 N'Dama
The majority of the cattle in Guinea Bissau described as 'N'Dama' or 'Foula'
are not of the typical N' Dama type, but represent a rather heterogeneous population.
Field observations of about 10 herds indicated that about 60% of the cattle are of
modest size (1. 00 to 1. 10 m at the withers), with very pale coats, often white with
black markings (particularly the ears) and horns of medium size (see Figure 3. 6,
volume 1). only about 20 to 30% of these animals are the typical N'Dama type and the
rest are heterogenous.
A sub-type of the N1 Dama, called ' Boenca' or ' Boyenca' was described as
nearer the typical Guinean N'Dama. These 'Boenca' are found in the southeastern
part of the country on the border with Guinea.
CO
Goats
%
15.1 15.5 14.7 15.7 26.5 2.7 6.5 6.7 150
Number 7555 1550 15960 10252 19979 2020 5115 5006 7455
%
5.5 5.4 11.6 25.4 48.0 0.6 2.5 1.7
Sheep Number
55
549
99
174
18
146 755 455 255
2 7 12 25
agriculturalstatistics,195.%
9.0 4.5 5.6 25.9 46.5 1.5 1.5 4.4 100.5
Total 05 525
966 0un
510 562
98
80 016
15 7 5
5 8
2 2 7 166
Draft Oxen 8
79 125
48 258
159 70 177 5977 2.4
inGui eaBissau,1977.
forsheepandgoats,
-
Calves 1555 705 55 55 58 251 58
55 155 11.4
Males Steers 56 501 55 54 675
207 246 601 15655 5.5
Cattle
Livestocknumbersanddistributi n
Forcattle,nati nalcensus,1977;
-
Bulls 597 550 526
208 468 18
160 81 8571 5.5
-
Calves 24un 59
679 7276 915 86 401 1000 952 15.5
Females
Heifers
1557 1240 55 6525
15255 81
55 95
9215 15.4
-
Cows 7645 585 250 2150 8557 114 185 505 574- 45.4
Table2.
Region Cacheu Bissau
Qio
Bafata
Gabu
Bolama
Buba
Tombali
Total
Sources:
%
37
3.1.1.1 Performance Traits. There is little information available on the perform
ance of the N'Dama in Guinea Bissau. Average daily milk yields of 1. 6 kg over 136
days of lactation were recorded for 21 N'Dama cows at the Bissau station, according
to the 1977 annual report of the Department of Veterinary Services. These cows
were partially milked, with the calves suckling after milking.
Ten white N' Dama cows with black ears and mucosae were measured at the
Bissau station. Their size was considered fairly representative of animals under
village husbandry conditions. Their mean height at the withers was 106 cm (with a
range of 101 to 110 cm), their mean heart girth was 138.4 cm (ranging from 125 to
145 cm) and their mean scapulo-ischial length was 122.5 cm (ranging from 110 to 131
cm). From these measurements and observations in the field, the average weight of
adult cows can be estimated at 170 to 180 kg.
A 1975 census recorded 137 527 cattle, with an annual offtake rate of 6.4%,
consisting of 3.4% sales and 3. 0% slaughter. Mortality rates reported were 3.2% at
birth and 4.6% for other age categories. These are much lower mortality rates than
those recorded in the other survey countries.
3.1.1.2 Index of Productivity. Table 3 summarizes estimates of the main pro
duction traits required to build up a productivity index covering the total weight of
one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow
maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for meat and milk pro
duction under village conditions in a light tsetse challenge area (country visit inform
ation).
Table 3. N'Dama productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Parameter VillageAow tsetse challenge/
meat and milk
Cow viability (%) 96a
Calving percentage 55
Calf viability to one year (%) 75
Calf weight at one year (kg) 90
Annual milked outfield (kg) 82.5
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 47. 0
Cow weight (kg) , 190
Productivity index per 100 kg cow maintained per year (kg) 24. 8
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Source: Country visit information.
38
3.1.2 The 'Manjaca' breed, which has been described as a Shorthorn type found in
Guinea Bissau, seems to be disappearing. A few of these animals can be found in
some herds in Cacheu Region towards the coast, and on the islands. This shorthorn
type is being absorbed: its influence is only recognized by a greater heterogeneity
in the herds of these areas, with a higher proportion of black and black spotted
animals and horns which are atypical for the N'Dama (shaped in a short crescent, for
example).
3.2 DISEASE
According to the Director of Veterinary Services, rinderpest and contagious
bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) have been eradicated. Blackquarter and anthrax are
present, and regular vaccinations are carried out. Brucellosis is also a problem.
Trypanosomiasis is not considered a major problem. No information was
available on the more common trypanosome species or the distribution of the disease.
The use of Berenil is fairly common, however, which suggests that there are cases
of trypanosomiasis, even though virtually all of the cattle in the country are of the
trypanotolerant breeds.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
Herd management varies widely from the coastal region towards the eastern
part of the country. In the western area, the Balante and Mandjako are crop farmers,
and households keep only a small number of cattle. In the east, the Fulani and
Mandingo have a traditional livestock system based on larger herds. These differ
ences are revealed in Table 4.
Table 4. Cattle herd sizes in five regions of Guinea Bissau.
Herd Size - Number of Herds -
(number of cattle) Cacheu Bissau Oio Bafata Gabu Total
250 - 500 - - - 14 29 43
150 - 249 1 - - 37 62 100
100 - 149 2 - 3 61 95 161
50 - 99 19 3 19 209 318 568
25 - 49 40 12 52 271 439 814
5-24 736 591 165 196 261 1 949
1 - 4 1 777 652 57 - - 2 486
Total 2 575 1 258 296 788 1 204 6 121
Cattle per region 15 009 7 392 5 966 48 003 76 810 153 180
Average cattle per
household 5.8 5.9 20.9 60.9 63.8 25
Source: National census, 1977 ■
39
The use of draught oxen in farming is rare, except in Bafata and Gabu
Eegions, where there are an estimated 1 000 pair of working oxen. The numbers of
oxen reported for all the regions are given in Table 2.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
The sheep and goats in Guinea Bissau are of the West African Dwarf type.
Their numbers and distribution among regions are indicated in Table 2. No per
formance data are available.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
Two governments livestock stations are in operation, at Bissau and Bissora,
and a third one is planned at Pradis. These are described in Table 5.
Table 5. Research centres in Guinea Bissau.
Name and
reference to
Figure 1
Bissau Station
• 1
Bissora Station
• 2
Pradis Station
Project
Organization
responsible
Breeds and
numbers
Objectives
External aid
Comments
Direction of Veterinary
Services, B.P. 26,
Bissau
About 100 N'Dama cattle
and a few Charollais and
Friesian crossbreds
Improvement of milk
production
German Democratic
Republic
There is a small laboratory
which should soon be devel
oped into an animal patho
logical laboratory with the
help of the US and Brazil.
Direction of Vete
rinary Services
About 150 N' Dama Planned to have
500 ha and 200
milking cows
Dairy farming
station
Switzerland
40
5.2 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
At present there are no development projects aimed exclusively at livestock,
though a number of integrated agricultural development projects include a livestock
component focusing on the use of draught oxen. These are the Integrated Develop
ment Project - Rice and Cotton, at Bafata with French cooperation (CFDT), the
Development Project - Groundnuts, also at Bafata with French cooperation (IRHO)
and including a training centre and a draught oxen component, and the Multiplication
Project for Seed-Rice supported by the FAO at Contuboel in Bafata Region (FAO
Guinea Bissau 75/039).
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
FAO (1977). 'Guinee Bissau- Synthese nationale' . Draft. Rome.
Guinea Bissau, State Commissariat for Economic Development and Planning (1975).
'Estatistica pecuaria: Inventario geral de gado' . Bissau.
Guinea Bissau, State Commissariat for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry,
Direction of Veterinary Services (1977). Annual report 1977. Bissau.
Guinea Bissau, State Commissariat for Economic Development and Planning (1977).
Anuario estatistico 1977. Bissau.
41
CHAPTER 4
GUINEA
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Guinea lies on the west coast of Africa, with Senegal and
Guinea Bissau to the north, Mali and Ivory Coast to the east and Sierra Leone and
Liberia to the south. The country, with its capital at Conakry, is divided into 33
regions, grouped under seven Ministeres du Developpement Rural (MDR). The
boundaries and administrative centres of the MDRs are depicted in Figure 1 .
Livestock production is supervised by the Direction Generale de l'Elevage,
which is part of the Ministere des Amenagements, Peche et Elevage (MAPE). Every
region has a Direction Re'gionale de l'Elevage which is responsible to the Direction
Generale at the technical level and to the regional authorities at the administrative
level.
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Guinea.
. _
Area 245 900 km
Latitude 7° - 12°30' N
Longitude 8° - 15° W
Population
number 5 695 001)
density 23.2/km
Livestock numbers
cattle 1 215 000
sheep 540 000
goats 535 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, national census, 1976.
to
Figure1.Administrativvisions,locat onfresearchentres,tlen mbersndb ddis ibutions.
SEN33L
 
MALI
Telimele,^P ta{»V/\
•|,»!*'
JI»_/.VDabolaX
,'„*^,iJDalaba■-'V•'\
I*'^-v/JrOTTTCiS^s f
I
offa,'\^/I
—Nationalbound ry
"ITAdministrativebou da ies
 
 
■liTrn>-*
MamouI/
 
31.DwarfWestAfricanShorthor
2.SavannaWestAfricanSho thor
3.ShorthornxZebu
4.N'Dama
5.N'DamaxZebu
6.Zebu
SI3RR3L3ON
VCapital
•Administrativecen r
Researchc ntres
f£Centrewi htrypanotolerantl vestockasm inac vi y
Boundaryfzonewhercrossbr dattlepredominate(•)C trewi hrypanotol rant.lives ckssubsidiaryac ivity
COT3
i'IVOIR3
43
Guinea can be divided into four distinct ecological zones :-
1. Lower Guinea (Basse Guinee), which extends 300 km along the Atlantic
coast in the west. This area covers 45 000 km , with a Quinean climate and an
average annual rainfall between 2 000 and 4 000 mm. The main towns are Boke,
Conakry and Kindia.
2. Central Guinea (Moyenne Guinee), with aGuinean climate, covering
54 000 km along the Fouta Djallon massif. The altitude ranges from 600 to 1 500 m
and the average annual rainfall is between 1 500 and 2 000 mm. The main towns are
Mamou and Labe.
3. Upper Guinea (Haute Guinee) in the northeast is the largest region,
extending over 100 000 km . The climate is S udano-Guinean, with an average annual
rainfall between 1 200 and 1 800 mm. The main towns are Faranah and Kankan.
4. Forest Guinea (Guinee forestiere) in the southwest covers 46 000 km
with a forest climate and average annual rainfall from 1 700 to 3 000 mm. The main
towns are Beyla, Kissidougou and Nzerekore.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map, G. palpalis is found
throughout the country, G. fusca in the west (Lower Guinea), G. longipalpis and
G. morsitans in Central and Upper Guinea, G. tachinoides in the northeast and
G. pallicera in the southeast. However, the level of tsetse challenge is light to
negligible in large areas of the country. Some of the relatively heavily infested areas
are : the northern part of the Fouta Djallon massif in Central Guinea, including
Gaoual, Koundara, Mali and Tougue Regions; in Upper Guinea in Siguiri and Mandiana
Regions towards the northeastern border; and in Kindia Region in Lower Guinea.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
Table 2 gives livestock numbers in 1976 for the MDRs and for the country as
a whole, according to the Direction Generale de l'Elevage.
2.1 CATTLE NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
Official estimates of the cattle population in Guinea are around 1.2 million,
though some (e.g. Mongodin, 1975) estimate 2 million head. Government sources
report a reduction in the cattle population from 1. 5 million, recorded in 1958 and 1962,
to 1.3 million in 1974 and 1.2 million in 1976.
These figures (like those in Table 2) are not based on an actual livestock
census, but are estimates produced by the Direction Generale de l'Elevage, which
44
Table 2. Livestock numbers in Guinea, 1976.
MDR Cattle Sheep Goats
Boke 185 000 74 500 91 000
Conakry 27 000 29 900 19 000
Faranah 179 000 74 400 59 000
Kincha 289 200 116 500 109 000
Kankan 183 000 81 000 50 000
Labe 290 000 116 500 137 000
Nzerekore 61 800 47 200 75 000
Total 1 215 000 540 000 535 000
Source: Official estimates.
usually revises upwards the figures submitted by the regional authorities. Even if
these adjustments are insufficient and cattle numbers are in fact greater than the
figures quoted here, the estimates still suggest that the cattle population has been de
creasing in Guinea or has at least remained static over the past few years. This
finding is surprising, particularly as it contrasts sharply with the situation in the
neighbouring countries.
The natural increase in herd numbers may be slow, but it is likely that there
are other reasons for the stagnation or decline in herd size, in particular the illegal
export of cattle to neighbouring countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast
and Mali. This illegal trade is encouraged by the rigid regulations governing formal
livestock trading in Guinea, such as fixed prices and offtake rates and the channeling
of all trade through an official board.
Table 2 and Figure 1 show the distribution of cattle according to the MDRs.
The distribution by ecological zone is shown in Table 3. This table reveals that the
Fouta Djallon plateau in Central Guinea accounts for nearly 50% of the national herd.
The human and animal populations on this plateau are relatively dense, especially in
the central area, around Labe and Pita towns.
Table 3. Cattle distribution by ecological zone.
Area
km % of total
country
Cattle Average
Number % of Density ,
National herd Cattle/km
Lower Guinea 45 000
Central Guinea 54 900
Upper Guinea 100 000
Forest Guinea 46 000
18
22
41
19
219 200
572 000
309 000
114 800
18
47
26
9
4.9
10.4
3.1
2.5
245 900 100 1 215 000 100 4.9
Source : Based on official estimates .
45
Lower Guinea accounts for 18% of the national herd, with a cattle population
density similar to the national average. However, the distribution of cattle within
this zone is extremely uneven. The greatest number of herds are found near the
Fouta Djallon massif in Boke, Telimele' and Kindia Regions. There are many fewer
cattle in Boffa, Dubreka and Forecaria Regions along the coast, and in large areas
there are no cattle whatsoever. The cattle population of Central Guinea, on the other
hand, is fairly evenly distributed throughout the zone. Upper Guinea is about twice
the size of Central Guinea and accounts for about one-quarter of the cattle : the
density of the cattle population in this zone is one-third that of Central Guinea, and
the distribution is more irregular. The cattle population is small in the forest zone,
except in the transitional regions of Beyla, Kissidougou and Gueckedou.
2. 2 DISTRIBUTION OF SHEEP AND GOATS
Table 2 shows that sheep and goats are found throughout the country, but
estimates of their numbers reported by local authorities differ widely from those of
the central government. A recent study by Latinoconsult (1977) estimates a national
population of 562 000 sheep and goats, while official estimates are double this figure.
FAO 1978a) indicates 420 000 sheep and 385 000 goats. The discrepancies in these
estimates reveal the lack of reliable information in this sector. An approximate
distribution by ecological zone is shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Distribution of sheep and goats by ecological zone, 1976.
Sheep Goats
Number % of National Number % of National
flock flock
Lower Guinea 116 900 22 108 000 20
Central Guinea 220 500 41 245 000 46
Upper Guinea 124 500 23 84 000 15
Forest Guinea 78 100 14 100 000 19
540 000 100 537 000 100
Source: Official estimates.
3. CATTLE
3 . 1 BREED DESCRIPTION
Most cattle in Guinea are of the N'Dama breed. About 5% are Zebu crosses,
called Mere, found particularly in Siguiri Region and also in Kankan Region of Upper
Guinea.
46
3.1.1 Guinean N' Dama
The appearance of the Guinean N'Dama varies considerably, as described in
detail by Ducos (1961). Only the general traits and the most important variations
observed in the field will be described here. (See Figure 3.9, volume 1).
In Lower Guinea and near the northeastern border in Gaoual and Koundara
Regions, the appearance of the cattle is fairly uniform. The animals are relatively
large (110 to 115 cm at the withers) with large horns, often of classical lyre shape.
Their coats are generally light coloured as in the classical type, but pale yellow to
light fawn, and the mucosa are also light. About 80 to 90% of the animals in these
areas are of this type.
In Central Guinea (Fouta Djallon), which is considered the cradle of the
N'Dama breed, the animals are smaller (100 to 110 cm at withers) and more hetero
geneous in appearance. About two-thirds have self coloured coats, varying in shade
from pale yellow to brown, and there are also black, white and pied animals. The
size and position of the horns vary considerably. They are not necesarily long: a
medium crescent is common, and 2 to 3% of the animals are hornless.
The animals in Upper and Forest Guinea tend to be larger than those of Fouta
Djallon. Their coats are generally darker. Most of the animals are brown, but about
10% are multicoloured with a white background.
3.1.1.1 Performance Traits. Cattle performance in Guinea is generally very low.
According to the Latinoconsult study (1977), the calving rate is 66% . The annual
mortality rate for calves below one year is 30 to 40%, for calves one to two-years it
is 10% and for adult animals 5%. Weights gains average approximately 40 kg/year,
and average carcass yield is 45%.
3.1.1.2 Index of Productivity. Table 5 summarizes estimates of the main pro
duction traits required to build up a productivity index covering the total weight of
one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow
maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for meat and milk pro
duction under village conditions in a light tsetse challenge area.
3.1.2 Zebu x N'Dama Crossbreds or 'Mere'
The ' Mere' are found in Upper Guinea near the Mali border and in the Niger
River valley, in Kankan and particularly in Siguiri Region. The only Zebus are
bulls imported from Mali which are used to produce the crossbreed. The Malinke
people in this area carry out crossbreeding largely because the ' Mere' tend to be
heavier and more sturdily built than the local N' Dama and thus make better draught oxen.
3.1.3 Exotic Cattle
A number of imported purebred cattle are kept on government breeding stations.
At present, the most important exotic breed is the Red Steppe (Krasnaya Steppnaya),
47
imported from the USSR. These animals are bred as purebreds and as crosses on
state farms at Ditinn and Famoyla. Jersey, Ayrshire and Friesian, imported from
Bulgaria, are kept at the Institut de Recherches Agronomiques de Foulaya.
Table 5. N'Dama Productivity Estimates.
Production Environment
VillageAow
tsetse challenge/
meat and milk
Cow viability (%) 95
Calving percentage 66
Calf viability to one year (%) 65
Calf weight at one year (kg) 90
Annual milked out yield (kg) 99
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 50. 6
Cow weight (kg) 225
Productivity index per 100 kg cow maintained per year (kg) 22. 5
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Source : Information obtained during country visit.
3.2 DISEASES
Rinderpest has practically disappeared in Guinea, with no outbreaks for the
past ten years. Contagious bovine plueropneumonia (CBPP) is still a major problem,
though the incidence of this disease has decreased due to a prevention campaign
carried out by the government with the collaboration of FAO. This disease is par
ticularly widespread in Upper Guinea and occurs occasionally in Forest Guinea, but
not in Central or Lower Guinea. Anthrax, blackquarter and pasteurellosis are wide
spread, particularly in Central Guinea (Fouta Djallon).
Gastro-intestinal parasites are common. They cause serious problems,
particularly mortality among calves.
Trypanosomiasis is generally not a serious problem among cattle in Guinea due
to the tiypanotolerance of the N'Dama. However, the incidence of trypanosomiasis is
high in Madiana and Siguiri Regions of Upper Guinea and in Koundara, Tougue and
Dabola Regions at the edge of the Fouta Djallon massif.
48
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
3.3.1 Cattle Husbandry
Cattle husbandry practises in Guinea have been described by several authors,
including Balde (1939) and Diallo (1965). Traditional management systems vary among
ethnic groups . The largest of these groups are the Malinke in Upper Guinea, the Fulani
in Central Guinea and the Soussou in Lower Guinea. The Fulani and Malinke play an
important role in livestock production throughout West Africa, though livestock manage
ment practises differ to some extent between the Fulani of Fouta Djallon and those
elsewhere .
Transhumance has become rare in Guinea, except in Lower Guinea and the
areas north and west of the Fouta Djallon plateau. People still move between the
Telimele. plateau during the rainy season and the Lower Guinea plains of Boke and
Boffa Regions during the dry season. In densely populated agricultural areas, the
herds are sometimes moved short distances during the growing season to keep them
from damaging the crops. During this period, they are herded during the day and kept
in pens at night, but during the dry season they are left to graze relatively freely. In
some areas the herds roam without supervision; in others they are maintained under
varying degrees of control.
The cows are milked regularly during the rainy season, and when possible
during the dry season as well. In Fouta Djallon, milking is nearly always done by
women. In areas where the animals are looked after by a hired herdsman, he gener
ally milks them and traditionally keeps the milk for himself two days a week, though
this custom appears to be dying out. Milk is not only important in terms of family
consumption, but also the sale of fresh and curdled milk is an important source of
income.
Under intensive farming systems in Fouta DjaUon, women gather manure and
s pread it on the fields . During the dry season, the cattle are kept at night in
enclosures, called 'tapades' which are fertilized in this way and then used for crop
production. During -transhumance, the manure left by the herds sometimes serves as
a form of payment to farmers who allow the animals to graze on their land.
The people in Forest Guinea do not have a tradition of keeping cattle, and the
animals in this zone tend not to be as well looked after as those in other parts of the
country. However, these cattle are generally of a good size and healthy appearance,
probably due to an abundance of grazing and the fact that they are not milked.
Two mixed farming systems can be identified in Guinea in which cattle play
an important role. In Upper Guinea, crop production is based to a large extent on
the use of draught oxen. High quality beef is also produced when the animals are
slaughtered young. In Fouta Djallon, crop and livestock production are well
integrated, with cattle providing manure for the 'tapades' and in turn grazing on crop
residues such as eleusine straw and others.
49
3.3.2 Herd Size and Composition
According to Hamon (1967), households generally own about 5 to 15 cattle,
while herds usually contain animals belonging to a number of households. In Fouta
Djallon herds tend to be smaller than in Lower and Upper Guinea. The Latinoconsult
study (1977) reported the figures on herd sizes in Central and Upper Guinea given in
Table 6 which indicate differences between the two zones .
Table 6. Herd sizes in Central and Upper Guinea.
Central Guinea - . Upper Guinea -
Tougue, Mali Gaoual Boke Kindia
No. of Cattle No. of %of No. of %of No. of %of No. of %of
in Herd Herds Total Herds Total Herds Total Herds Total
1-10 523 80 5 646 80 1 373 71 290 54
11- 50 130 20 1 328 19 489 25 232 43
51 and above 87 1 81 4 15 3
Total 653 7 061 1 943 537
Source : Latinoconsult, 1977.
The Latinoconsult study (1977) also reports herd composition figures from a
survey of 3 000 cattle in the four ecological zones. Herd composition percentages
derived from this Study are presented in Table 7.
Table 7. Cattle herd composition by ecological zone (percent).
Lower Guinea Central Guinea Upper Guinea Forest Guinea
Cows 40 41 33 36
Calves 27 20 18 19
Heifers 16 25 26 29
Young bulls 15 8 7 9
Bulls 1 4 7 4
Oxen 1 2 9 3
Total 100 100 100 100
Source : Latinoconsult,, 1977.
50
3.3.3 Draught Oxen
Draught oxen have been used in Guinea for some time. Diallo (1965) reports
that the Fulani of Fouta Djallon have been using ploughs since 1925. Draught oxen
are now used particularly widely in Upper Guinea, and it is because of this that the
herds in that zone show a higher percentage of males than elsewhere in the country
(see Table 7). According to official statistics, as well as Hamon (1967), the males
in the herds of Central Guinea and Upper Guinea can be categorized as follows :
a b
Central Guinea Upper Guinea
Draught oxen 1.7% 14.6%
Non-draught oxen 2.8% 1.0%
Bulls 3.9% 5.8%
Total adult males in herd 8.4% 21.4%
a. Mamou, Telimele', Gaoual, Pita, Mali and Tougue Regions.
b. Siguiri, Dabola, Kankan and Kouroussa Regions.
The 1973 annual report of the Direction de 1' Elevage also includes figures on
teams of two oxen, as well as the total cattle population, for a number of regions.
These are reproduced in Table 8.
Table 8. Cattle population and ox teams in nine regions.
Teams of Two Oxen Cattle
Kindia (Lower Guinea)
Labe (Central Guinea)
Pita (Central Guinea)
Dabola (Upper Guinea)
Faranah (Upper Guinea)
Kankan (Upper Guinea)
Kouroussa (Upper Guinea)
Siguiri (Upper Guinea)
Beyla (Forest Guinea)
Source : Guinea, Direction de 1' Elevage.
86 57 000
400 57 800
1 177 66 700
3 638 36 700
1 834 35 400
6 707 64 300
5 007 44 700
2 000 65 500
1 500 51 800
51
4- SHEEP AND GOATS
The sheep in Guinea are of the dwarf Djallonke breed, with average body
weights of about 20 kg, though the sheep in Upper Guinea tend to be much larger than
elsewhere in the country. The West African Dwarf goats weigh on average about 15
kg. Flock productivity is low, especially among sheep, due to high mortality rates.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
All animal husbandry research in Guinea is focused on the improvement of
N'Dama milk production by crossbreeding with exotic animals. There is little
research on pasture production or on small ruminants. Three research centres in
the country are described in Table 9, and their locations are shown in Figure 1.
5.2 MULTIPLICATION HERDS
Studies are being carried out on the possibility of opening two selection
centres for N' Dama cattle, one in Lower Guinea in Boke Region and the other in
Upper Guinea between Kissidougou and Kankan. This project is funded by FAO/UNDP
(Project No. GUI/74/022).
The World Bank is carrying out a feasibility study for an N'Dama selection
and multiplication project to follow up a preliminary study carried out by Latinocon-
sult. The objectives are to improve animal health and zootechnical services, to
establish a rearing and fattening ranch and to establish pilot centres for cattle breed
ing. There would also be project components for training, pig farming and animal
nutrition.
These FAO and World Bank projects may possibly be coordinated in a common
programme of selection, multiplication and production of the N'Dama breed.
01 to
Table9.Researchc ntresinGuinea.
Name
Fermed*EtatDi inn
Fermed'EtateFamoyla
Location(reference55kmf omDalaba(Kind a
inFigure1)MDR)CentralGuinea,
FoutaDjallon•1
Organization
responsible
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectivesand
activities
25kmfromBeyla(NzerokoreMDR)
inthesavannaofForestGuin aata
altitudeof1000m•2
MinisteredesAme agements,Minist rdAme agements,Pgch
P§cheetElevageElevage
approximately600ha,alf
ofwhichiscultivated
450in1976,505975:79
N1Dama,147RedSt ppean
79crossbreds
Geneticimprovementof
N'Damaformilkproduction.
Itisintendedtontroducehe RedSt ppe,31STDamacross breds,dinters ,oth
'Centresd'Accouplem nt'
(matingcentres).
45hainuse(1000avail ble)
550,includingN'DamaReSteppe
andcrossbreds(Ap il1975)
GeneticimprovementN'Dama
throughcrossbreeding(asatDitinn). Improvementofcattlefeedingbyro
ductionofforage(maize,et .).
Training:livestockfacultyof150
studentsisassociatedwiththfarm
(2-yeartrainingforagricultural
assistants).
InstitutNationaldeRecherches
AgronomiquesdeFoulaya(INRAF)
1551*— nearKindia
(•)5
Secretariatd'E atalRech rche
Scientifique
5000ha
INRAFhasimportednumberof
cattleforcr ssingwi htheN'Dama:
Jersey,AyrshireHolste nimported
between1972and76.
Thisist ema nnationalagricultural researchin titute,associatedwi h
FacultyofAgronomy.Workwith cattlefocusesnN1Damaimprove ment,mainlyforilkproduction.
Externalaid
USSR
USSR
Bulgaria
53
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Balde, S (1939). 'L'Elevage au Fouta Djallon' . Bull. Inst. Fran. Afrique noire.
pp. 630-644.
Diallo, A M (1965). 'Le boeuf dans la societe Peulh du Fouta-Djallon' . D. Vet.
Sc. thesis, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort, 59p.
Doutressoulle, G (1938). 'Le croisement Tarentais-N' Dama en Gulnee francaise'.
Bull. Serv. loot. Epiz. AOF. 1 (4), pp. 6-17.
Ducos, P (1961). 'L'Elevage en Guinee et la structure genetique de la race N'Dama'.
Bull. Inst. Fran. Afrique noire. 23 (3), pp. 886-901.
Guinea, Direction Generale d'Elevage. (1973). Rapport Annuel. Conakry.
Hamon, J L (1967). 'Rapport au Gouvernement de la Guinee sur le role de l'elevage
dans le progres de l'economie agricole' . Rapport No. AT 2333. Rome, FAO.
Latinoconsult S A (1977). 'Republique de Guinee. Projet de developpement de
1' elevage' . Conakry .
Mongodin, B (1975). 'Projet pour 1' etude, la selection et la multiplication de la race
bovine N'Dama de Guinee'. Rapport de mission. Maisons-Alfort, IEMVT,
20 p.
54
55
CHAPTER 5
SIERRA LEONE
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Sierra Leone lies on the west coast of Africa, with Guinea to
the north and east and Liberia to the south. The country is divided into three pro
vinces plus a small Western Area including the Freetown penninsula and the capital,
Freetown. The provinces are made up of 12 districts as follows :-
Province
or Area Capital Districts (with headquarters if different)
Southern
Eastern
Northern
Bo
Kenema
Moken
Bo, Bonthe (Matru), Moyamba and Pujehun
Kailahun, Kenema and Kono (Sefadu)
Kambia, Bombali (Makeni), Koinadugu (Kabala), Port
Loko and Tonkolili (Magburaka)
Western Area Freetown
Livestock services are provided by the Veterinary Division of the Ministry of
Natural Resources, formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
with regional offices in all the provinces. For the provision of livestock services,
the Northern Province is divided into northeastern (Kabala) and northwestern (Teko-
Makeni) sections.
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1 .
Sierra Leone has a humid tropical rainforest climate, with a rainy season
from April to November. The annual rainfall averages between 2 000 and 5 000 mm.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), the whole country-
is infested with G. palpalis and G. fusca. G. longipalpis and G. morsitans
are found in the north and G. nigrofusca and G. pallicera pallicera in the east.
No further information on the tsetse distribution in Sierra Leone was collected. How
ever, it appears that in the northern half of the country, the challenge is low and try
panosomiasis is not a major problem.
56
Table 1. Background data for Sierra Leone.
Area
Latitude
Longitude
Population
number
density
Livestock numbers
cattle
sheep
goats
72 300 km
o o
7 - 10 N
10°- 13° 30' W
3 053 00.
42. 2Am'
207 100
47 400
112 100
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, Veterinary Division
estimates, 1978.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
There has been no recent cattle census in Sierra Leone. Official estimates
are still based on figures collected during the joint vaccination campaign (JP 15)
carried out in 1967/68. At that time, 163 329 animals were vaccinated and FAO
(1971) derived from this figure an estimate of the total cattle population at 204 855
which has been widely used since then. The distribution of cattle throughout the
country is very uneven, as shown in Table 2 and Figure 1. Two districts in North
ern Province account for more than 80% of the national herd - Koinadugu with 52%
and Bombali with 32% (FAO, 1971). More recently, the number of cattle has in
creased in the south, from 2 036 in 1968/69 (FAO, 1971) to 8 600 in 1978, i.e. from
1 to 4% of the national herd.
Table 2. Livestock distribution in Sierra Leone.
Province or Cattle Sheep Goats
Area Number %of
Total
Number %of
Total
Number %of
Total
Southern 8 600 4.1 14 800 31.2 42 300 37.7
Eastern 11 800 5.7 11 200 23.6 25 300 22.6
Northern 186 700 90.2 21 200 44.8 42 200 37.6
Western Area 200 0.4 2 300 2.1
Total 207 100 100.0 47 400 100.0 112 100 100.0
Source : Veterinary Division estimates, 1978.
57
Figure 1. Administrative divisions, location of research centres and development
projects, cattle numbers and distribution.
 
 
GUINEE
LIBERIA
—— National boundary
Administrative boundaries
9 Capital
• Administrative centre
Research centres
£ Centre with trypanotolerant livestock as main activity
\_) University farm with trypanotolerant livestock
Development projects
A Agricultural project with trypanotolerant livestock component
1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. N'Dama x Zebu
6. Zebu
58
Sheep and goats are distributed more evenly throughout the country, with about
one-third in Southern Province. There are more than twice as many goats as sheep
and approximately twice as many cattle as goats . Trends in the sheep and goat
population are not known, but it is likely that they are more numerous than indicated
in the official estimates .
A recent aerial survey carried out by the consultants for the National Live
stock Development Study suggests that the total livestock numbers in the country may
be significantly higher than the quoted figures.
3. CATTLE
3.1 N' DAMA BREED DESCRIPTION
All the cattle in Sierra Leone belong to the N'Dama breed. They are
generally of the classical N'Dama type, but with uniformly pale coats, varying in
shade from yellow to fawn. A small number of Sahiwals have been imported from
Kenya and bred as pure and crossbred types at Teko Station, but are not described
here.
3.1.1 Performance Traits
Touchberry (1967) gives a good deal of precise data on N'Dama performance
at the Musaia Stock Farm from the period 1949 to 1965. It must be kept in mind that
all these figures were obtained under research station conditions.
Concerning reproduction performance, Touchberry (1967) recorded an
average age at first calving of 39.4 months for 231 cows at Musaia. Under village
conditions, the typical age at first calving is from three to four years (FAO, 1971).
The average calving interval at Musaia was 407 days, with a range of 267 to 1 062
days. Under village conditions, the calving interval may be as low as 12 to 14 months,
but usually it is closer to 16 months (Holt, 1973). The average lifetime production
for the cows at Musaia was 3.7 calves. In the village herds, the calving season
extends from November to March. At Musaia, the season is longer, but 67% of the
cows calve between September and February.
Touchberry (1967) recorded an annual mortality rate of 7% for animals under
two years old. Mortality rates tend to be higher under village conditions: Holt (1973)
reports 23.5% mortality from birth to one year, accompanied by a 5% abortion rate.
Partial milking in village herds gives a daily milk yield of 0. 6 litres per cow
(FAO, 1971). The FAO report also quotes a study by Jones (1953) of milk yields
under station conditions which averaged 2 kg per day, as shown in Table 3.
Figures reported for body weights of N'Dama in Sierra Leone vary widely.
Touchberry (1967) reports the following weights for animals of various ages at
Musaia Stock Farm (kg):
Age (mo) Birth 6 9 12 18 24 36 48
Females 15 70 89 101 128 162 207 219
Males 17 75 96 109 132 164 220 277
59
Table 3. Milk production by N'Dama cows at Teko Station and Musaia Stock Farm,
1944 to 1952.
Station or Farm Year
Av. No. Cows
in Milk
Av. Lactation Av. Milk Yield
(days) per Lactation (kg)
Teko 1944 8
Teko 1945 9
Teko 1946 8
Teko 1947 9
Teko- Musaia 1948 10
Musaia 1949 10
Musaia 1950 11
Musaia 1951 12
Musaia 1952 17
152 177
203 327
337 489
294 503
285 556
263 626
237 523
197 420
136 365
Overall 94 225 442.7
Source : Jones, 1953, quoted in FAO, 1971.
Joshie et al. (1957) report much higher weights from Musaia: 136 kg for males
and 138 kg for females at 1 year, 220 and 151 kg at 2 years and 363 and 238 kg for
adults. Boston gives weights recorded at Niala University College farm from 1944 to
1951 in kg as follows (quoted in Holt, 1973):
Age/Sex
Natural pasture
Improved pasture
Birth 6 mo. 2 yr Adult male Adult female
17
20
75
95
145
220
311
390
235
310
Fattening trials with N' Dama cattle were carried out at Njala University
College farm. These showed that daily weight gains over a period of about two
months increased from 0.33 kg on pasture only to 0.49 kg on pasture plus supple
mentary wheat flour and rice .
Table 4. Results of fattening trials at Njala University College farm.
met
Wheat Flour Wheat Flour Pasture, Wheat Pasture ad
Only and Rice Only Flour and Rice Libitum plus
Minerals
Average age (days) 375 436 490 557
Initial weight (kg) 130 122 141 174
Final weight (kg) 122 141 174 183
Average daily change (kg) -0.14 0.35 0.49 0.33
Source: Boston, quoted in Holt, 1973.
60
Liveweight, carcass weight and dressing out percentages are reported for
animals slaughtered at Musaia and at the Njala University College abattoirs. These
figures are given in Table 5.
Table 5. Liveweight, carcass weight and dressing out percentages at Musaia and
Njala University College abattoir, 1970-72.
Musaia Farm Njala University College Abattoir
51 Males
3 Females Bulls Steers Cows
Number 54 233 149 72
Estimated age (yrs) 3.3 4.5
199+37
4 7
b
205+38
5.8
190+22Liveweight (kg) 232
Carcass weight (kg) 97
Dressing out % (cold) 41.6 47-3 48+3 45^3
a. Cattle purchased on the hoof throughout the country and also from Guinea.
b. After 18-hours starvation.
Sources : For Musaia, Touchberry, 1967; for Njala, Boston et al. , 1975.
3.1.2 Index of Productivity
Table 6 summarizes estimates of the main production traits required to build
up a productivity index covering the total weight of one-year-old calf plus the live-
weight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow maintained per year. This pro
ductivity index has been derived for meat production under station conditions in a
light tsetse challenge area (Touchberry, 1967).
Table 6. Nf Dama productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Station/low tsetse
challenge/meat
Cow viability (%) 98
Calving percentage 78. 2
Calf viability to one year (%) 93
Calf weight at one year (kg) 105
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 77.1
Cow weight (kg) 238
Productivity index per 100 kg cow maintained per
year (kg) 32.4
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Source : Touchberry, 1967.
61
3.2 DISEASES
According to Kamara (1978), rinderpest and contagious bovine pleuro
pneumonia (CBPP) have not been a problem since the 1966/67 joint vaccination
campaign (JP 15), which was accompanied by follow-up measures extending until 1974.
There are a few fairly localized seasonal cases of blackquarter and anthrax, and
annual vaccinations for these diseases are still carried out. Streptothricosis and
demodectic mange cause problems for imported animals, but NDama are resistant
to these diseases.
Helminthiasis is an important limitation on meat production. The most fre
quent parasites are Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus, Bunostomum,
Gaigeria, Strongyloides and Ascaris, particularly in calves .
Trypanosomiasis occurs, even among the N'Dama. These animals are more
likely to become susceptible to this disease when they are under stress from other
diseases or undernourished during the dry season.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
Most of the cattle in Sierra Leone belong to Fulani who have come from
Guinea. These people have tended to keep their traditional livestock management
systems in all the neighbouring countries which they inhabit.
Generally, the stock keepers do not own their own land, but rent land from the
sedentary population through the local chiefs. They move from time to time in search
of better grazing. Even the herds belonging to sedentary groups may be moved short
distances, with the night pens reestablished occasionally in a new location.
Cattle tend to graze on the hills during the rains and in the lowlands and cultivated
areas during the dry season. The cattle are kept in wari at night and are milked
regularly. Among the Fulani, cattle are usually tended by the owner or a member of
his family; outside herders are seldom employed. Other people who own cattle tend
to hire Fulani herders. According to the 1971 FAO report, the average herd consists
of 20 to 30 cows. In the north the herds tend to be larger, with a maximum of 50 to
150 head (see Figure 3.40, volume 1).
From 1930 to 1950, the use of oxen as draught animals was encouraged, and a
number of farmers actually began using oxen in Bombali District. However, this
practice subsequently declined (FAO, 1971).
A programme to settle the Fulani was carried out between 1953 and 1968 in
Koinadugu District, called the ' Foula Settlement Scheme in the Koinadugu District' .
Seven-year renewable leases were granted on tracts of about one square mile (259 ha)
for every 100 cows and their female calves, with the agreement of the local authorities.
The Fulani were meant to keep their animals on their rented land most of the year, but
were allowed to move elsewhere at the end of the dry season. The Agriculture Division
of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources supervised the programme with
the agreement of the local chief who received one-third of the rent.
62
This programme cannot be judged a success, as only 80 to 100 Fulani
families were settled out of a total of 1 000 to 2 000. The FAO report (1971) cites a
number of reasons for this failure. For one thing the rents charged under the pro
gramme were higher than what the Fulani might have been paying for the use of
pasture land elsewhere. Also, the tracts of land which were rented were too small,
which led to overgrazing due to permanent overstocking. Finally, the government
extension and veterinary services were insufficient.
In Kailahun District of Eastern Province, the local farmers keep small herds
of cattle, estimated at about 3 000 head in all. The husbandry system here is quite
different from that of the Fulani. The herds are smaller, averaging about 30 head,
and are formed by combining the animals of several different owners. Cows are
seldom milked, and the herds are penned during the harvest season.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
The small ruminants in Sierra Leone are of the typical West African Dwarf
breeds - Djallonke sheep and Guinean goats, (see Figure 3.74, volume 1).
The average weight of adult sheep is about 20 to 30 kg and of adult goats about 20 to 25 kg.
Although small ruminants have been bred at various stations, there is little
information on their productivity. FAO (1971) reports the age at first lambing of
local sheep kept at Musaia as 15 to 18 months and prolificacy as 141%, with two
lambings a year. These data indicate high potential fertility, but there are also high
annual mortality rates among lambs, ranging from 16 to 67%, depending on the year.
Sheep breeding trials carried out at the stations have not been a success.
FAO (1971) quotes a 1945 report of the Department of Agriculture as follows:
'Experience with local sheep over several years at Njala and Teko indicates that they
are completely uneconomic under any treatment. They are of poor conformation, slow
growing and very subject to disease.'
At Teko Station, milk production from local goats averaged 25 kg over a lact
ation of 56 days. Lactations ranged from 24 to 111 days, with a maximum yield per
lactation of 46 kg.
Although tolerant to trypanosomiasis, the sheep and goats in Sierra Leone are
sensitive to a number of other diseases. These include internal parasites, heart-
water and foot rot.
Small ruminants are generally kept for home meat consumption and are not
sold commercially. They are usually slaughtered for traditional ceremonies. House
holds generally keep only a few sheep and goats, except the Fulani in the north whose
flocks tend to be larger. Sheep and goats are sometimes tethered to prevent damage
to crops.
63
5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
There are three main centres in Sierra Leone which carry out research and
multiplication activities with N'Dama cattle and with local sheep and goats. These
are depicted in Table 7.
Two development projects are underway in the livestock sector. The
Koinadugu Integrated Agricultural Development Project in Koinadugu District, with
headquarters at Kabala, has its objectives to redevelop the Musaia Stock Farm, to
carry out a training programme in the use of draught oxen and to establish three
ranches. Financial support is from the European Development Fund (EDF) of the
European Economic Community (EEC) and technical assistance from Carl Bro of
Denmark. The project period is 1978 to 1982. The location is shown in Figure 1
by a 4.
A Northern Integrated Agricultural Development Project (NIADP) with head
quarters at Makeni (shown by a 5 in Figure 1) has a small livestock component.
The aims are to investigate the potential for cattle development in the northern area
and the four year project financed by the World Bank includes the building up of a
fact finding ranch.
A general study is also being carried out, supported by the EDF of the EEC,
to determine the best government strategy for project preparation and other activities
aimed at improving the integration of the livestock sector in the agricultural economy,
improving the marketing of livestock products, reducing dependence on imported
animal products, reinforcing the framework of government activities in the livestock
sector and increasing the provision of other services. This project is scheduled for
1978/79 and covers the whole country.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Boston, WD, Leigh, IS, Romans, J R, Norton, H Wand Kastelic, J (1975).
'Slaughter characteristics of N'Dama cattle in Sierra Leone' . Journal of
Tropical Agriculture. 52, pp. 53-58.
FAO (1971). 'Sierra Leone - integrated development of the agricultural sector - the
livestock industry' . Technical Report No. 6. ESE:SF/SIL 3. Rome, FAO.
121p.
Holt, S (1973). " Cattle component' . In. Feasibility and pre-investment study for
Nothern Province Development Project. Freetown, Ministry of Agriculture
and Natural Resources.
sTable7.Researchandmulnplicationc tres.
Name
MusaiaStockFarm
NjalaUniversityCollege,
AnimalSc enceDepartm nt
Farm
TekoStati n
Location(refere ce
inFigure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
Externalaid
Comments
20kmnorthofKabala,oin dugu
District,NorthernProvince^1
MoyambaDistrict,Southern
ProvinceO2
MinistryofAgricultu e,F eetownUn versitS r aLeone
36ha
About120N'Damacattlein278,
between600and8ca tlefrom
1004to8
N'Damabreedinganimprovement
76ha
3N'Damacattle,27loc l
sheepand8goats
Improvingcattle,sheepand
goatsthroughbreedingan
betterf eding.Performance
isrecordedanther
smallveterinarylaboratory.
ItisplannedtoredevelopMusaia
StockFarmintheframeworkof
tegrateddevelopmentprojecfundedby
theEuropeancon micCommun ty. Touchberry(1007)analysedd tare
cordedatMusaiafrom1242-64.Th stationisnowlessactiveforvarious
reasonsandthesizeofheri
considerablyreduc d.
5kmsouthofMakeniinNorthern
Province£3
VeterinaryDivis on,M nistryof
NaturalResources,Freetown
800ha
85N'Dama,32Sahiwaland70
N'DamaxSahiwalc ttle,3s eep ImprovementofthN'Damabreed bycrossingwithSahiwalimported
fromKenyai1278.
Externalaidisrequiredfonalysis
andinterpretationofthresul s
(Kamara,1278).
65
Kamara, R S (1978). 'Animal health and production in Sierra Leone' . Paper sub
mitted to the OAU Sub-Regional Meeting on Animal Health and Production in
West Africa, held in Lome in July.
Sierra Leone, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (1965). Report of the
Agricultural Division 1965. Freetown, Government Printer.
Sierra Leone, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Veterinary Division
(1974). 'Report of the Veterinary Division for the years 1964 - 1974' .
Freetown, Government Printer.
Thomas, M E R (1976). 'Some suggestions for livestock development with emphasis
on cattle in Sierra Leone' . Accra, FAO.
Touchberry, 1967. 'A study of N'Dama cattle at the Musaia Animal Husbandry Station
in Sierra Leone' . Urbana, University of Illinois Agricultural Research Station.
66
67
CHAPTER 6
LIBERIA
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Liberia lies on the west coast of Africa, with Sierra Leone
and Guinea to the north and Ivory Coast to the east. The country is divided into nine
counties, as shown in Figure 1, with the capital at Monrovia.
The National Livestock Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible
for government work in animal husbandry, including animal health, production and
extension services.
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Liberia.
2
Area 111 400 km
Latitude 4 - 9 N
Longitude 7 -12 W
Population
number 1 600 001)
density 14. 4Am
Livestock numbers
cattle 25 500
sheep 65 000
goats 120 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, Ministry of Agriculture,
1977.
Liberia has a humid tropical forest climate with a rainy season from April to
November. The average annual rainfall varies from 1 800 mm in the north to 5 000
mm at the coast.
68
Figure 1. Administrative divisions, location of research centres and
multiplication herds, cattle numbers and breed distribution.
 
 
GUINEE
SIERRA LEONE
Capital
Administrative centre
National boundary
Administrative boundaries
COTE
d'lVOIRE
Research centres
<• Centre with trypanotolerant livestock as subsidiary activity
Q University farm with trypanotolerant livestock
Multiplication herds
□ Private farm or ranch with trypanotolerant livestock
1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. N'Dama x Zebu
6. Zebu
69
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), the entire country
is infested with tsetse. G. palpaKs, G. pallicera pallicera and G. fusca are
distributed widely, while G. medicorum is found in the south and G. nigrofusca in
the north. There is no more recent information on tsetse distribution, though work
on trypanosomiasis has been carried out at Bong Mine by the Liberian Research Unit
of the Tropical Institute, Hamburg and at Suakoko by the Central Agricultural
Experimental Station (CAES).
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
Cattle production is not very important in Liberia, partly due to the forest
environment which is very humid and not well suited to cattle. The density of the
cattle population for the country as a whole is 0.23Am , which is extremely low.
The distribution of cattle is depicted in Figure 1 and the number of cattle in each
county is given in Table 2.
Table 2. Livestock numbers in Liberia (1976).
County Area
(km )
Cattle Sheep - Goats1
%of %of %of
Number Total Number Total Number Total
Bong 11 770 4 845 19.1 16 275 25.0 22 268 18.7
Cape Mount 5 740 408 1.6 781 1.2 3 359 2.8
Grand Bassa 8 000 3 519 13.8 6 575 10.1 14 804 12.4
Grand Gedeh 16 200 3 850 15.1 7 812 12.0 12 316 10.3
Loffa 19 530 1 683 6.6 2 995 4.6 7 464 6.3
Maryland 4 560 5 278 20.7 651 1.0 6 718 5.6
Montserrado 3 000 561 2.2 3 515 5.4 3 608 3.0
Nimba 12 280 535 2.1 16 340 25.1 25 875 21.7
Sinoe 15 100 2 856 11.2 1 367 2.1 4 230 3.5
1 Remote and
Large Rural 1 938 7.6 8 788 13.5 18 784 15.7
Total 25 473 100.0 65 099 100.0 119 426 100.0
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, 1977 .
Sheep and goats are found in nearly every village throughout the country. How
ever, they are most numerous in Bong and Nimba Counties, which together account for
50% of the national herd.
70
3. CATTLE
There are two main types of cattle in Liberia : the N' Dama and the Dwarf West
African Shorthorn whose local name is Muturu. The boundary between the areas of
distribution of longhorn and shorthorn cattle groups is located in this country.
The distribution of the two types within the country is difficult to assess,
particularly as there are numerous crossbreds in the rural areas. An estimate based
on observations in the field is presented in Table 3.
Table 3. Distribution of cattle types (estimated numbers).
N'Dama Muturu Total
Bong
Cape Mount
Grand Bassa
Grand Gedeh
Loffa
Maryland
Montserrado
Nimba
Sinoe
Remote and Large Rural
3 000 1 850 4 850
410 - 410
2 500 1 020 3 520
1 000 2 850 3 850
1 700 - 1 700
- 5 270 5 270
500 60 560
240 300 540
150 2 700 2 850
950 1 000 1 950
Total 10 450(41%) 15 050(59%) 25 500(100%)
Source : Country visit information.
The N' Dama predominate in the north, mainly in Loffa County, which is
adjacent to the breeding areas in Sierra Leone and Guinea. The Muturu are more
numerous in the south, in Sinoe and Maryland Counties. In the intermediate area,
the N' Dama are apparently increasing in numbers, as they are preferred by the more
progressive stock raisers for private farms and plantation herds.
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
3.1.1 Liberian Dwarf
The southern cattle in Liberia are generally known by the name Muturu, but
they are also called Lagoon or West African Shorthorn. It is difficult to identify the
various types which occur within this population, which will be referred to as a
whole as the Liberian Dwarf or Muturu of Liberia, belonging to the Dwarf West
African Shorthorn sub-group.
71
Typical animals are found in relatively large numbers in the coastal savannas
of Maryland and Sinoe Counties. These are of the characteristic dwarf type,
measuring less than one metre at the withers. Their bodies are heavy and the heads
strong; plain black or black-and-white coats predominate, and the horns are generally
very short. Less characteristic animals are found in other parts of Liberia,
particularly in Grand Gedeh, Grand Bassa, Bong and Nimba Counties. These are in
small, scattered herds and often show the influence of N'Dama blood.
There is apparently no information concerning the productivity of these
animals, but they are known to be early maturing, fertile and well adapted to their
habitat, surviving with a minimum of care .
3.1.2 N'Dama
The N'Dama population is also very small, but there is more information on
the N'Dama than on the Muturu. This breed in Liberia is of the classical Guinean
type, particularly on private farms or government stations - with uniform fawn coats
and long horns. There is more variation among N'Dama in village herds because
breeding is not selective and there is some crossing with the Muturu.
3.1.2.1 Performance Traits. The only performance data available are from the
herd kept on the Firestone Plantation. This herd was started at Harbel in 1947 with
one bull and two cows, which, according to Weijer and Tappan (1965), may have been
Muturu x N'Dama crossbreds. By 1956, the herd had reached 63 head. N'Dama cows
were inseminated in 1961 with Jersey, Brown Swiss and Santa Gertrudis semen
brought frozen from the USA. However, in 1967, the herd was disbanded, and some
of the animals went to the College of Agriculture and Forestry.
This herd was raised on improved pasture without supplement. Performance
was completely satisfactory : there was no trypanosomiasis and few other disease
problems. Mclndoe (quoted in Weijer and Tappan, 1956) recorded an age at first
calving of 28 to 30 months, which was later reduced to 25 to 26 months. Fecundity
was excellent: the first two cows each produced six calves between 1948 and 1953.
From 1952 to 1956, offtake consisted of 14 steers at an average age of 33 months and
average weight of 242 kg, 5 young bulls averaging 21 months old and 205 kg, and 2
cull cows averaging 8 years old and 215 kg (Weijer and Tappan, 1956). The cross
bred calves weighed considerably more than the pure N' Dama - 18 kg at birth for Jersey
crosses and 21 to 26 kg for Brown Swiss and Santa Gertrudis crosses - but there were
no calving problems (Anliker, 1964).
The N' Dama herd kept by the Liberian Agricultural Company offers another
example of the rapid rate of increase possible with this breed. This herd was reduced
by contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and foot-and-mouth disease from 734 in
July 1974 to 186 in December of the same year. But by June 1978 the herd had doubled
without any introduction of new stock (see Table 4).
72
Table 4. Natural increase in the N'Dama herd kept by the Liberian Agricultural
Company .
Total
Number
%
Deaths
%
Offtake
Date
Births Slaughter Deaths
January 1975 186 + 92 -32 -27 12.9 15.9
January 1976 233 +120 -39 -17 6.6 15.1
January 1977 286 +113 -45 -18 5.9 14.7
January 1978 327
June 1978 360
Source : Country visit information.
3.2 DISEASE
The animal health situation is considered relatively favourable in Liberia due
to the low density of the cattle population and the isolation of individual herds. Never
theless, the Ministry of Agriculture notes that a number of diseases are present.
Outbreaks of CBPP occur, related to the importation of infected animals . Vaccination
is carried out against this disease and also against rinderpest. Brucellosis is present,
but its importance has not been determined, and there was an epidemic of foot-and-
mouth disease in 1974 (virus type SAT 2). Blackquarter and anthrax occur occasion
ally, and haemorrhagic septicaemia, pasteurellosis, piroplasmosis, anaplasmosis, babe
siosis and theileriosis are also present but of unknown importance.
Trypanosomiasis is widespread throughout the country. Studies have been
carried out at Suakoko by the CAES Veterinary Service and at Bong Mine by the
Liberia Research Unit. The Liberia Research Unit has carried out epidemiological
studies to assess the importance of the different types of trypanosomes and the role
of different domestic animals as potential reservoir hosts for sleeping sickness
(Mehlitz, 1977). From 51 samples taken from untreated N'Dama cattle in Bong,
Nimba and Loffa Counties in 1974, positive serological reactions (indirect fluorescent
antibody test) were observed in 41, or 80.4%. Parasitological examination (blood-
smears) revealed that 9 of the 51 were infected with T. congolense, , 3 with t. vivace
and 1 with T. brucei, T. congolense and t. vivax, altogether 25.5% of the sample.
The work at Suakoko (Pan, 1978) confirms the results obtained at Bong Mine.
Both studies show clearly the strong resistance of N'Dama adults to trypanosomiasis.
However, such studies often neglect the heavy mortality among calves due to this
disease.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
In addition to traditional cattle production systems under village conditions,
commercial production is being initiated in Liberia on the rubber plantations
73
(Liberian Agricultural Company and Firestone) and on private commercial farms,
which are increasing in number. However.these operations still account for only a
small proportion of the total herd.
According to a survey carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1977, only
9 100 households in Liberia, or 6%, out of a total of 152 100, keep cattle. Among these,
the average number of animals per household is very low - 2.6 in 1975 and 2.8 in 1976.
Throughout the country, cattle are kept exclusively for slaughter on special
occasions. Particularly in Maryland and Sinoe Counties in the south, where most of
the cattle are Liberian Dwarf, the animals receive very little care. They are rarely
herded or milked, and sometimes they are tethered, as small ruminants are, to
avoid damage to crops.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
Both sheep and goats are of the Djallonke or West African Dwarf breeds. Some
coat variations in goats are illustrated in Figure 3.80, volume 1. Very little infor
mation is available on their productivity. For sheep, CAES at Suakoko reports an
average body weight of 25.25 kg for two rams and 17.1 kg for five ewes. Birth weights
averaged 1.46 kg for five single births and 1. 06 kg for four twins. Corresponding
figures for goats are 22.3 kg for adult males, 20.7 kg for adult females, 1.48 kg at
birth for single births and 1 . 31 kg for twins .
4.2 DISEASE
Very little information is available on diseases among small ruminants in
Liberia. Research work is now being initiated, however, at CAES in Suakoko,
focussing, inter alia, on diseases among goats and sheep.
The epidemiological survey carried out by the Liberian Research Unit in 1974
included 257 goats and 64 sheep. Serological tests showed positive reactions for 86
of the goats (24.4%) and 17 of the sheep (26. 6%). Evidence of parasites was found
among 23 of the goats (8.9%) and 9 of the sheep (14.1%): 17 goats and 8 sheep were
infected with T. congolense, 5 goats and 1 sheep with T. vivax and 1 goat with T.
brucei and T. congolense.
4. 3 FLOCK MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
Table 5 shows the average number of animals per household according to a
survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1976.
74
Table 5. Distribution of sheep and goats by household.
Number of Percentage Total number Mean Number
Households of All of of Animals per
with Animals Households Animals Household with
Animals
13 500 9% 48 300 3.6
16 700 11% 65 100 3.9
32 200 21% 133 300 4.1
30 400 20% 124 400 4.1
Sheep
Goats
1975
1976
1975
1976
Source : Ministry of Agriculture, 1977.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
Two research centres are carrying out work on trypanotolerant livestock in
Liberia, the Central Agricultural Experimental Station (CAES) at Suakoko, which is
carrying out two separate projects, and the College of Agriculture and Forestry, near
Monrovia. These activities are described in Table 6, and their locations shown in
Figure 1.
5.2 MULTIPLICATION HERDS
The Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC), a subsidiary of the Uniroyal
Group, owns a private rubber plantation 55 km north of Buchanan in Grand Bassa
County. There is a farm of 160 ha within the plantation. A herd of NDama cattle,
which numbered about 360 as of June 1978, is kept on the farm and grazed throughout
the plantation. The location is shown by D3 in Figure 1. The purpose of the
operation is to produce meat for the plantation staff. Calves are weighed every month
and adult animals occasionally.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alder, F E (1975). ' Cattle development - Liberia' . Rome, FAO.
en
Table6.Researchcent esinLibe a.
Name
CentralAgriculturalExperimentalStation(CAES)
CollegefAgricultureandForest y
Location(and
referencei
Figure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
Externalaid
Comments
Suakoko,BongCounty15kmfromGbarn aand70
fromMonr via
(•)1
LivestockBureau,MinistryofAgricult e,o rovia
100ha
150N'Damaand3Holstein-Friesiancattle,
12sheepand7goats
Studypossibilitiesfmilkroduction.elecN'Dama. StudysmallstockproductionsprojectofthMano
RiverUnion(groupingS erraLe nea diberi ).
FAOandWorldBank
ItisanticipatedthateManoRiv rUnionProjectc r y
ingoutpreciseanimalheal hndr latedprodu ivity studiesonsmallstockwillbefurth rexpa dedth
future.
23kmfromMonrovia
02
UniversityofLib ia,Monrov
100ha(15ofpasture)
58N'DamaxBrownSwisscro ses(fromth
FirestonePlantation)
Thoughperf rmanceisr c dedt eno
researchprogrammeonthisherd.
FAO
76
Anlicker, WL (1964). 'The cattle breeding programme of the Firestone Plantations
Company'. Research Division Report No. 75. Monrovia, Firestone Planta
tions Co. 21p.
Liberia, Ministry of Agriculture (1977). Production Estimates of Major Crops 1976.
Monrovia.
Mehlitz, D (1977). 'Investigation on animal trypanosomiasis in Liberia (1974 - 1977)'.
Monrovia, Liberia Research Unit of the Tropical Institute Hamburg.
Pan, I J (1978). 'Brief report on the activities and achievements of the Veterinary
Section, CAES, in the period 1971 - 1978. 2. Situation of animal trypano
somiasis in Liberia' . Suakoko, Central Agricultural Experimental Station.
Weijer, J and Tappan W C (1956). 'A genetic and commercial analysis of the
Firestone plantation cattle herd' . Research Department Report No. 46.
Monrovia, Firestone Plantations Company.
Worrall, G A (1967). 'Agricultural research of Liberia : A review and summary of
publications'. Rome, UNDP/FAO.
77
CHAPTER 7
MALI
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa surrounded by
Algeria to the north, Mauritania and Senegal to the west, Guinea and the Ivory Coast
to the south and Upper Volta and Niger to the east. The capital is at Bamako, and the
country is divided into 6 regions and 42 administrative Cercles. In each Cercle there
is a Secteur d'Elevage (livestock sector) under the Service de l'Elevage et de la Sante
Animale, which is a part of the Ministere du Developpement Rural. This ministry is
also in charge of the Institut d'Economie Rurale (IER), which is responsible for
agricultural research, and the Office Malien du Betail et de la Viande (OMBEVI) with
responsibilities for livestock production and marketing.
The Secteurs d' Elevage included in this study are those below the northern
tsetse limit where significant numbers of cattle of the trypanotolerant types are found.
These are listed in Table 2 and their locations are shown in Figure 1.
Basic data for the study area and for the country as a whole are given in
Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Mali.
Whole Country Study Area
Area
Latitude
Longitude
Population
number
density
Livestock numbers
cattle
sheep and goats
1 240 000 km
. o o
10 - 25 N
o o
4 E - 12 W
5 840 000
4. 71Am2
3 915 000
8 000 000
220 000 km
o o
10 - 14 N
o o
4 W- 12 W
3 500 000
15.9Am
1 810 000
1 600 000
a. Estimate.
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, government veterinary
reports, 1976.
-3 0ig
Figure1.Administrativediv ions,boundariesfstudyzon ,l cationresearchce esmultiH cationh rdsa
developmentprojects.
3L3ERIE
 
NIGER
•Nationalbound ry
Administrativebou da ies
^PCapital
#Administrativecen re
fUtStudyzonebel wthisline
Researchcent es
-f-Laboratoryworkingntrypanotoleranceand/s miasis
ACentrewi htrypa o olerantlivest cksmainact vity
Multiplicationherds
■Governmentalfarmorr chwittrypanotolerantli es ck
Developmentprojects
AAgriculturalp ojectw thtrypanotolerantlives ckcompon n
SENE3L
HAUTE-VOLT3
3UINEE
COTE-D'IVOIRE
79
The area under study extends from the Sudano- Guinean to the Sahelo-Sudanian
climatic zones, with one rainy season from April/May to October. The annual rain
fall ranges from 700 to 1 400 mm.
In addition to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), Gruvel (1977)
carried out a survey of trypanosomiasis in Mali in the framework of a UNDP/FAO
project on the economics of trypanosomiasis. He identified three glossina species,
two riverine species, G. palpalis gambiensis and G. tachinoides and one savanna
species, G. morsitans submorsitarts . He described their distribution in detail as
follows :
The northern limit of glossina in Mali can be defined by a line including
from West to East the river Senegal, the river Baoule and its large curve,
the river Niger from the south of Kolokani to up stream of Segou, the river
Bani up to the vicinity of San, then continuing more-or-less due east in the
direction of Upper Volta ....
The distribution of each species is still little known. However, it
seems that G.m. submorsitans is present in high density west of the Senegal
river basin, and south west towards Guinea and Ivory Coast. It is also present
in the Dioila region, then towards the east near Upper Volta. G.p. gambiensis
and G. tachinoides are present almost everywhere along the bush covered
banks of the big rivers and their tributaries. Their habitat is sometimes
distinct, but often overlapping.
From the small amount of information concerning tsetse distribution
in Mali and the observations made during the mission, it seems that the tsetse
infestation south of the river Niger decreases regularly from the southwest
to the northeast, from the Yanfolila Sector where the three species are found
together up to the Koutiala Sector where the scarcity of the savanna species and
the presence of the riverine species are noticed. Consequently, the infection
risk decreases progressively towards the east along with the deep forest
following the river networks . ,
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
There has been a general movement of cattle from north to south following the
recent droughts. This exodus has changed the distribution of animal numbers and of
breeds throughout the country and to some extent has disrupted the farming societies
in the southern areas. Herds of Fulani cattle can now be observed on the southern
border with Upper Volta.
Livestock numbers in the Secteurs of the study area are given in Table 2. The
cattle population is broken down into N'Dama, Zebu and crossbred types. The NTJama
80
account for 26% of the cattle in the study area and 12% of the national herd. The
crossbreds are 29% of the cattle in the study area and 13% of the national herd. Thus
a quarter of the national herd is composed of N'Dama and crossbreds.
Figure 2 shows the distribution of the cattle population in each region and the
percentage of each breed type. This figure shows the northern limit of the tsetse
zone, as described by Gruvel (1977),and the approximate boundaries of the areas
where Zebu, crossbred and N'Dama cattle predominate. These boundaries reflect
Atabani's (1966) field observations of a ZebuAumpless boundary between Nioro Du
Sahel in the northwest and Sikasso in the southeast.
Only approximate numbers can be given for sheep and goats and no figures for
individual breeds are available. Though the Zebu cattle have apparently been moving
south as a result of the drought, no similar trend has been observed among the
Sahelian sheep and goat populations.
Table 2. Livestock numbers and distribution in the study area of Mali ('000).
- Cattle - Sheep Goats
Cross
Kayes Region
Total N'Dama % breed % Zebu %
Kayes 155 5 3 30 19 120 78 65 150
Bafoulabe 98 28 29 50 51 20 20 35 30
Keneba 28 28 100 - - - - 20 15
Kita 49 29 59 15 31 5 10 14 10
Bamako Region
Koulikoro 30 5 17 15 50 10 33 15 15
Bamako 150 40 27 70 46 40 27 100 100
Kangaba 24 24 100 - - - - 7 2
Dioila 125 30 24 60 48 35 28 40 40
Segou Region
Segou 195 - - 25 13 170 87 124 187
San 66 - - - - 66 100 68 38
Tominian 60 - - - - 60 100 83 28
Sikasso Region
Yanfolila 55 55 100 - - - - 15 8
Bougouni 178 90 51 38 21 50 28 33 22
Kolondieba 104 15 14 42 40 47 46 25 14
Kadiolo 81 40 49 21 26 20 25 7 11
Sikasso 213 50 23 63 30 100 47 107 58
Koutiala 181 25 14 90 50 66 36 57 20
Yorosso 18 1 6 3 17 14 77 18 6
Total 1 810 465 522 823 833 754
Source : Compiled by authors from Mali, Secteurs d'Elevage, Rapport Annuel,
1975, 1976, 1977.
Figure2.Cattlenumbersandbre ddistribution
AL555E
/////
Boundaryftsetse-inf st dzone
BoundaryofzonewherZebupr d minate
Boundaryofzonewhercrossbr dattlp edominate 5.DwarfWestAfricanSho thor
2.SavannaWestAfricanSho thor
3.ShorthornxZebu
5.N'Dama
5.N'DamaxZebu
6.Zebu
 
SENE5AL
 
N5G5
MMATEAOLzo
5UINEE
•COTE-D5VO58E
82
3. CATTLE
Three main types of cattle are observed in the study area: N'Dama, Zebu
(mainly Sudanian Fulani Zebu) and Mere or Bambara. A few Savanna West African
Shorthorn (Baoule type) may be observed in the southeastern part of the country
(Coulomb and Deslandes, 1978).
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTIONS
3.1.1 N'Dama
The classical Guinean N'Dama, as described in chapter 3 of volume 1, is
found in Kenieba, Kangaba, Yanfolila and Bougouni Secteurs. In Yanfolila, the adult
cows typically measure about 105 cm at withers, and oxen over 6 years old can reach
118 + 13 cm (IEMVT, 1971). The N'Dama in the other Secteurs of the study area
are more variable, with black, red, grey, black and white or red and white coats and
fairly typical horns. (See Figures 3.2, 3.3 and 3.19, volume 1.)
3.1.1.1 Performance Traits. In discussing the performance of N'Dama cattle in
Mali, a distinction must be made between production data collected under village
conditions and performance levels achieved under research station conditions at the
Centre National de Recherches Zootechniques de Sotuba, near Bamako. The figures
given in different sources and for different years vary widely and must be treated as
approximations .
Among reproduction traits, age at first calving was recorded by IEMVT (1971)
as 42 to 48 months under village conditions in Yanfolila Secteur. At the Sotuba station,
the age at first calving was 42. 5 months + 40 days between 1952 and 1957 (Pagot and
Delaine, 1959). SEDES (1971) reports a calving rate of 60 to 65% for N'Dama in
Yanfolila; at Sotuba station, the calving rate was 75% in 1974 (CNRZ, 1975).
The mortality rate among calves under village conditions tends to be high:
SEDES (1971) reports calf mortality at 35 to 40% in Yanfolila Secteur, and Morel
(1973) gives an estimate of 21% for all of southern Mali.
Based on surveys carried out in 1975 in Yanfolila Secteur, Diarra (1977)
estimated an average daily milk production of 1. 5 litres per cow, with a 190-day
lactation, giving a total production of 285 litres per lactation, with 4. 7% butterfat
content. Reports of the Secteurs d'Elevage of the study area give an average daily
production of 1. 5 litres over a lactation period of 180 to 210 days, or a total pro
duction of 270 to 315 litres per lactation. Under research station conditions at Sotuba,
yields were significantly higher, totalling 566 to 600 kg per cow over an average
lactation of 200 days (CNRZ, 1974, 1975, 1976). Cows at the station were supplemented
with cotton seed and millet bran.
83
Growth was measured at the Sotuba station for the period 1952-57 under an
improved feeding regime of grazing plus concentrates. During the dry season, these
animals were supplemented with sorghum and maize silage. Weights were recorded
in kg as follows (Pagot and Delaine, 1969; Capitaine, 1972):
6 months 12 months 18 months 24 months 36 months
female 46 80 99 123 188
male 46 82 101 124 188
IEMVT (1971) recorded weights under village conditions in Yanfolila Secteur
without any supplementation for the period 1970-71:
6-12 months 12 - 24 months 24 - 36 months 24 - 48 months
n kg n kg n kg n kg
female 24 81 + 2 29 92+2 - - 30 98+2
male 20 82+2 23 94+3 45 102+1
At Bafoulabe abattoir in Kayes Region, average carcass weights in 1977 were
162 kg for bulls (n = 175), 146 for oxen (n = 66) and 133 for cows (n = 51). At Sikasso
abattoir average carcass weights in 1976 were 123 kg for bulls (n = 503), 115 kg for
oxen (n = 1 104) and 82 kg for cows (n = 2 976). The Sikasso abattoir recorded average
liveweights and carcass weights for humped and humpless cattle over seven years old,
as given in Table 3.
Table 3. Liveweights and carcass weights recorded at Sikasso abattoir.
Bulls - - Oxen - - Cows
humped humpless humped humpless humped humpless
Liveweight (kg)
Carcass weight (kg)
Dressing out %
Source : Mali, Secteur d'Elevage de Sikasso, 1976.
3.1.1.2 Index of Productivity. Table 4 summarizes estimates of the main
production traits required to build up a productivity index covering the total weight of
one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow
maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for two main production
environments, meat and milk production under village conditions in a high tsetse
challenge area and meat production only under ranch conditions, also under high tsetse
challenge.
375 290 380 300 300 260
180 154 188 163 155 132
48 53 49 54 52 51
84
Table 4. N'Dama productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Village /high Ranch/high
tsetse challenge/ tsetse challenge/
meat and milk meat
95 98
62.5 75
62.5 '°b
81 120
178.1 -
52.2 63.6
230 250
Cow viability (%)
Calving percentage
Calf viability to one year (%)
Calf weight at one year (kg)
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow per year (kg)
Cow weight (kg)
a
Productivity index per 100 kg cow maintained
per year (kg) 22.7 25.5
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
b. Estimate.
Source : For village conditions, SEDES, 1971 and IE MVT, 1971; for ranch conditions,
personal communication from ranch management.
3.1.2 Mere or Bambara
The M6re or Bambara is a stabilized Zebu x N'Dama cross. The size and
appearance of these animals depend mainly on the proportion of Zebu blood and the
type of Zebu involved (see Figure 3.55, volume 1). Dumas (1973) recorded average
linear measurements and weights for Mere over five years old which are presented
in Table 5.
Table 5 . Measurements and weights of adult Mere.
Bulls
(n = 9)
Oxen Cows
(n = 103) (n = 159)
110.7 + 1.0 102.1 + 0.7
153.7 +1.7 138.0 + 0.9
138.2 +1.4 125.3 + 0.9
270 210
(range: 190 - 375) (range: 140 - 190)
Height at withers (cm) 105.4 + 4. 6
Heart girth (cm) 149.6+9.3
Scapulo-ischial length (cm) 134.5 + 6.7
Weight (kg) 255
(range: 210 - 340)
Source : Dumas, 1973.
Another crossbred called the N'Dama of Kaarta or crossbred of Kaarta is
found north of Kita. This seems to be a stabilized N'Dama x Zebu cross. These
animals have the light coat of the N'Dama with no trace of hump, but they are larger,
85
with an average size at withers of 1.10 to 1.20 m (CNRA, 1978). It would seem
worthwhile to collect more information on this crossbreed, but the area where the
animals are found is difficult to reach.
3 .1.3 Other Crossbreeds
Production data are only available for the N'Dama x exotic crosses kept at
Sotuba under experimental conditions. Figures for milk production and liveweights
are presented in Tables 6 and 7.
Table 6. Milk production from crossbreds at Sotuba.
Jersey Red Mont- Holstein Maure Red
X Steppe x be liard x X Zebu x Steppe x
N'Dama N'Dama N'Dama N'Dama N'Dama Zebu
Number of cows 23 13 10 2 2 5
Milk produced (kg) 1 135 1 022 1 530 939 256 1 593
Length of lactation
(days) 251 269 328 313 75 300
Lactation number 1-6 1-4 2-4 1 1 - 2 1-3
Survey period 1974-75 1974-75 1974-75 1975 1975 1974-75
Source: CNRZ, 1975 , 1976.
3.2 DISEASE
Among contagious diseases, rinderpest has been under strict control for some
time and no cases have been recorded in the study area recently. Contagious bovine
pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is observed nearly everywhere, but particularly in Kayes
Region in the west and Koutiala, Yorosso, Tominian and San Secteurs in the east,
where it has been occurring with increasing frequency. Other infectious diseases
occur locally, usually without causing serious problems. Tuberculosis has occurred
recently in Kayes Region, especially affecting the Zebu herds.
Among parasitic diseases, the most important of those caused by external
parasites in the study area are scabies, streptothricosis and tick-borne fevers.
Gastro- intestinal parasites occur everywhere, but especially in Yorosso, Tominian,
San and Segou Secteurs in the eastern part of the study area. These are mainly
Strongylus and Ascaris.
Trypanosomiasis is the most serious animal health problem throughout the
study area, particularly in the Secteurs with Zebu and crossbred herds. In Kayes
Region, it is an important cause of mortality among Zebus, and even among cross
breds, while in the other regions under study it is less important but still poses a
serious problem.
oc
Table7.Liveweightsofcross r edsatS tuba
RedSt ppe)
Jerseyx
xZebu kg 20 100 175 1974
RedSt ppe)
(Jerseyx xN'Dama
kg 8
102 165 1974
-
Male kg 21 144 175
xINTDama
Female
kg 25 155 85
1974
Holstein Male
kg 19 126 175
5
Female
kg 19 111 161
1975-
FemaleMale
kg 15 115
15
1974
- kg 15 98 154
x]SPDama Male
kg
18 57.5 149 1972-75
MaleFemale
kg 17 50 142
Jersey
kg
15+1
105+6 150+5
no. .36 5
25 -5
-
Female kg
17+1 94+5 105+5
1975
no. 8
20 19
Surveype iod
Birth
6months
12months
a.Calvesof1STD macowswereall wedtsu kl ,whilca verossbb tfedFr mhgur
monthstheyweregraz dnimprovepas uredu ingy,sup l m tewi1kgconcen rat sily.
Sources:ForJe seyxMDamacros ,BRZ,1976fthep5iod5-800aEnigandnig,52-5,"
andCNRZ,195,for1974.ForHolsteinxINRDamacrosses,00aEnigndaEn g1 5fthpe iod5-5;NZ
195,for974.F(Je seyxR dSteppe)N'Damaan(J rs ySteppe)Zebucrosses,BRZ5
87
According to Gruvel (1977):
Three species of glossina present in Mali can transmit pathogenic
trypanosomes to cattle, T. vivax, T. congolense T. brucei.
A distribution map of animal trypanosomiasis in West Africa, estab
lished by Mornet (1953)^ indicates the incidence of these different species of
trypanosomes in each region and shows the predominance of T. congolense,
followed by T. vivax in Mali.
Studies carried out by Morel (1973) show the existence of T. congolense
in the Secteurs of Segou (at Katiana), San (at Jene and Diele) and Sikosso (at
Zignasso and Klela), and of T. vivax in the Secteurs of Macina (at Macina)
and Sikasso (at Nkonala).
Trypanosomiasis enzootics, are severe everywhere, but more so
among Zebus and crossbreds with substantial Zebu blood, either in the
savannas or along rivers under forest galleries. The disease is even found
among the trypanotolerant ISP Dama and causes some mortality especially
among the young. However, these humpless cattle can live in areas where
Zebu and M^re would die.
The Fulani tend to treat their animals themselves with Berenil, while the
settled farmers tend to rely on the annual visits of government veterinary staff.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
3.3.1 Management
In general, two livestock production systems occur in the study area : trans-
humance, which is more important toward the north, and settled agriculture, which
predominates in the south. These systems overlap to some extent. The special
features of production systems in the four regions of the study area will be described,
moving from west to east.
In the northern part of Kayes Region, the nomadic Eulani herd their cattle
all through the year and move with the herds in response to environmental conditions.
Breeding animals are chosen according to their fertility and conformation, and
inferior bull calves are castrated and old or sterile animals culled. Government
veterinary measures are generally accepted by the cattle owners .
In Kayes Secteur, the Toronke people select animals according to their
conformation and their colour. The cows are milked completely and the calves put out
to pasture at a very early age.
Towards the south, the Malinke are agriculturalists who have not given much
attention to cattle production until recently with the introduction of draught oxen. In
8S
Keneba Station, particularly in the southern part, the large herds are owned by
Fulani from Fouta Djallon.
In the parts of Bamako Region under study, cattle are kept chiefly by settled
Bambara, Fulani and Malinke people. The animals are moved every year between
March and May to be closer to permanent sources of water. The Bambara of Dioila
Secteur are agriculturalists who tend to leave herding to the older children or to hired
Fulani herdsmen.
In this region, as well as Sikasso, cattle are herded during the day and
tethered at night during the rainy season, but after the harvest they are left to roam
freely from December to May. This leads to serious losses due to thefts, accidents
and predators, as well as weight loss. The government livestock services have been
campaigning to end this practice, and some of the local cattle owners have come to
realize the advantages of herding their cattle during the dry season and have begun
taking steps to provide an adequate feed supply for this period.
In the southwestern part of Sikasso Region (Yanfolila and Bougouni Secteurs),
the local people do not practise crop farming or livestock raising on an intensive
basis. ISPDama cattle are kept for ceremonial occasions and sometimes for sale.
They roam freely during the dry season and are herded during the cropping season,
often by hired Fulani herdsmen. During this time, the animals are penned at night
two or three km from the village, with the milk cows tethered outside the pen. A
shelter is sometimes constructed for the calves. A large family may keep a separate
herd, but more often the animals of one area are herded together. The herdsman is
generally paid FM 50 (US $ 0.11) per month for each animal in the herd, plus the milk
obtained on Mondays and Fridays. The transhumant cattle owners of the area are
accustomed to inoculating their animals and by their example have influenced the
the settled population to do the same .
Draught oxen have been used for some time and their use is now
increasing. There are about 25 000 oxen in this area out of a total of 250 000 through
out the country, according to a 1978 estimate of the CNRA. Manure is often used on
the fields.
In Kolondieba Secteur in the central part of Sikasso Region, crossbreeding is
widely practised and the Mere or Bambara are used as draught oxen. The Fulani
Zebu is used more widely for crossbreeding than the Maure, as it is considered less
sensitive to trypanosomiasis. Though the people in this area are agriculturalists,
they do not tend to use manure. The cattle are left to roam freely during the dry
season, with the attendant problems already mentioned.
A number of Fulani came with their herds from further north to Kadiolo,
Sikasso, Koutiala and Yorosso Secteurs, in the eastern part of the region, as a
result of recent droughts,and they have never gone back. This has led to conflicts
with the local farming population.
Among the farmers, cattle are herded during the day and tethered at night,
except for the largest herds which might be fenced. The animals are generally herded
89
by the older children, rather than by hired Fulani herdsmen. Both the Fulani and the
local farmers must move their cattle short distances during the rainy season to avoid
areas of tsetse infestation. The animals do not roam widely during the dry season
because they must stay near the few permanent sources of water.
In general, only the Fulani milk their cattle, and sheep and goats are seldom
milked. Oxen have been used for some time in this area: the four Secteurs together
account for about 80 000 oxen, or 32% of the total for the country. Manure is widely
utilized for cropping. Farmers often allow animals to graze on their land in return
for the manure produced.
In Segou Region there are both sedentary farmers and a substantial transhumant
population. The sedentary Bobo, Marka and Minianka keep their animals in the fields
in pens or tethered near their houses. Draught oxen and manure are widely used.
3.3.2 Herd Size and Composition
Herd sizes vary widely, but in general Fulani herds consist of 150 to 200
cattle, while the settled population keeps family or village herds of about 50. Typical
herd composition percentages were given for Yanfolila Secteur by IEMVT (1971).
These are reproduced in Table 8.
Table 8. Typical herd composition in Yanfolila Secteur (%).
0-1
Years
1-2
Years
2-3 3-10
YearsYears
Female 9.0 7.5
7.2
7.3
5.2
43.5
4.7
6.8
Male 8.8
Castrate
Total 17.8 14.7 12.5 55.0
Source : IEMVT, 1971.
The government veterinary service reported the composition of two herds, one
belonging to Fulani and another to settled farmers in the 1976 annual report for
Yorosso Secteur as follows (%):
Young
Oxen Bulls Cows Bulls Heifers Calves
Fulani 8 4 44 12 14 18
Settled farmers 20 4 26 20 12 18
90
The composition of these two herds can only be taken as suggestive of the general
pattern. They reveal the tendency of farmers, who use draught animals for cultivation,
to keep a higher proportion of oxen than pastoralists .
4- SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
The sheep and goats of the study area are typical of the Djallonke and West Af
rican Dwarf types described in Volume 1. Dumas (1973), quoting veterinary reports
from Bougouni Secteur, gives an average height at withers for Djallonke sheep of 45
to 60 cm and an average weight of 20 to 30 kg. The average carcass weight of 1 424
sheep slaughtered at the Sikasso abbatoir was 10 kg. Dumas reports an average
height of 40 to 50 cm for the Fouta Djallon goats and an average weight of 18 to 20 kg.
The average carcass weight of 1 163 goats slaughtered at Sikasso abbatoir was 10 kg.
4.2 DISEASE
According to Raymond and Dumas (1973), the most important diseases affect
ing small ruminants are those caused by gastro-intestinal parasites and liver flukes
(fascioliasis), as well as respiratory diseases, foot-rot and scabies. At Sotuba
from 1953 to 1959, under improved management conditions, 55% of the deaths among
Djallonke sheep were due to respiratory diseases, 20 to 22% were due to gastro
intestinal diseases and internal parasites (with 10% of this due to parasitaemia). 8%
were due to external parasites, 0. 8% to viral diseases and the rest to other causes
(including 13% losses of young due to lack of milk from the ewes).
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES AND PROGRAMMES
The Centre National de Recherches Zootechniques (CNRZ) with 150 ha of land
at Sotuba, five km from Bamako, comes under the Institut d' Economie Rurale (IER,
B.P. 258, Bamako) of the Ministere du Developpement Rural. Its location is indi
cated in Figure 1 by ml. As of the end of 1977, this centre kept 169 N'Dama,
Jersey x N'Dama, Red Steppe x N'Dama and Brahman x N'Dama cattle. Work under
way includes comparative studies of the performances of different crossbreeds, ex
perimentation on oestrus synchronization among Maure Zebu, early weaning trials
and feeding trials using rice bran and mango silage.
91
A research programme on tsetse and trypanosomiasis is being carried out at
the Laboratoire Central de Recherches Veterinaires, 10 km from Bamako, with
funding from USAID and technical assistance from Texas A & M University. The
location is shown by + 2 in Figure 1.
5. 2 MULTIPLICATION HERDS AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
There are three multiplication herds in Mali which include N' Dama cattle and
three livestock development projects underway. These are described in Tables 9
and 10.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atabani, Y I and Lequien, J (1966). 'Rapport de la mission FAO/ECA sur les
possibilites d' exploitation de la production laitiere au Mali' . Rome, FAO, 33p.
Braeunig, J and Braeunig, P (1975). 'Zur Entwicklung der F Kalber bei der
Einkreuzung von Jersey - und - DSR Bullen in die westafrikanische Rasse
N'Dama' . Beitrage Trop. Landw. Vet. Med. 4, pp. 383-389.
Bremaud, O, Beck, K , Nissen, N and Vindrinet, R (1976). 'La sante animale au
Mali'. Eschborn, Paris, GTZ/SEDES, 51p.
Capitaine, P (1972). 'Ghana husbandry development project: Feasibility study for
four ranches: Zootechnical study' . Maisons-Alfort, IEMVT, 103p.
CNRA (Comite National de la Recherche Agronomique) (1976). 'Rapport de synthase
de 1975 de la division de la recherche zootechnique: Projet de programme de
la compagne 1976' . Bamako.
CNRZ (Centre Nationale de Recherches Zootechniques) (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972,
1973, 1974, 1975, 1976). Rapport Annuel. Sotuba.
Coulomb, J and Deslandes, P (1978). Enquete sur les ressources genetiques
bovines au Mali: Methodologie . Paris, Ministdre de la Cooperation/
IEMVT.
Diarra, B (1977). ' Etude ethnologique du N' Dama de Yanfolila : Memoire de fin
d'etudes'. Diploma thesis, Katibougou, Institut polytechnique Rural.
Dumas, R (1973). 'Projet de developpement de 1'elevage dans le Mali-Sud:
Genetique animale' . Paris, IEMVT/SEDES, 139p.
Frederickson, C, Poleman, G, Allred, W and Charliek, R(n.d.). 'Appraisal of
the proposed tsetse-fly eradication and land-use development project in the
Haute Valley (Sibi - Narina), Mali' . 48p.
to CO
Table2.Multiplicationherds.
Name
OperationISPD maYanfolil( NDY)
FermedeThe(T afa )
Location(and referencein
Figure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Breedsand
numbers
Objectives
Externalaid
103kmsouthofB ugouni
■3
Servicedel'El vageetaSan e
Animale
16000ha(8inuse)
2_N'Dama,04Djallonkesheep
18draughtoxen
OperationdeDeveloppementInt gre
deBaguinda
20kmfromSikasso
■4
Ministerede1'Agr culture
802ha(102oftea)
162NDama(originalherd importedfr mYanfolilan
1273)
SelectionandmultiplicationoftheM aprodu
N'Damaherd.Ru alextensionservices
Identifyingtheanimalsdset ingup
aproductiond tarecordingsys em. EuropeanDevel pmentF ndofthe
Europeancon micCommunity,1275-
1272
20kmfromBamako
■5
Ministerede1'Agr culture
300ha(250usedtogrow
tomatoes,gre npepp rs)
150HDama,40Maure5ebux
N'Damacrosses
Milkandmeatproduc ion
to
Table10.Developmentprojects.
Name
MaliLivestockI
MaliLivestocknorProjet
TerresNouvelles
Developpementde1'ElevageansSud
duMali
Location( nd referencein
Figure1)
Organization
responsible Objectives
Externalaid
OnefeedlotatTi nfala(50km
fromBamako) A6
OfficeMal enduBetailtl
Viande(OMBMAI),BP155,
Bamako
Meatproduc ionthroughvillage-
levelfatt ningoperatio sand feedldts(estab ishmentoftwo
feedlots)
USAID
Atpresentthreea as-Ki ,
MandinguesMounts,Dio la
A7
OMBEVI
AllofSikassoRegion,Dio laS ctErn
BamakoRegi nandthesouth rnparts
oftheSegou,anandT mi ianSectErs
inSegouR gion
A5
Servicede1'ElevagetaSant
Animale,Minist&rdelProduction,
B.P.265,amako
Livestockde lopmentenvisagedImprovementofan m lhealth( acci-
ino eofthhreezon ssurv yed,nationa dnt elmintictreatm t),
includingatsetseeradicationm rke g,loansfort eningop rat ons,
programmeexpansionoftheused ughtox n
USAID
EuropeanDevelopmentFundofth
EuropeanconomicCommun ty,f r
4to5yearsbeginningi1975
94
Gruvel, J (1977). 'Rapport au Gouvernement du Mali sur le problème des
trypanosomiases au Mali' . AGA/RP/TRYP/77/1. Rome, FAO.
IBRD (1970). ' Notes on agriculture, livestock and fisheries' . In Economic Development
in Mali: Evolution, Problems and Prospects. Volume 2. Washington.
IEMVT (1971). 'Aménagement du berceau de la race N'Dama dans le cercle de
Yanfolila' . Maisons-Alfort.
Lacrouts, M , Sarniguet, J and Tyc, J (1965). 'Exploitation du cheptel bovin au Mali'.
Paris, Secrétariat d'Etat aux Affaires Etrangères Charge de la Cooperation,
296p.
Lacrouts, M and Tyc, J (1960). 'Les ressources animales de la République du Mali:
Leur exploitation: Perspectives d'avenir' . 120p.
Lequien, J (1969). 'Contribution â l'étude des possibilites d'exploitation de la pro
duction laitière au Senegal et au Mali' . D.Sc. thesis, University of Nancy,
241p.
Mali, Direction de l'Elevage et de la Santé Animale (1969). 'Programme d'amélio
ration et d' exploitation de l' elevage et des productions animales' . Bamako,
87p.
Mali, Division de la Recherche Zootechnique (1978). 'Rapport a la dix-huitième
session du Comité Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique' . Bamako,
Ministère du Developpement Rural.
Mali, Secteurs d'Elevage (1975, 1976, 1977). Rapport Annuel. Prepared by each
Secteur d'Elevage for the Service de l'Elevage.
Morel, P C (1973). 'Projet de developpement de l'élevage dans le Mali- Sud:
Pathologie des ruminants et des volailles' . Maisons-Alfort, Paris, IEMVT/
SEDES, 49p.
N'Diaye, A D (1973). 'Problèmes sociaux et economiques poses par l'introduction de
la culture attelee en milieu rural dans le cadre de l'operation arachide du
Mali' . Diploma thesis, ESAT/BDPA, 35p.
Pagot, J (1958). 'Influence en zone tropicale de l'amélioration des conditions
d'entretien sur le rendement d'un troupeau de taurins. . Rev. Elev. Mêd.
Vët. Pays Trop. 11, pp. 213 - 222.
Pagot, J and Delaine, R (1959). 'Etude biométrique de la croissance des taurins
ISPDama'. Rev. Elev. Mêd. Vêt. Pays Trop. 12, pp. 405-416.
Raymond, M and Dumas, M (1975). 'Enquêtes et projets d'amélioration de l'élevage
des petits ruminants' . Paris, SEDES, 195p.
95
SEDES (1971). ' Creation d'un berceau de la race N' Dama, Region de Yanfolila
(Mali)'. Paris, 187p. plus annexes.
SEDES (1973). ' Rapport de synthase' . In Projet de Developpement de l'Elevage
dans la Zone d'Elevage Sedentaire du Mali. Volume 1. Paris, 224p.
Serres, H (1974). 'Rapport sur l"etude des possibilites de developpement de l'eievage
dans le easier de Baguineda, Republique du Mali' . Maisons-Alfort, IEMVT.
Siryker, D (1973). ' The Malian cattle industry : Opportunity and dilemma'. Journal
of Modern African Studies. 12, PP- 441 - 457.
Tall, A C (1971). 'La production laitiere en Republique du Mali'. D. Vet. Med.
thesis. Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort, 40p.
Traore, N (1977). 'Operations de developpement rural et possibilites d' intensification
de la production de viande bovine dans les zones agricoles du Sud-Mali' . Paper
presented at the Colloque Recherches sur 1' Elevage Bovin en Zone Tropical
Humide. Held at Bouake. 15p.
USAID (1975). 'Mali: Livestock sector grant' . Internal memorandum. Washington,
D.C. (?).
Wundersee, W J (1971). 'Voies visant 1' amelioration des races bovines locales en
Republique du Mali' . Sotuba, CNRZ, 21p.
96
97
CHAPTER 8
UPPER VOLTA
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Upper Volta is a landlocked country in West Africa sur
rounded by Mali to the north and west, Niger to the east and Benin, Togo, Ghana
and the Ivory Coast to the south. The capital is at Ouagadougou, and the adminis
trative structure is complex. There are three government organizations in Upper
Volta with responsibilities in the field of animal health and production which in
some cases overlap. There are the original Service de l'Elevage, the
Offices Regionaux de Developpement (ORD) now being developed and a third organ
ization in charge of regional projects externally financed. (See Figure 1. )
The country is thus divided into 11 ORDs; there are also 10 administrative
departments with 44 arrondissements and at the same time 8 Circonscriptions
d'Elevage with 14 sectors and 51 veterinary stations. The study area includes all
the ORDs except Kaya, Ouahigouya and Dori.
Basic data for Upper Volta as a whole and for the study area are given in
Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Upper Volta.
Whole Country Study Area
Area 274 200 km2 203 000 km2
o o o o
Latitude
Longitude
9 30' - 15 N 9 30' - 13 N
5°30' W - 2°30' 5°30' W - 2°30' E
Population
number
density
E
5 000 000a
24. 6Am
6 170 001)
Livestock numbers
cattle
sheep
goats
22. 5Am
2 550 000 1 534 000
1 000 000
1 800 000
1 800 000
a. Estimate.
2 600 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, Upper Volta,
Direction des Services de l'Elevage, 1977.
3D 00
Figure1.Administrativedivi ions,boundByofstu yzo e,l cat onresearchc nt es,multipli6, ioh rda
developmentprojects.
Researchc ntres
+Laboratoryworkingntryp notoleranceand/ rtrypanosom asi
£Centrewithtrypano olerantlivestocksmainact vity
(•(Centrewithtrypano olerantlivestockssubsidia yact v y
M3L
—^—NationalBound ry
Administrativeboundaries
WCapital
(•)Administrativecen re
Studyzonebelowthisline
 
B3NIN
COT3D'lVOIR3
Multiplicationherds
■Governmentalfarmoranchwitht ypano oler ntlivestock
Developmentprojects
ALivestockprojectfocu singntry anotolerantlivest ck
3Agriculturalp ojectwithtrypan ol ranlivest ckcompon nt
99
There is one rainy season, which occurs between June and October and is
often very short. In the northern part of the study area, the climate is Sahelo-
Sudanian, with an annual rainfall between 600 and 1 000 mm. The southern part of
the study area, which comprises about 15% of the entire country, has aSudano-
Guinean climate with annual rainfall between 1 000 and 1 400 mm.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), over two-thirds
of the country is infested with tsetse. g. tachinoides is found throughout the in
fested area, while G. morsitans is found mainly in the eastern region and less
frequently in the north. G. palpalis is found in the west and southwest, and a
small number of G. longipalpis and G. medicorum are found in the southern
most part of the country.
Gruvel and Gauch (1977) carried out a study of animal trypanosomiasis in
Upper Volta as part of an FAO/UNDP regional project. They found that the north
ern tsetse limit has moved south in the past 50 years and reported that tsetse are
now confined to the area south of the 800 mm isohyet.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
Table 2 gives livestock numbers in the 11 ORDs as of 1977. The proportions
of humpless, Zebu and crossbred cattle are estimates.
Table 2. Livestock numbers in Upper Volta, 1977 ('000).
- Cattle - Sheep and Goats
Total Humpless Crossbred Zebu
ORD
No. No. %of No. %of No. %of No. %of
cattle cattle cattle national
in ORD in ORD in ORD totali
Banfora 97 67.9 70 19.4 20 9.7 10 207 5.00
Diebougou 130 117.0 90 10.4 8 2.6 2 207 5.00
Bobo Dioulasso 163 65.2 40 40.8 25 57.0 35 362 8.75
Dedougou 322 81.7 25 147.2 45 98.1 30 414 10.00
Koudougou 184 55.2 30 36.8 20 92.0 50 259 6.25
Ouagadougou 237 35.6 15 47.4 20 155.0 65 311 7.50
Koupela 107 32.1 30 64.2 60 10.7 10 104 2.50
Fada N/Gourma 289 28.9 10 115.6 40 144.5 50 362 8.75
Kaya 293 58.6 20 234.4 80 673 16.75
Ouahigouya 155 155.0 100 311 7.50
Dori 573 573.0 100 932 22.50
Totals 2 550 483.6 19 540.4 21 1 531.0 60 4 142 100.00
Source : Upper Volta, Direction des Services de 1' Elevage, 1977.
100
Of the total 4 142 000 small ruminants in 1977, approximately 2 485 000 were
goats and 1 657 000 were sheep, giving a ratio of three goats for every two sheep.
In the study area, there are about 1 500 000 goats and 1 000 000 sheep.
Humpless cattle account for about 19% of the total cattle herd throughout
the country, and crossbreds for another 21%. In the study area, which includes all
the ORDs except Dori, Ouahigouya and Kaya, about 32% of the 1 529 000 cattle are
humpless and 35% crossbreds. Figure 2 shows the northern limit of the tsetse zone,
the distribution of the national herd and the proportions of Zebu, crossbred and
humpless cattle in the 11 ORDs.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
The humpless cattle of Upper Volta belong mainly to the West African Short
horn group and are known as Mere or Lobi (see Figure 3.38, volume 1) or Lobi
Gouin in the south . Crossbreeding with Zebu is common, as indicated by numbers
of crossbreds shown in Table 2. In Banfora ORD, there are also a number of
N' Dama originating from Mali, and some Azaouak, imported from Niger, are kept,
mostly on government research stations.
3.1.1 Mere
The Mere of Upper Volta resemble the Baoule of Ivory Coast (see Chapter
3, volume 1), though according to Tyc and Legrand (1972) the Mere tend to be
smaller in Banfora ORD in the south. These authors report that the Mere tend to
increase in size from south to north, from Banfora to Gaoua and Dedougou, even
without any signs of crossbreeding.
The mortality rate in the southwestern area, according to Tyc and Legrand
(1972), ranges from 30 to 50% for calves up to one year old, mainly due to internal
parasites. The average carcass weights for Mere at Banfora abbatoir in 1971 were
68 kg for 134 females and 74 kg for 258 males. Higher weights were reported from
the Bobo Dioulasso abbatoir, namely 99. 5 kg for 258 females, and 95 kg for 575
males, most likely because humpless cattle and crossbreds were grouped together.
The average carcass weight for Zebu at Bobo Dioulasso was 114 kg. SCET (1972)
reports average carcass weights from a number of abbatoirs around the country
similar to those at Banfora; among humpless cattle, 80 kg for males and 75 kg for
females, and among Zebu, 110 kg for males and 95 kg for females.
3.1.2 Zebu x Humpless Crossbreds
There are many Zebu x humpless crossbreds in Upper Volta, and their
numbers seem to be increasing. There are already more crossbreds than pure
Figure2.Cattlenumbersandbre ddistri ution.
■"■Boundaryoftsetse-infestedzo
UJUldBoundaryfzonewherZebupredomin te
■^^™Boundaryfzonewhercr ssb edattlp edomin te
Mam-
 
COTED'lVO58E
6.DwarfWestAfricanSho tho
2.SavannaWestAfricaSho thor
3.ShorthornxZebu
4.N'Dama
5.N'DamaxZebu
6.Zebu
102
humpless cattle, though both are often called Mere (see Figure 3.56, volume 1).
The main crossbred area is a belt from west to east, including Bobo Dioulasso and
Koudougou and widening parallel to the southern border south of Koupela and Fada
NGourma.
These crossbreds include all types of mixtures between the two original
breeds and their appearance varies considerably. Their coats are mostly black,
black-and-white or brown-and-white, and their horns are of medium length. They are
generally small, smaller than the Borgou of Benin for instance.
According to Mordant and Lebrun (1969), the age at first calving under
village conditions is between 4 and 5 years, with a calving interval of 540 to 730 days.
The same authors report a mortality rate from birth to 4 years of about 50% in the
southern part of the country under village conditions. Weights at birth and at eight
months recorded on two government stations are given in Table 3. At Farako-Ba
Station, crossbreds with a more humpless appearance studied from 1966 to 1977
were fed improved pasture plus hay, while at Saria Station, crossbreds with a more
Zebu appearance were fed improved pasture plus straw and fodder from 1965 to 1967.
Table 3. Weights of crossbred cattle at birth and 8 months on two government
stations .
Farako-Ba Station Saria Station
Female Male Female Male
Number of births 14 15 14 15
Birth weight (kg) 18 18 15 18
Number at 8 months 4 3 5 5
8-month weight (kg) 91 111 128 138
Source : Borget, 1969.
The only information available on draught capacity is from a trial carried
out at Saria Station in 1965. An average continuous draught power of 60 kg was
achieved by a pair of oxen weighing 480 kg, reported by Mordant and Lebrun (1969).
3.1.3 NDama
There are very few NDama in Upper Volta. A few are found in Banfora ORD
near the Mali border, and some purebred N'Dama are kept on government stations
in Matourkou and Samandeni in the southwestern part of the country.
The N'Dama kept on the stations are the classical Guinean type, with fawn
coats, while those kept under village conditions are very often crossbred with Mere.
Adult cows kept at Matourkou Station under improved grazing on average
measured 107 cm at withers and weighed 249 kg (van Binsbergen, 1973). Three
103
two-year-old steers were kept for two months on a diet of cotton seed and
Brachiaria ruziziensis hay : their average weight was 158 kg at the beginning and
188 kg at the end of the experiment, indicating an average weight gain of 517 g
daily (van Binsbergen, 1973).
Draught capacity was tested by the Institut de Recherches Agronomiques
Tropicales et des Cultures Vivrieres (IRAT) at Farako-Ba and Saria Stations. At
Farako-Ba, a pair of oxen weighing 730 kg achieved an average continuous draught
power of 89 kg and a maximum of 235 kg (Pagot, et al. , 1972). At Saria, a pair
weighing 650 kg achieved a draught power of 70 to 80 kg on a continuous basis
(Mordant and Lebrun, 1969).
3.1.4 Zebu
The Zebu of Upper Volta will not be described in detail, but they account for
about one-third of the cattle in the study area, which is considered a tsetse-infested
zone. These herds are owned by Fulani and are found mainly in the northern, drier
portions of the study area where tsetse infestation is lower, but large herds are also
moved into the areas where humpless cattle predominate, down as far as the southern
border and into northern Togo, for example. They are also sometimes kept in
small pockets in areas of humpless cattle and crossbreds, for example in the White
Volta valley and the region west of Bobo Dioulasso. More recently, the Fulani
seem inclined to move their herds towards the southwest, rather than only to the
open plains of the southeast.
In Upper Volta, the Zebu are of the Sudanese Fulani Zebu breed. Their
external appearance varies, both in terms of coat colour and the shape of the horns.
They tend to be relatively small and light weight compared with other Zebu of this
part of Africa.
Studies of Zebu are largely carried out at the herd level in the Sahelian and
Sub-Sahelian zones. However, at Matourkou Station four adult females were measured,
averaging 1.16 m at withers and 270 kg liveweight. Rochez (1977) reported the
results of five intensive fattening trials carried out with local Zebus in Kou Valley
in Bobo Dioulasso ORD. The weight gains of these animals are presented in Table
4. Their average dressing out percentage was 56. 5%.
Table 4. Zebu fattening operations in Kou Valley.
Intensive fattening Fattening under village
conditions
I II EI I II
Number of animals 10 9 9 11 10
Length of trial (days) 252 236 124 90 180
Average weight:
beginning 218 243 230 382 325
end 296 318 304 417 362
Average daily weight gain (g) 308 550 593 388 205
Source: Rochez, 1977.
104
Zebu tend to be more popular than the humpless breeds in Upper Volta for
several reasons : a higher offtake rate is possible with Zebu and they are more
suitable for training as draught animals. Almost all draught animal development
projects in the country use Zebu or crossbreds. However, in the southwest and the
valleys of the Voltas, these animals must be kept under chemoprophylaxis. Through
out the southern area, trypanocidal drugs are heavily used, though not necessarily
under veterinary supervision.
3.1.5 Azaouak and their Crosses
Data on Azaouak and their crosses are available from Matourkou Station.
According to van Binsbergen (1973), milk yields averaging 1 059 kg over 238 days
were obtained from 50 cows with lactations over 100 days, and Mordant and Lebrun
(1969) reported average yields at the same station of 1 300 kg per lactation. Body
weights for Azaouak and their crosses are shown in Table 5. As part of a fattening
trial, three 12-month-old steers were fed a ration of cotton seed and Brachiaria
ruziziensis hay over 58 days. Their average weight at the beginning of the period
was 130 kg and at the end it was 172 kg, representing a daily weight gain of 724 g.
A crossbreed between West African Shorthorn, Azaouak and N'Dama was
produced at Saria and Farako-Ba Stations by IRAT in an effort to produce improved
draught animals. Malcoiffe (1972) reported the average age at first calving and
calving intervals for this crossbreds given in Table 6. Weaning occurred naturally
at 7.5 to 11 months, and cows were not milked.
Table 6. Age at first calving and calving interval for crossbreds between WAS,
Azaouak and N'Dama (number of animals in brackets).
Saria
Average Age at
First Calving (months)
Average Calving
Interval (days)
1969
1970
31 (9)
31 (5)
371 (16)
388 (18)
Farako-Ba
1970
1971
38 (4)
37 (6)
378 (20)
408 (20)
Source : Malcoiffe , 1972.
The average weights of these crossbreds at the two stations are given in
Table 7.
o(nqazx
851
xz 62, 931
_.8 88
BUIBQiN)
91?W 'ON 9 8 8 - - 8,
X5fBnOBZV
ajBiua.j sn 3
TIT ssx — - mt
•om
8 8 8 - - -
nqazIBooi
9TBNT
3h
82 zox 091 LO2 33
98
'ON 01 9 s 2 2 -
22.8X
x^BnoBzy
aXBtuaj &[
tz
*8 2SI
891 881
-
-8001
'ON 01 L 8 9 2. -
BtoBQiN aiBW
351 I2 2.8
28T
8ST
82.X
091
•ON
81 91 tX 8 L I
22.8X
X3JBnOBZV
9XBUI3J 331 8X
82.
3X
9SI
081 II2
-800T
'ON 8Z
LX
9X
ex zx f
*vm
3>i
ez
WX
89X
882
W2 9X8
'S2.8X
5fBnoBzv
•on
9t 2X
ZX 2. Q f
22.8X
aXBuia^
35X
X2
*8
tSX X8X
2X2
28
-900X
'uaSaaqsuig
"ON 2f 8X
XZ tz X2 ST
potaadApn^g
uBr:aoanog
WIS
sq^uoui9
sq;uoui2X sqiuouigx sqiuorafz sq;uoui08
8888no5iaTio;Bivs ssoaoax q;puB^BnoBzyjs;qSiaMAp g"gi Bj,
106
Table 7. Average weights of WAS, Azaouak and N'Dama crossbreds.
12 Months 18 Months 24 months 30 Months 36 Months
no. kg no. kg no. kg no. kg no. kg
Farako-Ba
female 22 155 20 204 13 255 11 291 6 290
male 10 174 8 224 5 259 3 328 1 345
Saria
female 17 159 13 193 10 242 5 270 1 307
male 8 189 6 230 4 302 2 389 - -
Source: Malcoiffe, 1972.
3.2 DISEASE
The animal health situation in Upper Volta is a major concern; the cattle
are generally in poor condition (Gruvel and Gauch, 1977; Tyc and Legrand, 1972).
Rinderpest and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) are the most
serious contagious diseases, spread widely through trade and transhumance. In
1974, two outbreaks of rinderpest and 13 outbreaks of CBPP were reported, though
the outbreaks of CBPP were reduced to eight in 1977. This situation is disturbing
because the government health authorities do not have the means to control these
diseases. Tuberculosis occurs mainly in the north, and other contagious diseases,
such as blackquarter, anthrax and foot-and-mouth, occur but have less serious
economic consequences. There were 46 foci of foot-and-mouth in 1974.
The incidence of parasitic diseases is similar to the situation in other
countries, except for a high incidence of rickettsiosis in the south, affecting mostly
young animals. Veterinary treatments for trypanosomiasis and other parasitoses
have been available in each ORD since 1956-57, though fees are charged. Gruvel
and Gauch (1977) reported that T. congolense and T. vivax are predominant in
Upper Volta, together with T. brucei 1° the south. Their distribution and relative
importance are totally unknown.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
Both transhumance and settled agriculture are common in Upper Volta.
Philippe (1975) describes the traditional farmers and transhumants of the Leo area
in the central southern part of the country, and his descriptions are quoted here as
typical of the two predominant production systems.
3.3.1 Herd Management Under a Farming System
The Gurunsi, like all the inhabitants of savanna country, is above all
a farmer. Therefore each village has its herds, however small they may be,
107
usually tended by a Fulani herdsman: 900 cattle for 16 villages (= 2 cattle
per 10 inhabitants). Cattle are the private property of the richest families
in the village: often the chiefs, the marabouts and also old warriors.
Traditionally, quantity is more important than quality. However,
for two years now, villagers have begun to want to buy Zebus on ORD advice
to train them as draught animals. Unfortunately, they have not received any
assistance. . . .
The herds constitute capital and animals are only slaughtered when they are
either old, tired or sick, for weddings, funerals, feasts, sacrifices, of when money
is needed (for taxes, purchase of millet, etc. ). The economic role of the herd is th
thus very limited: manure is never utilized, the milk goes to the Fulani herdsmen,
and meat is hardly ever consumed (game meat is preferred). We would like to point
out, however, the case of a farmer who owned more than 100 cattle. He started
selling them off to buy a millet crusher, but he was also motivated by the fear of
seeing his herd disappear with the herdsman. Often the Gurunsi livestock owners
split up their cattle into small herds, each with its own herdsman (this is insurance
against theft) (Philippe, 1975).
3.3.2 Problems of Transhumance
Only since 1972 have the villages situated away from the traditional trading
routes with Ghana had regular dealings with the transhumants . Transhumants come
from north of the area, from Kedougou and from further north. The northern Fulani
herds are mainly made up of Zebus, while the others are made up of crossbreds,
humpless cattle and some Zebus. They are less healthy than the village herds and
the Fulani of the region accuse the transhumants' herds of spreading parasites to
their cattle. This is very possible since all the herds meet at the same water ponds
where they tread in the mud and contaminate the water. The transhumant herds
have from 40 to 300 head, with an average of 100.
Transhumance is looked down upon by the local Gurunsi, Mossi and
Fulani. Here one comes across the typical antagonism between the pastoralist
from the north and the farmer from the Sudanese belt. Transhumants present
a number of problems to the inhabitants of the region: the farmers' fields are
not respected, waterponds are used up, well water is used at a time when it
does not even meet human requirements, and thefts occur. The transhumant
with his herd behaves like a master and has no respect for the farming
population (Philippe, 1975).
3.3.3 Herd Composition
SCET (1972) carried out surveys of herd composition in 1969-70 in Diebougou
and other ORDs. In all ,63 330 cattle were covered, with typical herd compositions
by sex and age given in Table 8.
108
Table 8. Herd composition in Diebougou and other ORDs (percentages).
Humpless
Diebougou ORD
Females Males Total
Cattle
Other ORDs
Females Males Total
Zebu and Crossbreds
Females Males Total
No adult teeth 8.6
2 or 4 adult teeth 10.9
6 and over adult 46.5
teeth
Totals 66.0
1.1
1.9
16.7
19.8
18.0
15.5
10.9
13.1
28.9
28.6
14.4
14.0
17.0 63.5 37.0
34.0 100.0 70.5
5.5 42.5 40.1
29.5 100.0 68.5
a
11.2 25.6
9.8 23.8
10.5 50.6
31.5 100.0
a. Breeding females.
Source: SCET, 1972.
Tyc and Legrand (1972) report the herd structure of the Mere in Banfora
ORD,as given in Table 9. They remark that 'in our opinion sedentary breeders
exploit their herds at too young an age; in fact, 65% of calves are sold or slaughtered
during their second year and 30% between two and three years' .
Table 9. Herd composition of the Mere. in Banfora ORD.
Females Males %
Cows 3 to 12 years 53
Heifers 2 to 3 years 9
Female calves 0 to 2 years 20
Total females 82
Bulls (4% of adult cows) 2
Young males 1 to 3 years 5
Male Calves 0 to 1 year 11
Total males 18
Source : Tyc and Legrand, 1972.
3.3.4 Draught Animals
Rochez (1977) described the role of draught animals in Upper Volta as
follows ;
Draught animals play one of the most important roles in the economic
and agricultural development of the country. This method has not always
been very popular with technicians, but the person directly involved, the
Voltaian farmer, made up his mind about it a long time ago. In fact, with
the return of favourable weather conditions, the number of ox and donkey
teams has practically doubled in two years, from 21 000 in 1975 to 40 000 in
1977. Introduced 25 years ago on pilot farms, the popularity of draught
animals has varied according to the regions.
109
He estimated the total number of draught oxen at 29 800 as of mid-1977.
The rapid increase in the number of draught animals in recent years is illustrated
by the fact that there were 36 pairs of oxen in Banfora ORD in 1971/72, according
to Tyc and Legrand (1972), and there were 600 pairs in 1977.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 SHEEP
The sheep of Upper Volta vary considerably, ranging from the Djallonke
type in the southwest to the Sahelian breeds in the north. The Djallonke. are found
throughout the study area. Among the Djallonke, the Mossi variety, which is
larger than the variety found further south, can be considered a savanna Djallonke*
(see Figure 3.76, volume 1). In the northern parts of the study area, there is con
siderable crossbreeding with the Sahelian breeds.
Mordant and Lebrun (1969) reported a lambing rate of 80 to 90% under
village conditions in the southern part of the country. Lambing occurs chiefly from
April to June and in September.
SCET (1972) reports an average carcass weight for sheep of 12. 8 kg, while
the Service de l'Elevage reports an average carcass weight of 8.5 kg in its 1976
meat production statistics, based on the weights of animals slaughtered at the
freezing plant at Ouagadougou.
4.2 GOATS
According to Mordant and Lebrun (1969), the goats of Upper Volta are of
an intermediate Sudanian type, between the Guinean and Sahelian goats in appear
ance. However, they cannot be considered a cross between these two breeds.
SCET (1972) reports an average carcass weight for goats of 11 kg, while the average
carcass weight recorded at the Ouagadougou freezing plant was 7.5 kg.
The chief diseases among goats, as well as sheep, are pleuropneumonia and
Internal parasites (Tyc and Legrand, 1972).
110
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
There is no animal husbandry research as such in Upper Volta. However,
there are several biological research and training centres in the town of Bobo
Dioulasso.
The Centre de Recherches sur les Trypanosomiases Animales in Bobo
Dioulasso (B.P. 454) is indicated by +1 in Figure 1. This research centre, with
assistance from IEMVT, is now studying the biological control of tsetse flies by the
sterile male technique (see IEMVT, 1977). G. palpalis gambiensis is bred in
the laboratory and the males are sterilized by radiation and released in the infested
area. As of 1978,the centre planned to diversify its activities by initiating a study
of the biochemical and genetic aspects of trypanotolerance. This new project was
supported by West Germany and DGRST and IEMVT in France.
The Ecole de Lutte Anti- Tsetse (ELAT) is also at Bobo Dioulasso. With
support from West Germany and France, this school trains technical staff for tsetse
control organizations. Three other institutions at Bobo Dioulasso carry out work on
human trypanosomiasis : the Organisation Commune de Controle des Grandes
Endemies (OCCGE), the 'Muraz' centre doing medical research, particularly
focussing on parasitology, and a centre of the French Office de la Recherche
Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer (ORSTOM) with a medical entomology team.
5. 2 MULTIPLICATION AND EXTENSION
Multiplication and extension herds in the study area are described in
Table 10. The main station engaged in multiplication work is at Markoye outside
the study area in the Sahel. Here, a multiplication herd of Azaouak Zebu is kept,
as well as sheep and goats .
Although the Samandeni and Farako-Ba stations are listed here as multi
plication herds, they could also be described as research stations in terms of the
work carried out in the past. They are designated as research stations in Figure 1.
5.3 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
There are six livestock development projects currently underway in Upper
Volta with activities in the study area. These are described in Table 11.
Table10.Multiplicationandex ensionherds.
Name
CentredeFormation
Matourkou
StationdeSam ndeni,c/CRTA,
B.P.454,oboDioulasso
StationdeFar ko-Ba
Location(and referencei
Figure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
15kmsouthofB boDi ulasso
1000ha
250headincluding50NDama,
40draughtoxenand115
AzaouakZebu(1975)
Trainingcentrewi hlives ock
component.Animalperforma ce
isrecordedbuttherano
recentpublications.
NearBoboDioul sso
Directiond sSe vices
l'Elevage
1unlocalhumpiesscattlr
Mere,55NDama(1975)
Theherdismixanop r
formancedatarerecorded.
Couldbeintegratedwiththery- panotoleranceresearchproj ct.
NearBoboDioulosso
(•)4
irat
150head,inclu ing5crossbredows
(humplessxAzaouak)and15Mere
cows
Draughtanimalresearch.Lochu p- lessandN'Daraawe ecrossedth
crossbredobtainwaso sewith
theAzaouakZebufr mNig r.Results
fortheirstgenera ionw esatisfac ory.
to
Table8.Developmentprojects.
ProjetElevageOu st-
Volta(PEOV)
FeedlotdeBanfora
AssistancealCulture
Attelee
ElevageVillageois
Ameliorationde1'Elevage traditionneld nsl'ORDd
Banfora
DedougouandBobo-
DioulassoORD, BoboDioulasso
▲6
Directiond1'El vage,
MinistereduDeveloppe-
mentRural,B.P.116
BoboDi ulasso
58000km,8 0
inhabitants
ComoeORD,Banf ra
A8
ONERA-Ministeredu
DeveloppementRural,
B.P.33,anfora
facilitiesor2feedlot
with3000headeac
Entirecountry,
Ouagadougou
▲8
SecretaireP rmanentdu
Comitedeo rdination
duDeveloppementRural,
MinistereduDeveloppe
mentRural,B.P.585
Ouagadougou
Kaya,oupelaandF d
NgoumaORDs,
Ouagadougou
CIDR,Ministeredu
DeveloppementRural,
B.P.35,Ouagadougou
BanforaORD,
▲50
MinistereduDevelopp m nt
Rural
5villages
Cattleandsma ltock
Approx.400Zebus
Alltypeofcatt eand
donkeys
Cattle,sheepandgoats
Mere,crossbreds,Z us
IBRD
Germany(GTZ)
UNDP,FAOandDe mark
(DANIDA)
USA(U AID)
EEC( DF)
Name
Amenagementd sVallees
desVolta(AW)
Locationand headquarters
(andreference
inFigure5)
Organization
responsible
Size
White,RedanBlack
Voltavalleys, Ouagadougou
35
MinistereduDeveloppe-
mentRural
BreedsanI888,approx.3500
numberscattle,m inlyZebus,of
which500weredraught
oxen
ObjectivesExpansionandimpro
mentoftraditionalherds. Establishmentofvillages
innewar asusing
draughtoxenf rarmi g.
Increasebre dingstock
forranchdevelopment.
Improvelivestock
marketingandrei force
veterinaryfacilities.
Create8ranchesa dth ir
developmentcentre.
Internalandex
parasitecontrolfosheep
andgoats.
Industrialfatteningpilot projectincludingvi lage
fatteningtrialsnd
introductionolocal
people.
Encouragetheuseof
draughtanimalsinnew
regions.Consolidatetheir
establishmentwherthey arealreadyinuse.U ofanimalsforcultiv tion
aswellpul ingvehicles.
Developandext nd
improvedox-drawnequip
ment.
Assistthelivestockervi e inplanninga destablishing
cattleand/orsmall-stock
breedingp ojectsatth
villagelevel.Vaccination
programmes,vill ge fattening;creatioof
reserves,pa turecontrol
training.
Promotecattlp duc ionin traditionalareasm kei
profitableapeas ntfarmi g level.Veterinaryassistance, supplementaryfeedi g,Z hu
crossbreeding.
Externalaid
NetherlandsandFrance
(FAC)
Projectperiod3years:885-888
886-880
886-888
4years:885-888
886-888
4years:886-880
113
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Borget, M (1969). ' Observations sur les troupeaux des stations IRAT' . In
Colloque sur l'elevage. Fort Lamy, IEMVT, pp. 240-251.
Boudet, G and Dumas, R (1975). Integration de la production animale dans
l ' exploitation agricole dans le cadre de l'amenagement des Voltas.
Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 151p.
Bremaud, O, Beck, K, Nissen, N, Vindrinet, R and Lindau, M (1976). La sante
animale en Haute-Volta. Eschborn and Paris, GTZ/SEDES, 95p.
Gidel, R (1972). 'Etude sur la composition moyenne de troupeaux de bovins de
Haute Volta et de Cote d'lvoire en fonction de l'age et du sexe' . Rev. Elev.
Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 25, pp. 543-550.
Gruvel, J and Gauch, J G (1977). Les trypanosomiases animales en Haute Volta.
AG:DP/RAF/75/001. Rome, FAO.
Hack, H (1974). Moglichkeiten der langfristigen Entwicklung der Sahellander
Obervolta, Mali, Niger. Bonn, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation,
I21p.
Herman, L (1977). Cattle and meat marketing in Upper Volta. REDSO/WA 77-100
Abidjan, USAID.
IEMVT (1974). Implantation d'un ranch d'embouche en Haute Volta - Region de
Leo, Etude Agrostologique No. 40. Maisons Alfort.
IEMVT (1977). Programme de recherche sur la trypanosomiase bovine: Etude de
la trypanotolerance . 738/DIR. Maisons Alfort.
Malcoiffe, C (1972). 'Note sur la gestion et devolution des troupeaux bovins des
stations IRAT de Haute Volta (1963-1971)' . L'Agronomie Tropicale.
27 (5), pp. 608-632.
Mordant, J and Lebrun, J P (1969). Le potentiel zootechnique de la Haute Volta.
Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 327p.
Pagot, J, Coulomb. J and Petit, J P (1972). 'Revue et situation actuelle de l'emploi
des races trypanotoLerantes' . Paper presented at the Seminaire Inter
regional FAO/ WHOsur la Trypanosomiase Africaine, held at Kinshasa, 42p.
Philippe J (1975). 'Etude socio- geographique pour 1' implantation d'un ranch d'em
bouche dans la region de Leo' . Ouagadougou, Centre Voltaique de la
Recherche Scientifique, Direction de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales.
114
Rochez, A (1977). Rapport final de l'expert en production animale: Assistance
a la culture attelee. Project UPV 17 Den. Rome, FAO.
SCET-International (1972). 'Notede Synthese'. In La production animale voltaique:
Perspectives de developpement. Volume 2. Paris, Secretariat d' Etat aux
Affaires Etrangeres.
SEDES (1975). L 'Elevage en Haute Volta: Analyse et propositions d'orientation.
Paris, Ministere de la Cooperation.
Traore, S (1964). ' L' Elevage bovin en Haute Volta : Importance relative du zebu et
du taurin'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Lyon.
Tyc, J M and Legrand, M (1972). Developpement de l'elevage dans l'ouest de la
Haute Volta. Paris, SEDES.
Upper Volta, Direction des Services de 1' Elevage (1977). Rapport annuel.
Ouagadougou.
USAID (1976). 'Village livestock'. Project No. 686-0203.
Ouagadougou.
van Binsbergen, H (1972). 'La culture attelee dans le developpement rural' .
Matourkou, FAO, 3 Op.
van Binsbergen, H (1973). 'Centre agricole polyvalent de formation de Matourkou
(Phase II): Rapport final de 1' expert en production animale' . Matourkou,
FAO.
WIP (1975). Etude de factibilite d'un ranch d'embouche dans le sud-ouest
voltaique (Banfora) . Munich.
115
CHAPTER 9
IVORY COAST
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Ivory Coast lies on the west coast of Africa, with Ghana
to the east, Liberia to the west and Guinea, Mali and Upper Volta to the north. The
country, with its capital at Abidjan, is divided into 26 administrative departments
grouped into six regions with their regional centres as follows: Nord (Korhogo),
Centre (Bouake), Ouest (Man), Centre-Ouest (Daloa), Est (Abengourou) and Sud
(Abidjan). (See Figure 1.)
In 1966, Ivory Coast created a Ministere de la Production Animale which
includes among other sections a Direction des Services Veterinaires, a Direction de
la Production Animale and a Service d'Agrostologie et de Production Fourragere.
The Direction de la Production Animale has an office in each region and department.
The Ministry has also created a Societe de Developpement des Productions
Animales (SODEPRA) which is responsible for breeding, extension and development
activities .
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1 .
Table 1. Background data for the Ivory Coast.
__---
Area 322 500 km
Latitude 5° - 10° N
Longitude 3 - 8 E
Population
number 7 028 001)
density 21. 8Am
Livestock numbers
cattle 516 000
sheep 722 000
goats 568 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for cattle numbers, national census, 1978;
for sheep and goats, national estimate, 1975.
116
Figure 1. Administrative divisions, location of research centres, multiplication
herds and development projects .
MAL
 
HAUTE-VOLTA
GUINE E
^^ National boundary
T"-" Administrative boundaries
Besearch centres
^ Laboratory working on trypanotolerance and/or trypanosomiasis
9 Centre with trypanotolerant livestock as main activity
Multiplication herds
■ Governmental farm or ranch with trypanotolerant livestock
Development projects
▲ Livestock project focussing on trypanotolerant breeds
A Agricultural project with trypanotolerant livestock component
0 Capital
• Administrative centre
117
Ivory Coast has a forest and Guinean climate south of the eighth parallel
with two rainy seasons from May to mid-July and October to November and an annual
rainfall between 1 200 and 2 400 mm. In the north,the climate is Sudano- Guinean
with one rainy season from July to November and an annual rainfall between 1 100
and 1 600 mm.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), the entire
country is infested with tsetse. The principal species are: G. palpalis which is
found throughout the country, G. morsitans, G. longipalpis and G. tachinoides
in the northern savanna region and G. fusca, G. medicorum and G. pallicera
pallicera in the south. Gruvel and Gauch (1977) report that the distribution of
these species is not known in more detail.
A number of surveys have been carried out recently in connection with ranch
ing development projects in the savanna areas. Four species of tsetse have been
identified in these areas : G. palpalis gambiensis and G. tachinoides found
principally in the forest galleries, and G. morsitans submorsitans and G.
longipalpis which are more widespread.
A general study of tsetse infestation in the savanna zone was launched in
1978 with assistance from FAO. This study should provide more exact information
on tsetse distribution in the northern half of the country.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
The cattle population is given in Table 2, broken down by region. In Nord
Region, which accounts for nearly 80% of the national herd, figures are also given
for each department. This table shows that 23% of the national herd are Zebu and
77% are of the humpless breeds.
A more recent census (1978) carried out by the Ministere de la Production
Animale recorded 160 000 Zebu in Nord Region, which brings the national herd up to
about 516 000 head.
Table 3 and Figure 2 show the distribution of cattle according to three
vegetational zones : the northern savanna including the five northern departments,
the central savanna including eight departments and the forest region with thirteen
departments. The table also gives the estimated total population of the three main
cattle types, N'Dama, Baoule*and Mere, and Zebu.
As this table indicates, only 4% of the cattle in Ivory Coast are found in the
southern forested area. In the savanna zones, cattle are distributed unevenly, with
some very densely populated areas, such as Korhogo, the area north of Bouna,
Boundiali and Tingrela, some intermediate areas and some areas with almost no
cattle at all.
118
Figure 2. Cattle numbers and breed distribution.
 
 
MALI
HAUTE- VOLTA
GUINEE
1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. N'Dama x Zebu
6. Zebu
Savanna - forest boundary
Boundaries of SODEPRA livestock development projects
119
Table 2. Cattle numbers in Ivory Coast, 1977.
Region Department Zebu Humpless Total
Nord Odienne 7 800 28 400 36 200
Boundiali 45 000 34 100 79 100
Korhogo 32 500 86 800 119 300
Ferkessedougou 22 000 35 900 57 900
Bouna - 58 800 58 800
Sub- Total 107 300 244 000 351 300
Centre
Ouest
Centre-Ouest
Est
Sud
43 400 43 400
29 100 29 100
13 700 13 700
12 800 12 800
13 200 13 200
Total 107 300 356 200 463 500
Source: Ivory Coast, Ministere de la Production Animale.
Table 3. Cattle distribution in Ivory Coast according to breed and vegetation
zone.
Vegetation Zone N'Dama Baoule and
Mere"
Zebu Total % of National
Herd
North savanna
Central savanna
Forest region
27 000 217 000
50 000
19 000a
160 000 404 000
90 000
22 000
78.3
40 000 17.4
3 000 4.3
Total 70 000
13.6
286 000
55.4
160 000
31
516 000
100.0
100.0
% of national herd
a. Including a few Lagune cattle from the coastal region.
Source : Ivory Coast, Ministere de la Production Animale.
120
The Baoule account for about half the cattle population in the country.
They predominate in the savanna areas, except in the west and northwest where the
N' Dama are more numerous. They are also found in the forest area in small iso
lated groups. In 1967, the Baoule were estimated at about 75% of the national herd,
but their numbers have been decreasing, mainly due to crossbreeding with Zebu.
The N'Dama are found in the northwest, in Odienne, Touba, Biankouma and
Man Departments, which border the original breeding area of the Guinean type.
N' Dama are also kept on three government ranches and on a number of private and
government stud farms.
The Zebu have been introduced recently in Ivory Coast in a small area
below the northern border of Tingrela, Boudiali, Korhogo and Ouangolodougou. They
are kept alone or sometimes together with Baoule'.
In the areas where Zebu and humpless cattle are kept together, the cross-
breds or 'Mere' are found, though it is difficult to estimate their numbers,
especially as they include a variety of intermediate types. For the country as a
whole, there are an estimated 36 000 Mere or 10 to 15% of the group classified as
Baoule or Mere in Table 3. There seems to be a good deal of crossbreeding going
on in the north. Most often Zebu and Baoule are crossed, but also Zebu and N'Dama.
There are still a few Lagune cattle in the coastal and forest areas, though
they are no longer in the majority because of the introduction of N'Dama and
Baoule from the savannas. Their numbers are often overestimated. Keita (1973),
for example, reports 7 000 head, but they probably represent no more than 10% of
the total cattle population in Sud Region, or about 1 000 in all.
No recent census of sheep and goats has been carried out. National estimates
in 1975 were 722 000 sheep and 566 000 goats, but FAO (1978a) estimated one million
sheep and one million goats in 1976.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
Ivory Coast has five main cattle breeds or types: Baoule (Savanna West
African Shorthorn), N'Dama, Mere (Zebu x humpless), Lagune (Dwarf West African
Shorthorn) and Zebu (Sudanese type from Mali and Upper Volta).
3.1.1 Baoule
This breed is described in Chapter 3 of volume 1, (see Figures 3.33 and 3.37
volume 1). In Bouna Department in the northeast, these cattle are called Lobi, after'
a local tribe.
121
Some measurements have been carried out at Bouake Centre by Tidori et al.
(1975) as presented in Table 4.
Table 4. Measurements of Baoule cattle.
Females Males
Weight (kg)
Height at withers (m)
Height at sternum (m)
Heart girth (m)
Scapulo-ischial length (m)
N = 40 N = 26
183 +4 267 + 20
0.951 + .014 1.001+ .017
0.467 + .006 0.485 + .010
1.284 + .016 1.405 + .026
1.123 +..017 1.212 + .026
Source : Tidori et al, 1975.
Verly (1968) and Glattleider (1977) both recorded slightly lower heights at withers
for Baoule kept under village conditions: 0.92 to 0.94 m for adult cows.
3.1.1.1 Performance Traits. At Bouake Centre, Tidori et al. (1975) recorded an
average age at first calving of 25 months and 21 days + 40 days. Several surveys
indicate this is between three and four years under village conditions.
The average calving interval calculated from 234 observations at Bouake
Centre (Tidori et al, 1975) was 421 days, and 80% of the observations ranged be
tween 300 and 480 days, leading to an average fecundity rate of 85% per annum.
Estimates under village conditions are 45% (Lemaitre, 1969) and 59% (SEDES, 1972).
Poivey and Seitz (1977) calculated average fecundity rates for 290 Baoule
cows in village herds at Dabakala and Korhogo. The average fecundity rate for cows
with four teeth was 28%, for cows with six teeth 39% and for mature cows with eight
teeth 56%. Thus, neither fecundity nor the level of precocity among these cows was
very high.
Camus (1977) carried out two surveys of fecundity among herds in northern
Ivory Coast under village conditions. Among cows with male calves, there were
4 754 births for all breeds, with a fecundity rate of 39.2%. Of these, there were
2 743 births for Baoule cows, giving a fecundity rate of 40.3%, though the author
mentioned that these figures could be underestimates. The second survey covered
150 000 cattle under the supervision of SODEPRA between June 1976 and June 1977.
The average fecundity rate for cows from 2 to 11 years old was 40% and for cows
from 3 to 10 it was 45%. Fecundity rates according to age group were as follows:
Age
Fecundity Rate
2-3 Years 3-4 Years 4-12 Years 12 - 13 Years
0.2% 15.6% 46.9% 18.9%
122
These surveys indicate that the fecundity rate under village conditions is low and
that precocity is also low, as there is practically no calving under three years and
very little under four years .
At Bouake Centre, Tidori et al (1975) observed a calving season among
Baoule from September to December which accounted for 55% of the annual calving.
Under village conditions, Poivey and Seitz (1977) observed that 68% of the annual
calving occurred in three months from October to December. These calving
seasons are the result of services at the end of the dry season (January to March)
when there is maximum sunlight in the day time and nights are cooler.
It is difficult to get estimates of mortality rates, especially for calves.
Gruvel and Gauch (1977) give a calf mortality rate of 45%. Camus (1977) estimates
12 to 15% and Poivey and Seitz (1977) 17%,and these two estimates, based on recent
surveys, seem more reliable. However, Camus (1977) stresses the great varia
bility in calf mortality among herds and among regions.
Few data are available on Baoule" milk production. Glattleider (1976)
reports milk yields under village conditions in two areas as shown in Table 5.
Table 5. Baoule milk production under village conditions.
Area Number
of Cows
Average Yield per
Lactation (kg)
Average Length Method of Milking
of Lactation (days)
Bouake
Dabakala
35
6
215 + 29
318 + 69
285 direct milking
(monthly recording)
Source : Glattleider, 1976.
180 calf weighing before
and after suckling
Tidori et al. (1975) estimated 309 kg of milk produced from a sample of Baoule cows
during the first 120 days of lactation based on calf weights. Godet (1977) reported a
milked-out yield of about 400 g per day in the dry season and about 700 g per day in
the rainy season under village conditions.
Growth among Baoule cattle at Bouake' Centre, as measured by Tidori et al.
in terms of weight, is shown in Table 6.
Poivey and Seitz (1977) estimated average calf growth under village conditions
from the following linear regressions :
n r
female 32 W= 19.5 + 0.117D 0.68
male 23 W = 14.7 + 0.162D 0.79
where W is weight in kg and D is age in days.
123
Table 6. Baoule growth at Bouake Centre.
Birth 6 Months 1 Year 18 Months 2 Years 3 Years Over 4
Years
Female 12 + 0.3 62+2 96+3 124+3 146+3 166+6 183+4
(N) (209) (172) (144) (111) (97) (41) (96)
Male 13+0.3 61+2 93+3 127+4 162 + 5 213+10 267+20
(N) (176) (138) (111) (81) (65) (28) (9)
Source : Tidori, etal., 1975.
Lhoste (1977) derived an average growth rate of 200 to 350 g/day for
periods varying from 80 to 460 days from a number of fattening trials carried out in
Centre Region. An intensive fattening trial reported by CRZ (1973) achieved an
average growth rate of 496 g/day with 12 Baoule cattle over a period of 84 days
grazing Sty1osanthes with supplementation.
Dressing out percentages for Baoule are around 50%. Rombaut (1973)
recorded 749c meat, 15% fat and 11% bone for a four-year-old ox weighing 281 kg.
3.1.1.2 Index of Productivity. Table 7 summarizes estimates of the main pro
duction traits required to build up a productivity index covering the total weight of
one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow
maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for three production
environments, two involving meat and milk production under village conditions in
medium tsetse challenge areas and one involving meat production under improved
station conditions under light tsetse challenge.
3.1.2 N'Dama
The Ivory Coast N'Dama seem on the whole very similar to those of Guinea,
with uniform coats of yellow, fawn or more rarely brown. However, in the tran
sition zone (Madinani) between Boundali and Odienne, 20 to 30% of the N'Dama have
black coats (uniform pied) and about 30% have other variations, indicating a Baoule
influence.
Coulomb (1976) recorded a number of measurements for N'Dama at Bouake.
Centre. Measurements of four-years-old animals are given in Table 8 to illustrate
the size of this breed.
N' Dama in village herds tend to be smaller, as shown by the measurements
reported by Glattleider (1976) given in Table 9.
124
Table 7. Baoule productivity estimates.
Parameter
Production Environment
Village/low Village/low Station/low
challenge/ challenge/ challenge/
meat and milk meat and milk meat
Cow viability (%) 97
Calving percentage 48
Calf viability to one year (%) 80
Calf weight at one year (kg) 70
Annual milked outfield (kg) 48
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 32. 6
Cow weight 180
Productivity index per 100 kg cow
maintained per year (kg) 18.1
a
98
70
55
75l
70
37.3
200
18.7
a
98
86.7
88
94.5
72.8
183
30.8
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Source : For first environment, personal communication from SODEPRA-Nord, 1978;
second environment, Gruvel and Gauch, 1977; third environment, personal
communication from Centre d'Elevage de Bouake, 1978.
Table 8. Measurements of N'Dama at Bouake Centre.
Weight
(kg)
Height at
withers (m)
Heart
Girth (m)
Scapulo-Ischial
Length (m)
Female (n = 34) 287 + 8
Male (n = 20) 329 + 20
1.14 +0.01
1.16 + 0.02
1.56 +0.02
1.64+0.06
1.41 + 0.02
1.45 + 0.05
Source: Coulomb. 1976 .
Table 9. Measurements of N'Dama cows in two village herds.
Odienne
2 4 6 8
Teeth Teeth Teeth Teeth
Dabakala
2 4 6 8
Teeth Teeth Teeth Teeth
Number of observations
Weight (kg)
Heart girth (cm)
Height at withers (m)
17 24 13 48
142 212 223 267
1.22 1.35 1.42 1.46
0.99 1.00 1.03 1.04
11 20 25 74
202 215 219 262
1.40 1.43 1.45 1.50
0.99 1.00 1.00 1.02
Source : Glattleider, 1976.
125
3.1.2.1 Performance Traits. The age at first calving for heifers with a bull per
manently in the herd averages 35 months and 17 days ± 20 days (Coulomb, 1976). When
bulls are only introduced during a mating season, the average age at first calving is
three years. On the Abokouamekro Ranch (SEDES, 1972) the age at first calving is
between 42 and 45 months.
The fecundity rate for N' Dama under improved conditions is excellent - over
80%. At CRZ Bouake, the fecundity rate is 88. 5 + 3. 2% and the average calving interval
is 420.8 + 9 days (Coulomb, 1976). At Abokouamekro Ranch, the fecundity rate is
80%. Under village conditions, however, fecundity is much lower, often only about
50% according to SODEPRA staff members. Camus (1977) reports an average
fecundity rate of 36. 8% among N' Dama covered by a large survey in northern Ivory
Coast. The average fecundity rate for all animals surveyed was 39.2%. He men
tions, however, that the survey method could have led to underestimates. Never
theless, these results indicate that fecundity among N'Dama under village conditions
tends to be very low, probably less than 50%. This is lower than the rates achieved
under improved conditions on government ranches and research stations by a ratio
as large as 1:2.
The calving season for N'Dama cows is mainly from October to January.
Coulomb (1976) calculated the percentage of calving in each month for 686 calvings
recorded at Bouake Centre over a ten-year period as follows :
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
9.2% 8% 5.3% 7.7% 7.9% 3.4% 3.6% 5.5% 8.3% 17.7% 12.3% 11.1%
The greatest number of calvings occurred in October, and 50% of all calvings occur
ring during the four-month period from October to January.
The mortality rate recorded under improved conditions at the SODEPRA
ranches is about 4% for the entire herd, and about 10 to 12% for unweaned calves
(Glattleider, 1976). Camus (1977) reports 11.9% mortality for calves under one
year under village conditions for the entire SODEPRA Nord Operation, 7.9% for the
Odienne area with N'Dama herds, and 6.6% for the Touba area where the herds are
largely N'Dama. However, because a number of calf mortalities may not have been
recorded, the actual mortality rates have likely been underestimated.
Average N' Dama milk production was estimated by Coulomb (1976) at CRZ
Bouake at 3.3 litres per day during the first four months, based on calf growth. The
average length of 11 lactations recorded at CRZ Bouake was 206 + 29 days, with an
average yield of 588 +158 kgs. At the Bingerville breeding Centre in 1964 the
average length of 12 lactations was 212 + 48 days with an average yield of 384 ± 136
kg. Some crossbreeding with the Jersey breed to improve milk production has also
been undertaken at CRZ Bouake (Letenneur, 1978) but these results are not quoted
here.
The growth of a selected group of N' Dama was recorded at Bouake Centre as
shown in Table 10. Little information is available on N'Dama growth rates under
village conditions. Camus estimated weights from measurements of heart girth
among village herds as given in Table 11 .
126
Table 10. N'Dama growth at Bouake Centre.
Female Male
number kg number kg
Birth
6 months
12 months
18 months
2 years
3 years
4 years
119 17 + 0.5 111 18 +1.0
189 84+2.0 190 90 + 2.5
158 121 +3.0 163 130 +4.0
139 154 +4.0 134 177 +5.0
128 191 +5.0 111 227 +5.5
44 260 +8.0 65 311 +10.0
34 287 +8.0 20 329 + 19. 0
Source : Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake.
Table 11. Estimated weights of cattle in village herds (kg).
2 Teeth 4 Teeth 6 Teeth 8 Teeth
N'Dama 167 184 204 225
(size of sample) (668) (342) (163) (132)
Zebu x N'Dama 217 233 242 267
(size of sample) (8) (9) (6) (6)
Baoule/ 148 168 187 204
Source: Camus, 1977.
This table indicates that N'Dama under village conditions tend to weigh 10%
more than Baoule, while crossbred Zebu x NDamatend to weigh more than N'Dama.
Many fattening trials were carried out at Bouake Centre between 1970 and
1976. From these Lhoste (1977) derives average daily weight gains for N'Dama males
from 250 to 700 g, depending on the length of the trial (from 65 to 365 days) and the
feeding regime. The conversion ratio is between 9.4 and 18.4. Dressing out per
centages for N'Dama are high, ranging from 46.3 to 57.3%.
3.1.2.2 Index of Productivity. Table 12 summarizes estimates of the main pro
duction traits required to build up a productivity index covering the total weight of one-
year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow main
tained per year. This productivity index has been derived for four production environ
ments, two involving meat and milk production under village conditions in medium
tsetse challenge areas, one involving meat production under improved station manage
ment with light tsetse challenge and one involving meat production under ranch
management with medium tsetse challenge.
127
Table 12. N'Dama productivity estimates.
Parameter
Village/ Village/ Station Ranch/
medium medium low medium
challenge/ challenge/ challenge challenge/
meat and milk meat and milk meat meat
Cow viability (%)
Calving percentage
Calf viability to one year (%)
Calf weight at one year (kg)
Annual milked out .yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow
per year (kg)
Cow weight (kg)
Productivity index per kg cow
maintained per year (kg)
98
45
85
1oos
54.1
44.6
250
17.9
17.9
98
70
55
100
84.1
48.2
250
19.3
a
98
86.7
88
126
97.1
287
33.9
98
80
88
108
76.8
260
29.5
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Sources : For first environment, personal communication from SODEPRA-Nord, 1978;
for second environment, Gruvel and Gauch, 1977; for third environment, Coulomb,
1976; for fourth environment, personal communication from SODEPRA ranches, 1978.
3.1.3 Mere
Crossbreeding between Zebu and the humpless breeds is extensive in the
northern areas, though there is little information about the Mere crossbreds or their
numbers (see Figure 3.52, volume 1). Camus (1977) reports out of 1 016 herds
observed in the SODEPRA-Nord area, 283, or 27.8%, had a Zebu or crossbred bull
or some evidence of crossbreeding. Out of 578 herds observed in Korhogo and
Boundiali-Ferke areas, 250, or 43.2%, showed some crossbreeding. He estimates
weights of the males in these herds from measurements of heart girth, as given in
Table 13. A total of 4 200 animals were measured.
Table 13. Weights of male cattle estimated from heart girths.
Baoule Mere (Zebu x Baoule) Zebu
no kg no kg no kg
2 Teeth 1 229 148 146 186 38 204
4 Teeth 593 168 108 212 67 239
6 Teeth 305 187 61 234 31 268
8 Teeth 189 204 55 260 57 309
Source : Camus, 1977.
128
Taking average Baoule weights as a base of 100, the index figures are 126
for Mere and 144 for Zebu. Thus, the average weights of Baoule males increase
by 25% as a result of crossbreeding with Zebu.
3.1.4 Lagune
The Lagune cattle which are found in the coastal and forest areas of Ivory
Coast have been described in detail by Verly (1968). Their conformation is similar
to the Baoule, but they are smaller. Generally, they are black-and-white or all black,
and sometimes fawn. In the southwest around Sassandra and Tabou, however, the
Lagune are frequently red-and-white or patchy red or brown, possible due to a mix
ture with N'Dama (see Figure 3.29, volume 1). Some authors consider the Lagune
from the Sassandra as degenerate N'Dama. Table 14 gives measurements of various
southern groups of Lagune cattle recorded by Verly (1968) and obtained during the
1978 country visit on which this report is based.
Table 14. Measurements of Lagune cattle.
Jaqueville Abidjan Sassandra Sassandra
Area Area Area Area
(Sud) (Sud) (Sud) (Sud)
Number of animals 74 36 42 10
Age (years)
Liveweight (kg)
156-162a 186-201a
5
193-20ia
adults
130-150a
Height at withers (cm) 85 + 0.3 86 + 0.5 90 + 0.5 90.9(88-98)
Scapulo-ischial length (cm) 106.8+0.7 109.4 +1.0 113 + 0.7 109.4(99-124)
Heart girth (cm) 122.6 + 0.8 131.6+1.3 132 + 0.7 124.7(120-132)
Husbandry system traditional traditional traditional palm plant
ations
a. Weight estimated from measurements .
Sources: For first three columns, Verly, 1968; for last column, country visit, 1978.
3.1.5 Zebu
The Zebu of Ivory Coast are of the Sudanese Fulani type, similar to those of
Mali and Upper Volta where they originate. In the northern part of the country, in
the Bagoue valley between Tingrela and Boundiali and between Nielle and Ouangolodogou,
the Fulani are concentrated with their Zebu herds and there are very few humpless
cattle. In more populous areas, Zebu herds are found in small isolated pockets, such
as at Tawara, Niofoin and Dikodougou. These herds are fairly stationary: trans-
humance only occurs on a small scale and over short distances. It is government
policy to settle the Fulani herders in the better developed, healthier areas whenever
possible.
129
No detailed information will be given on the performance or productivity of
Zebu as they are not in their natural area of distribution. Based on a survey of
9 000 head, Gruvel and Gauch (1977) reported a 40% calf mortality rate, a 28.5%
mortality rate for females under one year, an abnormally long generation interval
of 6.5 years, a 20% growth rate which was probably an overestimate, a 0.5 to 1.0%
surplus of adult males and a 12% average offtake rate, with an annual herd increase
of less than 2%.
3.2 DISEASE
The disease situation among cattle in Ivory Coast has been described by
Gruvel and Gauch (1977). According to these authors, among infectious diseases
rinderpest is a constant threat, requiring annual vaccinations, though there has not
been an outbreak since 1973. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) also
causes major problems, stemming from the introduction of diseased animals from
Guinea. Brucellosis requires stringent medical precautions, and vaccinations are
necessary for blackleg and anthrax, which are endemic. Streptothricosis is found
among settled Zebu herds and among improved breeds, which are particularly suscep
tible. Foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin disease are also present. Parasitical
diseases are also widespread. Among samples from Odienne, Boundiali and
Korhogo, the Korhogo Laboratory found 39% gastro-intestinal strongylosis, 14%
coccidiosis, 37% piroplasmosis, 7% trypanosomiasis and 7% filariosis.
It is generally agreed that trypanosomiasis is widespread throughout Ivory
Coast and presents a major obstacle to upgrading or the introduction of new stock.
The Korhogo laboratory carried out a survey of the northern departments in 1976.
Out of 2 126 samples, 152 were positive, or 7.4%. A number of surveys undertaken
over the years confirm this finding, indicating a trypanosomiasis infestation of about
7% in the savanna areas where the humpless breeds predominate
The Korhogo laboratory carried out a survey in 1975 of animals in poor
condition from Zebu, crossbred, Baoule and N'Dama herds likely to be infected with
trypanosomiasis. The rate of infection ranged from 4.3 to 6.6% according to breed,
but the differences were not significant.
Young animals seem to be the most susceptible to trypanosomiasis. Camus
(1977) reported an infection rate of 9. 6% among calves under two years, as com
pared with 4.9% for older animals, among sedentary herds of humpless cattle. The
highest percentage of infected animals was in the 15-day-to-3-month age group.
Surveys undertaken by the Dakar laboratory in 1952 found T. congolense 3
T. vivax an(j T. brucei in ivory Coast. Surveys carried out in 1975 by IEMVT
found T. vivax and T. congolense among Zebu and humpless cattle, and it seems
that these two species predominate in the north.
3. 3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
The most common cattle production system in Ivory Coast is a sedentary
system, with humpless cattle owned by farmers. There is also some transhumance
130
or semi-transhumance among Fulani with Zebu herds who have recently come from
neighbouring countries, but only the settled production system will be discussed
here.
In the north, Baoule cattle from one village are often herded together by a
hired Fulani herdsman. Cattle play an important social role and are often slaugh
tered for traditional, religious or family feasts. They also represent a form of
saving, and commercial offtake is low.
The role of the Fulani herdsmen is very important as the farmers who own
t he cattle do not supervise their care and may not even be able to identify which
animals are theirs. The herdsmen generally receive a salary plus all or part of the
milk from the herd, but their social status is precarious and they are often dis
satisfied with their terms of employment. For this reason, there is often rapid turn
over among herdsmen and the health and wellbeing of the animals tends to suffer.
In a survey in Nord Region supervised by the extension services, Godet (1976)
found that among the Lobi people of Bouna the village children looked after the cattle
herd. Milking in this area was rarer than elsewhere in the region: less than 50% of
the herds were milked at all and only 25% were milked every day.
Poivey and Seitz (1977) surveyed Baoule herds in Bouna, Dabakala and Korhogo
and found from a sample of 761 animals an average herd composition of 31% males and
69% females. They found very few males over two years - virtually no steers and
only 6 adult bulls. These findings were confirmed by Kouakou (1977) from a survey
of 1 800 head and are probably due to a high offtake rate of young males. Field obser
vations carried out in connection with this study varied widely : there were herds with
as many as 5 adult bulls, but 5% of the herds had no bulls over 2 years old at all.
The Baoule in Ivory Coast are kept almost exclusively under traditional village
conditions. However, a few herds have been established under improved conditions by
SODEPALM on palm tree plantations. They appear to have adapted very well to this
new environment.
The government extension services have distributed INPDama sires among
sedentary herds in the north in an attempt to improve the Baoule stock. Results have
been mixed. Large herds of N' Dama are also maintained on government ranches.
Sipilou and Abokouamekro ranches have reached their full stocking capacity of 5 000
and 4 000, while La Marahoue Ranch, with 3 000 NTJama, is still growing. The
management system on these ranches is described in chapter 3 of volume 1.
N'Dama have also been introduced on palm tree plantations by SODEPALM
with the aim of absorbing the Baoule. In addition, they are the most suitable breed
for draught animals. The use of draught oxen is a fairly recent innovation in Ivory
Coast, linked with cotton cultivation. As of 1977, there were about 15 000 draught
oxen used in the cotton- growing area.
Lagune cattle are kept in areas where the farmers do not traditionally
keep cattle. They are rarely herded.
131
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4 . 1 BREED DESCRIPTION
Sheep in the Ivory Coast are of the Djallonke breed, also called Guinea or
Dwarf West African sheep. Two varieties may be distinguished : the dwarf sheep
found in forest areas, and the larger DjallonkS Savanna sheep in the north.
Goats in the Ivory Coast are of the West African Dwarf or Guinea type .
They are found throughout the country.
4.1.1 Sheep
4.1.1.1 Performance Traits. Rombaut and Van Vlaenderen (1976) report for
sheep under village conditions an average height at withers of 40 to 60 cm and an
average weight of 20 to 30 kg for adult females and 25 to 35 kg for adult males.
Measurements recorded by Ginisty (1976) are given in Table 15.
Table 15. Measurements of sheep.
Females - Young Males
12 3 4 5 over 1 Year
Tooth Tooth Tooth Tooth Tooth after Fattening
Average weight (kg)
Heart girth (cm)
Height at withers (cm)
Height to sternum (cm)
Scapulo-ischial length
17.8 19.1 21.1 23.3
61.7 63.2 66.7 69.1
50.7 50.8 51.2 54.7
29.7 30.2 29.5 30.8
21.0 24.0
65.7 67.4
52.2 52.7
30.2 29.5
- 60.0
Source : Ginisty, 1976 .
The same author checked oestrus twice a day in female lambs, and observed
the first heat on average at 259 days (206 - 322 days). From this, the age at first
lambing can be reckoned at 13 to 14 months. Rombaut and Van Vlaenderen (1976)
reported a faster rate of development in southern Ivory Coast, with an average at
first lambing of 11.5 months (9.5 - 14 months) They calculated a fecundity rate of
206%, based on short lambing intervals (75% were 7 months or less) and a 27%
twinning rate.
In spite of these indications of excellent fecundity and satisfactory prolificacy
among local sheep, Rombaut and Van Vlaenderen (1976) report a poor reproductive
performance due to high mortality rates among the young. Among ewes mated when
they were four to eight months old, there was an 89% mortality rate for lambs under
132
one year. Among adult ewes, the mortality rate of lambs under one year was 62.5%.
Lamb mortality rates were also higher among ewes who gave birth very frequently.
Among those with a lambing interval of less than seven months, the lamb mortality
rate was 76%. Among ewes with a lambing interval of seven months or more, on the
other hand, the lamb mortality rate was only 19%. This poor productivity could be
improved by better flock management, including controlled weaning, protection of
female lambs and better spacing of mating, which would improve the condition of the
ewes.
These findings were confirmed by Ginisty (1976), who studied reproductive
parameters among sheep under traditional village conditions. He found that fertility
was higher than 160%, as the females mated freely and lambed more than three times
in two years. The prolificacy rate, on the other hand, was only 110%, meaning 10%
twin births. This gave a fecundity rate of around 175%. However, the actual productivity
of these village flocks was poor because up to 50% of the lambs died under four months of
age.
The same author carried out an experiment with 400 ewes, comparing the re
productive performance of animals fed four types of improved diet with that of a
control group. The results are shown in Table 16, with all the animals fed on
improved diets grouped together.
Table 16. Reproduction performance of ewes under normal and improved feeding.
Improved Diet Control Group Total
Fertility
Prolificacy
Fecundity
Mortality of young
Source : Ginisty, 1977.
These results confirm the observation that high lamb mortality rates are due
to the poor condition of the ewes which is related to the reproduction pattern
(Rombaut and van Vlaenderen, 1976) and to inadequate feeding.
Rombaut and Van Vlaenderen (1976) compared birth weights with lamb
mortality rates for a sample of Ivory Coast sheep. Results are given in Table 17.
Ginisty (1976) reported preweaning growth rates for male lambs. The
average daily gains are shown in Table 18. He also carried out several fattening
trials with young male sheep (1976, 1977). The most important results are given
in Table 19.
88% 83% 86%
13% 102% 110%
99% 85% 95%
15% 48% 24%
133
Table 17. Birth weights and lamb mortality.
Weight % of all Births Mortality to 5 months
under 1 kg
between 1 and 1. 5 kg
between 1 . 5 and 2 kg
over 2 kg
13% 100%
45% 80%
29% 56%
13% -
Source: Rombaut and van Vlaenderen, 1976.
Table 18. Average daily gains for male lambs.
0-30 0-60 30-120 0-120 Weight at 4
Days Days Days Days Months (kg)
(g/day) (g/day) (g/day) (g/day)
Improved conditions 125-145 110-125 90 100
at SOCIABE Station
Village conditions 70-95 50-65 50-55 55-60
14
9-10
Source : Ginisty, 1976.
Table 19. Weight gains and conversion ratios for young male sheep.
1976 Trial - 1977 Trial
Fodder + Straw + Savanna +
Concentrates Concentrates Concentrates
Animals young males 6- month-old 7-month-old
males males
Trial period 182 days 90 days 90 days
Weight at start (kg) 12.2 15.4 15.6
Weight at end (kg) 25 23.8 25.5
Average gain (g/day) 70 93 no
Conversion ratio 8.2 7.4 -
Source: Ginisty, 1976, 1977.
Ginisty (1976) reports excellent dressing out percentages of 46.7% for ungraded
Djallonke males and 49. 6% for fattened males. He found a typical carcass compo
sition of 64% muscle, 20% fat and 16% bones.
134
4.1.1.2 Index of Productivity. Table 20 summarizes estimates of the major
production traits required to build up a productivity index based on the total weight
of five-month-old lamb produced per 10 kg of ewe maintained per year. This pro
ductivity index has been derived for production under village and simulated village
conditions in medium tsetse challenge areas.
Table 20. Productivity estimates.
Parameter
Production Environment -
Village Village Simulation
Ewe viability (%)
Lambing percentage
Lamb viability to one year (%)
Lamb weight at five months (kg)
Productivity index per ewe per year (kg)
Ewe weight (kg)
Productivity index per 10 kg ewe maintained
per year (kg)
84 38
75 206
50 50
11.5 14
10.9 20.9
23 23
4.7 9.1
a. Total weight of five-month-old lamb produced.
Source : Country visit information.
4.1.2 Goats
There is no written information on goat production in Ivory Coast, but general
observation suggests that goats tend to weigh slightly less than sheep in the same area,
that prolificacy is higher among goats than among sheep (more frequent twinning),
and that growth among goats is slower than among sheep (see Figure 3.85, volume 1).
4.2 DISEASES
The main disease problems among sheep and goats are Peste des Petits
Ruminants (PPR), gastro-intestinal parasites, which mainly present problems
among the young, and respiratory diseases.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
Ivory Coast has a Ministere de la Recherche Scientifique. Within this
Ministry, the animal production research activities are essentially confined to the
Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake.
135
In the framework of the Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Agronomie (ENSA), the
Departement de Zootechnie also plans to carry out animal production research on
mineral nutrition and small ruminants. These activities are still being set up, and
have not yet produced any results. Other organizations under the Ministere de la
Production Animale carry out field and laboratory studies in animal production, in
cluding the Cellule d'Appui of SODEPRA Nord and the Laboratoire de Pathologie
Animale at Bingerville.
The Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake (CRZ) (B.P.
1152, Bouake) is located 7 km north of Bouake as indicated by •! in Figure 1. The
centre also operates a sheep farm at Foro, 30 km north of Bouake. The CRZ is part
of the Departement Elevage of the Institut des Savanes (IDESSA), based in Bouak6,
which is under the Ministere de la Recherche Scientifique.
The centre covers 470 ha (80% of which has been improved), and the sheep
farm accounts for another 100 ha. As of 1978, there were 500 head of cattle, in
cluding 250 N'Dama and 150 Jersey x N'Dama,as well as 150 Baoule which had been
purchased but not yet brought to the centre. As of December 1977, about 500 head
of local sheep were kept on the sheep farm.
The centre carries out studies of local cattle and sheep breeds, focussing on
such areas as genetics, nutrition and production systems, in order to improve their
productivity. Studies of natural pastures are also carried out, as well as possibilities
for improvement in the areas of management, pasture dynamics, fertilization and
fodder crops .
The centre also operates five outposts in cattle rearing areas. Their work
is designed to provide information on productivity at the village level for the different
local breeds.
The laboratoire de Pathologie Animale de Bingerville (B.P. 206, Abidjan) is
located near Abidjan, as shown by +2 in Figure 1, with one outpost in Korhogo (Nord
Region) and another planned in Bouake (Centre Region). This laboratory comes
under the Ministere de la Production Animale.
Diagnostic work is carried out in the fields of parasitology, bacteriology and
virology, poultry vaccines are produced. In 1977-78, the laboratory was supported
by FAO/UNDP.
5.2 MULTIPLICATION HERDS
The major livestock multiplication activities in Ivory Coast are carried out
by the Societe de Developpement de Productions Animales (SODEPRA) (B. P. 1429,
Abidjan) through its three N'Dama ranches described in Table 21.
136
Table 21. SODEPRA ranches for ISP Dama cattle.
Name Abokouamekro Sipilou La Marahoue
Location and
reference in
Figure 1
near Yamoussoukro
120 km south of
Bouake
near Biankouma
northwest of
Man
•3
northeast of Segela
Size 12 000 ha 10 000 ha 60 000 - 100 000 ha
Numbers 4 000 N'Dama 5 000 N'Dama 3 000 N' Dama (still
being developed)
Starting year 1962 1964 1975
Objectives: Selection and multiplication of the N'Dama breed.
The Ministere de la Production Animale is also responsible for three live
stock breeding centres distributed in each of the three main production areas. The
Centre d'Elevage de Bingerville in the Sud Region near Abidjan works with poultry,
but has recently set up an artificial insemination centre equipped to collect and
freeze cattle semen. The Centre d' Elevage de Bouake in the Centre Region kept a
herd of Baoule in the past and more recently a sheep flock. At present, this centre
has no permanent herd, but rather serves as a transit station. The Centre
d'Elevage de Korhogo in the Nord Region, with 350 ha, mainly works on pig production,
but has a small herd of 20 Zebu cows and 20 crossbred Gobra Zebu x N'Dama.
The Centre National Ovin is located at Beoumi in the Centre Region 60 km
west of Bouake, as shown by «4 in Figure 1. This centre, under the Ministere de
la Production Animale, is currently developing its own local sheep flock with the
aim of improving and multiplying the local sheep. External aid is provided by the
Economic Development Fund of the European Economic Community.
The Societe pour le Developpement du Palmier a Huile (SODEPALM) (B.P.
2049, Abidjan) has recently started cattle production on its palm plantations. Herds
are kept on six coastal plantations as shown by ■ 5 in Figure 1, composed of Baoule
crossbred and N'Dama cattle from Nord Region. As of 1977, there were 2 800 Baoule
and crossbreds at Ehania plantation, 1 100 Baoule at Toumanguie, 850 N'Dama at
Fresco, 300 N'Dama and 100 Baoule at Tamabo, 70 N'Dama and 250 Baoule and cross
breds at Anguedou and 220 N'Dama at Eloka. These herds are still being expanded
(see Koua Brou, 1977).
5.3 DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Livestock development activities in Ivory Coast are mainly carried out by
SODEPRA.
137
The Operation d' Encadrement de l'Elevage Sedentaire au Nord Cote d'lvoire
(known as SODEPRA-Nord), with headquarters at Korhogo (B.P. 24, Korhogo) as
shown by a 6 in Figure 1, covers eight departments of the Nord and Ouest Regions:
Bouna, Ferke, Korhogo, Boundali, Odienne, Touba, Biankouma and Seguela. Work
is carried out with Baoule', N'Dama and Zebu x humpless crossbreds. The objectives
are to set up extension services and to increase the trypanotolerant cattle population
in northern Ivory Coast. These activities are organized in five areas, covering 30
sectors and 200 extension centres which are responsible for about 1 200 extension
herds. External aid is provided by France (IEMVT and SEDES), Germany (GTZ)
and Belgium (AGCD). The project period is 1975 - 1979, following up an earlier
project carried out during 1972 - 1974. This project will be followed in turn by
another phase, lasting until 1982.
More recently, in the Nord Region, an Operation d' Encadrement des Zebus
dans le Nord has been initiated which provides extension services to the Fulani
aimed at improving their livestock production.
The Projet de Promotion des Fermes d'Elevage en Region Centre (known as
SODEPRA- Centre) has its headquarters at Bouake (B.P. 1366, Bouake), as shown by
A 7 in Figure 1. This project was launched in 1975-1976 with FAO cooperation and
objectives similar to those of SODEPRA-Nord. It covers seven departments: Bouake,
Katiola, Dabakala, Dimbokro, Boundoukou, Bouafle and Daloa. The objective is to
provide extension services aimed at developing cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry
production. External aid is provided by FAO.
Some other programmes of the Ministere de la Production Animale are the
Centre d'Embouche Industrielle de Ferkessedougou (a project aimed at fattening Zebus
from Mali and Upper Volta with West German aid); the Ferme Semenciere de Badikaha,
largely involved in seed production but with some N' Dama steers and Baoule; and the
Bovins - Industriels - Viande Project, an intensive cattle breeding project aimed at
meat production which is still at the planning stage.
The Compagnie Ivoirienne des Textiles (CIDT), with headquarters at Bouake.
(B.P. 622, Bouake) as shown by A 8 in Figure 1, carries out cotton cultivation
with 15 000 draught oxen in the savanna area. The SociSte pour 1'Amenagement de
la Vallee du Bandama (AVB), with headquarters at Bouake, is interested in
developing agricultural production systems based on rotation with fodder crops
(Stylosanthes spp.). Cattle fattening and sheep breeding trials have been carried out
in cooperation with the Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro- Bouake.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Audru, J (1972). Investigations swc le ranch d'Abokouamekro et sur son
extension (Rdpublique de Cote d'Ivoire). Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 121p.
138
Boudet, G (1963). Paturages et plontes fourrageres en Republique de Cote
d'Ivoire. Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 102p.
Boudet, G, de Wispelaere, G, Lebrun, J P and Riviere, R (1966). Etude
agrostologique du ranch de Sipilou (Republique de Cdte d'Ivoire).
Etude Agrostologique No. 14. Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 150p.
Cadot, Rand Coulomb, J (1970). L'elevage bovin en Cote d'Ivoire - Bases
economiques. Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake
IEMVT, 44p.
Camus, E (1977a). 'Rapport d'activite 1977' . Cellule d' Appui. SODEPRA Nord.
Abidjan, Ministere de la Production Animale.
Camus, E (1977b). La mortalite des veaux dans le troupeau sedentaire du Nord Cote
d'lvoire'. Paper presented at the Colloque Recherches sur l'Elevage Bovin
en Zone Tropicale Humide, held in Bouake, 9p.
Capitaine, P (1972a). Ghana husbandry development project: Feasibility
study for four ranches: Zootechnical study. Maisons Alfort IEMVT
103p.
Capitaine, P (1972b). 'Etudes zootechnique et economique generales'. In Etude de
factibilite des ranches d'Abokouamekro et de Sipilou en Republique de
Cote d'Ivozre. Volume 4. Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 182p.
Centre d'Elevage Bingerville (1966). Rapport annuel 1966. Abidjan, Ministere de
la Production Animale, 9Op.
Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976,
1977, 1978). Rapport succinct. Bouake.
Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake (1976). 'Bilan compare
de 1' experimentation d' amelioration de la race N'Dama par croisement
Jersiais - N'Dama'. Bouake, 38p.
Charray, J (1975). 'Bilan des abattages des boeufs N'Dama realises au CRZ de
Minankro de mars 1974 a mars 1975 - Etude des carcasses'. Bouake,
Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake', 5p.
Charray, J (1977). 'Integration de l'elevage a l'agriculture dans la region de Mankono
en Republique de Cote d'lvoire. Exemple de 1' installation d'un noyau naisseur
bovin: Difficultes-perspectives d'avenir' . Paper presented at the Colloque
Recherches sur 1' Elevage Bovin en Zone Tropicale Humide, held in Bouake,
5p.
Charray, J, Coulomb, J and Mathon, J C (1977). 'Le croisement Jersiais x N'Dama
en Cote d'lvoire'. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 30(1),
pp. 67-83.
139
Cote d'lvoire, Ministere de la Production Animale (1976). L'Elevage en Cote
d'Ivoire: Programme de developpement. Abidjan.
Cote d'lvoire, Ministere de la Production Animale, Direction des Services
Veterinaires (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969). Rapport annuel. Abidjan.
Cote d'lvoire, Ministere du Plan, SODEPRA (1973). 'Projet de developpement de
l'elevage bovin paysan dans le Nord de la Cote d'lvoire'. Abidjan, 147p.
Coulomb, J (1967). 'Selection des taurins de race N'Dama, 1956-1966'. Bouake,
Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake.
Coulomb, J (1969). 'Un essai d'engraissement intensif de zebus de boucherie realise
au Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake' . In IEMVT
Colloque sur l'elevage. Fort Lamy, pp. 188-191.
Coulomb, J (1976). 'La race N'Dama: Quelques caracteristiques zootechniques'.
Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 23 (4).
Coulomb, J, Riviere, R, Pagot, J and Cadot, R (1971). ' Metissage Jersiais x
N'Dama: Resultats obtenus au CRZ de Bouake- Mnankro (lere note)'. Miisons
Alfort, IEMVT, 68p.
FAO(1973\ Cote d'Ivoire: Etude sur le developpement national - Secteur de
l 'alimentation et de l'agriculture . Rome.
Gidel, R (1972). 'Etude sur la composition moyenne de troupeaux de bovins de Haute-
Volta et de Cote d'lvoire en fonction de l'age et du sexe' . Rev. Elev. Med.
Vet. Pays Trop. 25.
Ginisty L (1976). 'Selection et Amelioration des ovins et caprins de Cote d'lvoire' .
In Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake. Rapport Annuel 1975.
Bouake .
Ginisty L (1977). 'Amelioration de la productivite des petits ruminants'. In Centre
de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake. Rapport Annuel 1976.
Bouake'.
Glattleider, D L (1976). ' Caracterisation des races locales de Cote d'lvoire:
Rapport preliminaire' . Bouake, Centre de Recherches Zootechniqus de
Mnankro- Bouake, 38p.
Glattleider, D L (1977). 'Operation caracterisation des races bovines de Cote d'lvoire'.
In Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake. Rapport Annuel 1976.
Bouake .
Godet, G (1977). 'Rapport d'activite 1977'. Cellule d'Appui SODEPRA Nord.
Abidjan, Mnistere de la Production Animale.
140
Gotta, T B and Angba, A (1977). 'Situation sanitaire de l'elevage bovin en Cote
d' Ivoire' . Paper presented at the Colloque Recherches sur 1' Elevage Bovins
en Zone Tropicale Humide, held in Bouake, 9p.
Grandjean, J P (1972). 'Essai de croisement Jersiais - N'Dama en basse Ccke
d' Ivoire: Le demi-sang Jersiais - N'Dama. D. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole
Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort.
Gruvel, J and Gauch, JG (1977). Les trypanosomiases animales en Cote d'Ivoire.
Rome, FAO.
IEMVT (1972). L'elevage bovin dans les regions de Biankouma et de Touba
(Republyque^ de Cote d'Ivoire): Situation, tendances actuelles et
possibilites d'evolution'. Etude Agrostologique No. 38. Maisons
Alfort, I55p.
Jouve, J L and Letenneur, L (1972a). 'Etude en Cote d' Ivoire de la croissance de
taurillons N'Dama entretenus suivant divers modes d'embouche '. Rev.
Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 25, pp. 317-324.
Jouve, J L and Letenneur, L (1972b). 'Essais d'embouche intensive de taurins
(Jersey x N'Dama) en Cote d' Ivoire'. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 25,
pp. 309-316.
Keita, B (1973). ' Tiergesundheit und tierische Producktion in der Republik der
Elfenbeinkueste' . Ph. D. thesis, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, 787p.
Koua Brou, P (1977). L'elevage bovin sous palmeraie' . Paper presented at the
Colloque Recherches sur 1' Elevage Bovin en Zone Tropicale Humide, held at
Bouake, 12p.
Lacrouts, M (1975). Consideration sur l'approvisionnement en viandes de la
Cote d 'Ivoire . Abidjan and Maisons Alfort, Bureau National d' Etudes
Techniques et de Developpement/TEMVT, 72p.
Lamizana, P (1969a). 'Le ranching en Cote d' Ivoire'. In IEMVT Colloque sur
l'elevage, Fort Lamy, pp. 354-361.
Lamizana, P (1969b). 'Essai de production de viande bovine au Ranch d'Abokouamekro"
In IEMVT Colloque sur l'elevage, Fort-Lamy, pp. 352-353.
Lamizana, P (1976). ' Developpement de l'elevage trypanotolerant en Cote d' Ivoire' .
In Premiere consultation d'experts sur la recherche concemant la
trypanotolerance et l'elevage d'animaux trypanotolerants .
Working paper 10. Rome, FAO, 12p.
Latinoconsult S A a974). Projet pour le developpement des moyennes entreprises
d'elevage en Cote d'Ivoire. Abidjan.
Lemaitre, Y (1969). Les noyaux d'elevage en Cote d'Ivoire. Rapport de Mission.
Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 83p.
141
Letenneur, L C (1973). 'Quelques elements d' appreciation de la rentabilite des
essais d'embouche (Cote d'lvoire)'. Paper presented at the Colloque sur
1'Embouche Intensive des Bovins en Pays Tropicaux, held in Dakar, sponsored
by IEMVT.
Lhoste, P (1977). 'Reflexions sur les essais d'embouche menes en zone centre Cote
d'lvoire'. Paper presented at the Colloque Recherches sur l'Elevage Bovin
en Zone Tropicale Humide, held in Bouake, 13p.
Mathon, J C and Allix, P (1972). 'Exploitation des demi-sang Jersiais - N'Dama
pour la production du lait au CRZ: Prix de revient du litre de lait' . Bouake,
Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake', 29p.
Mathon, J C and Catala, P E (1971). 'Metissage Jersiais - N'Dama: Resultats
obtenus au Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake:
Complement a la premiere note de juin 70' . Boui
Zootechniques de Minankro- Bouake//LEMVT, 26p.
ake, Centre de Recherches
Mathon, J C, Jouve, J L and Letenneur, L (n.d.). 'Le croisement Jersey - N'Dama
en Cote d'lvoire: Interet,possibilites' . Bouake, Centre de Recherches
Zootechniques de Minankro- Bouake/IEMVT, 7p.
Peleton, H (1977). 'Association agriculture- elevage sur bloc semi-mecanise:
Problemes poses par le developpement de l'embouche de bouvillons N'Dama
en zone A. V.B.' . Paper presented at th3 Colloque Recherches sur l'Elevage
Bovin en Zone Tropicale Humide, held in Bouake, 5p.
Poivey, Y P and Seitz, J L (1977). 'Enquete sur les ressources genetiques bovines
de Cote d'lvoire et mise au point d'un systeme du controle du troupeau'. In
Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-Bouake. Rapport annuel 1976.
Bouake, 29p.
Richard, D (1972). 'Etude sur la population des bovins de race Baoule du Centre
d' Elevage de Bouake: Etablissement des moyennes ponderales, standard,
selection' . Bouake, Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Minankro-
BouakeVlEMVT, 47p.
Rombaut, D (1973). Elevage bovin sous palmiers: Rapport au gouvernement de la
Cote d'lvoire. AT 3229. Rome, FAO, 57p.
Rombaut, D and Van Vlaenderen, G (1976). 'Le mouton Djallonke de Cote d'lvoire
en milieu villageois : Comportement et alimentation' . Rev. Elev Med
Vet. Pays Trop. 29 (2), pp. 157-172.
Schulz, E and Sett, M (1977). 'Etude sur 1' utilisation de dechets d' ananas de
fabriques de conserves pour l'engraissement des bovins et des pores' . Paper
presented at the Colloque Recherches sur l'Elevage Bovin en Zone Tropicale
Humide, held in Bouake, 20p.
142
SEDES. (1972). 'L'elevage bovin dans le Nord de la Cote d'lvoire: Situation
et tendances actuelles - Possibilites de developpement. Paris.
Taze, Y, Cuisance, D and Politzar, H (1977). 'Les glossines dans le Nord de la
Cote d'lvoire: Contrainte sur le developpement de l'elevage'. Paper pre
sented at the Colloque Recherches sur 1' Elevage en Zone Tropicale Humide,
held in Bouake, 14p.
Thierry- Lebbe, A (1968). 'Les productions animates en Cote d'lvoire - situation
actuelle et perspective de developpement' . Abidjan, Ministere de la
Production Animale, 56p.
Tidori, E, Serres, H, Richard, D and Adjuziogul, J (1975). ' Etude d' une population
taurine de race Baoule en Cote d'lvoire' Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop.
28 (4), pp. 499-511.
Verly, P L (1968). 'Contribution a 1' etude des races bovines autochtones en Cote
d'lvoire: Les boeufs Baoule' et Lagune' . Nat. Sci. Diploma thesis,
University of Abidjan, 21 2p.
WIP (1971). 'Etudes des possibilites de creation de ranches d' elevage en Cote
d'lvoire: Avant projet' . Munich, Wirtschafts - und Infrastruktur
Plannungsgesellschaft, 197p.
Yao Kouakou, M (1977). 'Organisation de la recherche zootechnique en Cote
d' Ivoire et optimisation de la valeur nutritive de la savane naturelle avec
les peaux d'igname' . Paper presented at the Colloque Recherches sur
1' Elevage Bovin en Zone Tropicale Humide, held in Bouake^ lOp.
143
CHAPTER 10
GHANA
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Ghana lies on the west coast of Africa, with the Ivory Coast
to the west, Upper Volta to the north and Togo to the east. The country is divided
into nine regions, with the capital at Accra, as shown in Figure 1.
Two departments in the Ministry of Agriculture have responsibilities in the
livestock sector: the Veterinary Services and the Animal Husbandry Department.
These both have regional offices in the main towns of each region.
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Ghana.
2
Area 238 500 km
Latitude 4°30I - 11° N
Longitude 1°15' E - 3°15' W
Population
number 10 000 000
density 41. 9Am
Livestock numbers
cattle 777 000
sheep 905 000
goats 780 000
Sources : For population, national estimates and FAO, 1976; for livestock numbers,
Ghana, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, 1975.
From north to south, the climate varies from Sahelo-Guinean to Sudano-
Guinean to Guinean savanna and forest. The annual rainfall ranges from 1 000 mm in
the northeast to 2 300 mm in the southwest. In addition, the Accra plains form a
144
Figure 1. Administrative divisions and location of research centres,
multiplication herds and development projects.
 
HAUTE
VOLTA
TOGO
COTE
d' IVOIRE
Research centres
+ Laboratory working on trypanotolerance and/or trypanosomiasis
Q University farm with trypanotolerant livestock
Multiplication herds
5 Governmental farm or ranch with trypanotolerant livestock
D Private farm or ranch with trypanotolerant livestock
Development projects
A Agricultural project with trypanotolerant livestock component
9 Capital
• Administrative centre
"• National boundary
'." Administrative boundaries
145
savanna region which is unusual for the coastal belt. This region, which extends
eastward as far as Togo, receives an annual rainfall of only 800 to 1 000 mm.
According to the OAU/STRC (1977) tsetse distribution map, the entire
country is infested with tsetse. G. tachinoides and G. morsitans are found in
the northern region, though G. morsitans is less common. G. palpalis is found
throughout the country except for a small pocket in the north, and G. longipalpis
is found in the transitional savannas of the central region. G. fusca, G. pallicera
pallicera, G. medicorum and G. tabaniformis are found in the southwestern forest
zone. Though many types of tsetse are present, many specialists believe that the
level of infestation is low in several regions, for example, the extensive northern
areas and the Accra plains.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
Table 2 gives livestock numbers in the nine regions as reported in the 1975
census carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Table 2. Livestock numbers in Ghana, 1975 ('000).
Region
Cattle
No. %
Sheep
No. %
Goats
No. %
Upper 305 39.3 241 26.6 230 29.5
Northern 276 35.5 224 24.8 215 27.6
Brong Ahafo 17 2.2 80 8.8 67 8.6
Ashanti 5 0.6 107 11.8 64 8.2
Western 2 0.3 65 7.2 35 4.5
Central 5 0.6 38 4.2 33 4.2
Eastern 8 1.0 43 4.8 40 5.1
Volta 77 9.9 85 9.4 82 10.5
Greater Accra 82 10.6 22 2.4 14 1.8
Total 777 100 905 100 780 100
Source : Ghana, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, 1975.
According to these figures, the distribution of cattle is very uneven. Upper
and Northern Regions account for 75% of the national herd, and the relatively dry
plains of Greater Accra and Volta Regions in the southeast account for another 20%.
There are very few cattle in Ashanti or Brong Ahafo Regions in the central part of the
country or in the forest zone, which includes Western, Central and Eastern Regions.
146
The Central Bureau of Statistics (1977) reports a much higher cattle popu
lation, as indicated in Table 3, though this discussion will be based on the figures
provided in Table 2.
Table 3. Livestock population, 1969-74 ('000).
1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
Cattle
Sheep
Goats
900
1 300
1 400
926 855
1 337
1 615
839 876
1 506
1 559
912
1 606
1 616
1 315
1 356
1 421
1 587
Source : Ghana, <Central Bureau of Statistics, 1977.
Sheep and goats are more evenly distributed than cattle, but they are also
heavily concentrated in the north. Upper and Northern Regions account for 50% of
the national sheep population and 57% of the goats according to the Veterinary
Services (1975).
3. CATTLE
The local cattle breeds found in Ghana, in order of numbers, are West
African Shorthorn or Ghana Shorthorn (WAS), Sanga, Zebu (White Fulani and Sokoto
Gudale ), N' Dama and Dwarf West African Shorthorn. In addition, a number of exotic
breeds have been imported for research purposes and are bred both as purebreds
and crossbreds. These include Holstein- Friesian, Jersey, Droughtmaster (from
Australia) Santa Gertrudis, Nellore Zebu (from Brazil), Red Poll and Austrian
Brown. There are also small numbers of Hereford, Boran, Sahiwal, Brahman and
Braford. The distribution of the main local breeds among the regions can be
estimated from the Veterinary Services' census (1975), as shown in Table 4.
Table 4 indicates that the Ghana Shorthorn is the predominant cattle breed in
Ghana, accounting for 79% of the national herd together with its crosses. Most of
the crossbreds resemble the shorthorn type more closely than they do the Zebu.
Next in number are the Sanga, a cross between the Ghana Shorthorn and the Zebu,
accounting for about 120 000 head. Like the Zebu, the Sanga are found in the drier
areas : towards the northern border and on the Accra plains extending into Volta
Region. The proportion of Sanga and Zebu increases towards the northeastern
corner of the country around Bawku. Relatively pure Zebu are found on the Accra
plains, often in the same herds with Sanga. The N'Dama are scattered throughout
the country, and are often crossbred in the villages (see Figure 2).
147
Figure 2. Cattle numbers and breed distribution.
 
Boundary of zone where crossbred cattle predominate
2
,3 1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. N.Dama x Zebu
6. Zebu
 
148
Table 4. The distribution of local cattle breeds in Ghana.
Ghana
Shorthorn
Region and Crosses Sanga N'Dama Zebu Others
Upper 270 000 25 000 8 000 2 000
Northern 257 000 15 000 3 000 1 000
Brong-Ahafo 16 000 300 500 200
Ashanti 4 000 300 600 100
Western 1 500 400 - 100
Central 2 500 1 300 200 500 500
Eastern 5 200 2 000 300 500
Volta 42 000 30 000 3 000 1 000 1 000
Greater Accra 18 000 48 000 1 000 14 000 1 000
Total 616 200 122 300 16 600 19 400 2 500
% of National Herd 79% 16% 2.1% 2.6% 0.3%
Source : Ghana, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, 1975.
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
3.1.1 Ghana Shorthorn
The Ghana Shorthorn breed belongs to the West African Shorthorn (WAS)
group. WAS (pronounced 'wass' ) is the term most frequently used in Ghana to de
scribe all cattle with a general Shorthorn appearance, even if traces of crossbreed
ing are evident.
Towards the northwestern border around Bole, Wa, Lawra and Tumu, there
is a high concentration of relatively pure Ghana Shorthorns similar to the populations
found in Ivory Coast around Bouna and in Upper Volta near Gaoua. Towards Bawku
in the northeast, the proportion of Zebu in the herds increases and signs of cross
breeding can be seen, such as a generally larger size and stronger horns. The
average height of the Ghana Shorthorn ranges from 1. 00 to 1.10 m at withers accord
ing to Ngere (1974) and USAID (1967), but the purebred animals around Wa rarely
reach this size.
The age at first calving is around 34. 8 + 1. 2 months, compared with 39 + 1. 6
for the N'Dama and 38.6+1.1 for the Sokoto Gudale Zebu, according to studies
carried out at Nungua (now Legon Agricultural Research Station) (Sada, 1968).
Field observations suggest that calving generally occurs during the dry season from
November to February. Calving rates recorded at government stations are between
60 and 70% (Capitaine, 1972). At Nungua from 1957 to 1966, the calving interval for
the Ghana Shorthorn was 444 + 13 days (n=99), compared with 457 + 12 days (n=lll)
for the N'Dama and 465 + 17 days (n=60) for the Sokoto Gudale Zebu (Sada, 1968).
149
Capitaine (1972) reported a mortality rate among calves to one year of 35 to 45%
under village conditions and 10% under ranch conditions. Mortality from one to two
years was 10 to 15% under village conditions and 3 to 4% under ranch conditions,
and adult mortality was around 4% under both conditions.
Montsma (1960, 1962) compared milk production estimates for Ghana Short
horn, N' Dama and Sokoto Gudale Zebu cows by weighing calves three times a day
before and after suckling at the Nungua station. Two experiments were carried out
under different conditions. First, the milk yields were compared of cows lactating
mostly during the dry season who were given small quantities of silage and con
centrates. The average milk yields over 182 days were 383. 5 + 30.4 kg for Ghana
Shorthorn, 460.4 + 18.4 kg for N'Dama and 604. 0 + 30. 8 kg for Sokoto Gudale Zebu
(Montsma, I960)."
In the second experiment, the milk yields were compared of cows lactating
mostly during the rainy season who were on a high level of supplementation. Their
average milk yields over 252 days were 1 001 + 27.4 kg for Ghana Shorthorn,
943 + 38.1 kg for N'Dama and 1 531 + 65. 6 kg for Sokoto Gudale Zebu (Montsma,
1962). A similar experiment was carried out at Nungua in 1971, estimating the milk
yields of 14 Ghana Shorthorn cows between their third and fifth lactation. Over a
period of 295 days, the average milk yield was 774 + 27 kg, and the butterfat content
was estimated at 5.4% (Ngere et al., 1975).
Montsma (1960) reported birth weights of 19 to 20 kg for male Ghana Short
horn calves and 18 to 19 kg for females, depending on the time of calving. The same
author in 1962 reported average birth weights of 21 kg for Ghana Shorthorn, 19 kg
for N'Dama and 27 kg for Sokoto Gudale Zebu and weaning weights at 36 weeks of 154,
138 and 214 kg for the three breeds respectively.
Capitaine (1972) reported a survey carried out by Kassem in 1965 who ob
tained the following average weights for Ghana Shorthorn:
6 months 12 months 18 months 24 months 36 months
female 101 134 147 182 229
male 80 135 134 178 256
USAID (1967) reported adult weights of 170 to 180 kg for Ghana Shorthorn cows and
190 to 200 kg for bulls under village conditions.
Ghana Shorthorn cattle are very good natured : in northern Ghana they are
often tended by children who may ride on their backs (see Figure 3.47, volume 1).
Around Tamale, this breed is used as draught oxen, but crossbreds are more often
used because the purebred animals tend to be small.
3.1.2 Ghanaian Sanga
In Ghana, the Sanga is a crossbreed between a humpless breed and Zebu
(see Figure 3.57, volume 1). This natural crossbreed seems to have been in
existence for some time and is also found in other countries . The humpless breed
used for the cross is nearly always a Ghana Shorthorn, while the Zebu is usually one
of the Sudanese types, often the White Fulani. Sometimes, the N'Dama replaces the
150
Ghana Shorthorn, and the Sokoto Gudale Zebu may also be used. Some government
stations have bred a special Sanga type called the Ndagu, which is a N'Dama x
Sokoto Gudale Zebu cross.
There are about 122 000 Sanga in Ghana and their numbers are increasing at
the expense of the Ghana Shorthorn. The Sanga are often herded with Zebu in the
drier areas with relatively low tsetse challenge, particularly in the Greater Accra
and Volta Regions.
As a crossbreed, the Sanga is understandably variable. In southern Ghana
there is a fairly uniform type, predominantly white, frequently with black pigmenta
tion on the ears and mucosa and sometimes with black spots, resembling the Borgou
of Benin. This type is apparently a cross between the Ghana Shorthorn and White
Fulani Zebu, but it is not clear how the White Fulani ancestry was introduced in this
area on such a large scale.
Although the Sanga is kept on a number of government farms, there is little
information available on performance traits. According to USAID (1967), average
body weights are as follows (kg):
Birth 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years
female 24 120 238 306
male 24 125 250 328
Observations in the field suggest that these weights are higher than those generally
achieved under village conditions.
The Sanga has a higher milk yield than the Ghana Shorthorn, and because it is
larger it is more widely used as a draught animal. In low tsetse challenge areas, it
is considered a good breed for beef production under ranch conditions, such as on the
Shai Hills Ranch near Accra.
3.1.3 N'Dama
NTJama were first brought to Pong Tamale in northern Ghana in 1932, and
since then have been bred on government farms, stations and ranches. They are
also kept in the villages for crossbreeding with the Sanga and Ghana Shorthorn.
Though traces of N'Dama ancestry can be detected in the local cattle, this breed has
not made a substantial contribution to Ghanaian stock outside the government farms
and ranches.
In some cases, such as at the Legon Agricultural Research Station, two types
of N'Dama may be distinguished: the Guinean N'Dama and the Gambian N'Dama.
Most of the N'Dama are of the Guinean type; those recently imported from The
Gambia are distinguished by their lighter colour and longer and slightly better shaped
horns .
Most of the production data available for the N' Dama were presented in the
discussion of the Ghana Shorthorn for comparison purposes. Capitaine (1972)
151
reported the following average weights for this breed:
6 Months 12 Months 18 Months
female 97 142 147
male 106 164 176
3.1.4 Dwarf West African Shorthorn
Typical Dwarf West African Shorthorn, similar to the Lagune breed, are
found in Ghana but their numbers appear to be decreasing. These cattle are also
called Muturu. They are found in the southeastern coastal area near Ada and Keta
Lagoon. There is very little information on this breed in Ghana. Montsma (1959)
reported an average weight for 40 adult cows in village herds of 166 + 2 kg, an
average height at withers of 0. 88 + 0. 04 m, a heart girth of 1. 30 + 0. 1 m and a body
length of 1. 07 + 0. 06 m.
3.1.5 Zebu
The Zebu breeds account for only 26% of the cattle population in Ghana, as
shown in Table 4. Those in the northern regions have come from Upper Volta and
are of the Sudanese Fulani type. Zebu have also been bred as part of government
multiplication and crossbreeding schemes. The white breeds, such as the White
Fulani, are particularly popular because they have been bred extensively on govern
ment farms, along with the Sokoto Gudale Zebu from Nigeria and the Nellore Zebu,
recently imported from Brazil.
A great deal of data are available at the Legon Station on milk yields, growth
and other production traits of the Sokoto Gudale Zebu (Montsma, 196 2; Thompson,
1975). Some of this information was presented in the discussion of the Ghana Short
horn for comparison.
3.1.6 Exotic Breeds and Experimental Crossbreeding
Substantial numbers of exotic cattle have been introduced in Ghana on govern
ment ranches and research stations, and a number of crossbreeding experiments
have been carried out. These activities will not be discussed in this report, as they
occur in special situations and no pertinent information was collected in the field.
3.2 DISEASE
The most important cattle diseases in Ghana are contagious bovine pleuro
pneumonia (CBPP), anthrax, blackquarter, brucellosis and foot-and-mouth disease.
Trypanosomiasis is also present, but not a serious problem according to the
Veterinary Services since most of the cattle are trypanotolerant.
Tick-borne diseases, such as piroplasmosis and rickettsiosis, and streptoth-
ricosis are serious problems for imported livestock and restrict the introduction of
152
exotic breeds. Droughtmaster cattle from Australia are particularly sensitive to
streptothricosis, according to staff members of the Pong Tamale Veterinary
Laboratory and the Shai Hills Ranch.
A crossbreeding experiment was carried out in the Sogakofe area using
artificial insemination with imported semen from seven exotic breeds. All the
animals produced proved to be sensitive to streptothricosis to some extent. Accord
ing to the Veterinary Services, the Droughtmaster crosses were extremely sensitive,
the Brahman, Friesian and Hereford crosses were very sensitive and the Bradford,
Boran and Sahiwal crosses were somewhat sensitive.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
Most cattle owners in Ghana are farmers, but increasingly town dwellers are
becoming absentee cattle owners, using hired herdsmen. Except for these absentee
owners, the typical family owns a small number of cattle, 5 to 20 in the Northern
Region for example. By contrast, herds on the Accra plains may reach several
hundred head. Average herd composition figures for the nine regions are given in
Table 5.
Table 5. Herd composition by region (%).
Young Breeds Probably
Region Cows Heifers Calves Bulls Bulls Oxen Dominant
Western 44 21 23 3 6 3 Ghana Shorthorn
Central 38 23 23 3 9 4 Ghana Shorthorn
Volta 45 17 21 2 8 7 Ghana Shorthorn,
Sanga
Accra 41 23 20 2 9 5 Sanga, Ghana Short
horn, Zebu
Eastern 41 22 20 2 8 7 Ghana Shorthorn
Ashanti 40 17 22 6 9 6 Ghana Shorthorn
Brong Ahafo 42 18 19 5 12 4 Ghana Shorthorn
Northern 44 17 19 4 11 5 Ghana Shorthorn
Upper 40 20 15 6 11 8 Sanga, Ghana Short
horn
Overall 42 19 18 5 10 6 Ghana Shorthorn
Source: Ghana, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, 1975.
Herd composition figures were also obtained for four districts in Upper
Region by Gunn Rural Management Property Ltd. (1977). These are given in Table 6.
153
Relatively high percentages of oxen are kept in areas where they are used as
draught animals. In Tamale and Bolgatanga, for instance, oxen may account for as
much as 10% of the herds.
Table 6. Herd composition in four districts of Upper Region (%) and average holdings.
Young
Bulls
Average
Cows Heifers Calves Bulls Oxen Number
Wa 44 22 24 3 7
per Owner
19
Tumu 39 17 28 4 10 2 18
Bolgatanga West 36 17 15 12 9 11 12
Nangodi 37 16 15 12 11 9 8
Source: Gunn Rural Management Property Ltd., 1977.
In the north, which is the main livestock region, herds are usually tended by
the village children (see Figure 3.47, volume 1). Often the animals of several house
holds are herded together, tended by a number of children. It is also becoming more
common to hire a Fulani herdsman to look after cattle, particularly among absentee
owners. The Fulani keep the herds in pens at night and milk them regularly, as the
milk is a large part of the herdsman's salary (see Figure 3.46, volume 1). A
farmer may allow a herd to graze on his land in exchange for the manure produced:
this arrangement is particularly common in the southeast.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
4.1.1 Sheep
Most of the sheep in Ghana are of the West African Dwarf breed, also known
as the Forest type. Some crossbreeding is carried out with the larger Sahelian
sheep, but crossbreds account for only 10% of the total population. At Legon Agricul
tural Research Station.a crossbred has been produced called Nungua Blackhead,
between the local Forest type and the Persian Blackhead (Somali). Measurements
for the Forest type and the new crossbreed are given in Table 7 and weights in Table 8.
Two fattening trials were carried out with West African Dwarf sheep at the
Kumasi University Farm. Over a 125-day period, eight animals of both sexes were
fed Cynodon plectostachyus and concentrates and another group of eight were fed
the same diet plus rice straw. The results of this experiment are presented in Table 9.
154
Table 7. Measurements of Forest and Nungua Blackhead sheep.
Forest: Type Nungua Blackhead
Young Young
(15 mo. ) Ewe Ram (15 mo. ) Ewe Ram
Body weight (kg): mean 17 21 26 22 32 39
range 15-19 20-28 - 19-27 26-42 29-48
Height at withers (cm):
mean 48 49 53 53 58 60
range 45-50 49-50 - 51-56 56-60 59-61
Heart girth (cm): mean 65 68 73 72 84 84
range 56-69 67-69 - 65-80 78-88 81-88
Source: Ngere, 1973.
Table 8. Body weights at birth and weaning for Forest and Nungua Blackhead sheep.
Forest Type Nungua Blackhead
Weight at birth (kg)
Weight at weaning (12 weeks) (kg)
Average daily gain up to weaning (g)
1.3 + 0.23
5.8+0.7
50 + 9
2.3 + 0.45
9.8+1.9
90 + 20
Source : Ngere, 1973.
Table 9. Results of fattening trials with West African Dwarf sheep.
Feeding Regime
Cynodon +
Concentrates
Cynodon + Concen
trates + Rice Straw
Initial age (months)
Initial weight (kg)
Final weight (kg)
Average daily gain (g)
4.75
9.50 + 0.62
13.25 + 0.88
30 +0.46
4.75
10.50 + 0.50
12.61+0.79
17 + 0.46
Source: Tuah and Tetteh, 1972.
4.1.2 Goats
The goats in Ghana are of the West African Dwarf breed , also called the
155
Forest goat. Oppong (1963) reported an age at first kidding under village conditions
of 14 months, implying sexual maturity between 6 and 8 months. Among goats kept
at Kumasi University Farm, the prolificacy rate was 185 kids per 100 births, with
35% single, 49% twin, 17% triplet and 1% quadruplet births. The kidding interval
was 229 days. Table 10 summarizes estimates of the major production traits
required to build up a productivity index based on the total weight of five-month-old
kids produced per 10 kg of female goat maintained per year. This index is derived
from production estimates under station conditions and low tsetse infestation.
Table 10. Dwarf goat productivity estimates.
Female goat viability (%) 90a
Kidding percentage 260
Kid viability to one year (%) 76
Kid weight at four jnonths (kg) 7.5
Productivity index per female goat per year (kg) 15.6
Female goat weight (kg) 25
Productivity index per 10 kg female goat maintained per
year (kg) 6.2
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of five-month-old kids produced.
Source: Sada and Vohradsky, 1973; Vohradsky and Sada, 1973.
4.2 DISEASE
According to the Veterinary Services in Kumasi (Bonniwell, personal
communications), sheep in Ghana are affected by a 'confinement and malnutrition
syndrome' which is due to the fact that the animals are usually penned a great deal
of the time and do not have sufficient opportunity for grazing. They become less
resistant to other diseases, such as a gastro-intestinal parasites, bacterial in
fections and pneumonia. Peste des petite ruminants(PPR) is also a major problem.
This endemic disease is widespread among sheep in Ghana and also causes very high
mortality rates among goats. Other diseases include gastro-intestinal parasitosis,
in particular due to Haemonchus contortus, heartwater and other tick-borne
diseases. At Nungua, the mortality rate among goats reached 85% in 1973-74, with
36% of this due to PPR.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Research and development activities in Ghana are carried out on university
farms, farms under the Animal Husbandry Service and other institutes, farms and
156
ranches. It is difficult to classify the various facilities strictly into research
centres, multiplication herds or development projects.
5.1 RESEARCH
5.1.1 University of Ghana
The Animal Sciences Department of the University of Ghana carries out re
search at three stations. These are described in Table 11.
5.1.2 Kumasi University Farm
The Animal Production Department of Kumasi University of Science and
Technology carries out animal husbandry research on a 150-ha farm in Ashanti
Region east of Kumasi town. The location is designated by o 2 in Figure 1. As of
1977, 268 cattle were kept on the farm, including 143 N' Dama, 70 Holstein-Friesian,
45 Ghana Shorthorn and 10 crossbreds. In addition, there were 74 West African
Dwarf sheep and 72 West African Dwarf goats. The farm serves a training and
multiplication function and research projects are carried out by the students.
5.1.3 Achimota Animal Research Institute
This research institute is situated at Achimota, 10 km from Accra, desig
nated by + 3 in Figure 1 . Research on trypanosomiasis is carried out, including
studies on the carriers of this disease, Glossina biology and pathological studies
of the affected animals. The institute maintains two stations with cattle, sheep and
goats, one at Pokuasi in Greater Accra Region and the other at Nyankpala in North
ern Region near Tamale. No precise information on the activities of these stations
was available.
5.1.4 Research Facilities at Pong Tamale
Animal husbandry work is carried out at a number of institutions in Pong
Tamale, 25 km north of Tamale town in Northern Region. The Regional Veterinary
Service Board is responsible for the Pong Tamale Veterinary Laboratory, which is
indicated by + 4 in Figure 1. Though this laboratory has fairly well developed
facilities, it lacks the resources to develop its research programme further. Also
at Pong Tamale are the Animal Husbandry Regional Service Board, which operates a
stock farm, the Veterinary College, which also operates a farm with 40 cattle, and
one ranch of the Ghana Livestock Company.
West Germany is assisting a trypanosomiasis control project based at Pong
Tamale and covering mainly Northern and Upper Regions . This is a two-year
project divided into two phases, first an equipment, training and prospecting phase
to be followed by an eradication programme.
-3
Table8.Agricu turalresearchstationsoftheUnive sityGh na.
Name
LegonAgriculturalResearchStation
(formerlyNungua),P.O.Box68,
Legon
KpongAgriculturalResearch
Station
KadeAgriculturalResearchStation
Location( nd referencei
Figure1)
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
GreaterAccraRegion8kmnor hof
Accra
O1
720ha
817cattle:122GhanaShorthorn,
36SokotoGudale,2Dr ughtmaster,
82crossbredJers y,124
Friesian,3others(Janu ry1278)
EasternRegion
80kmN.E.ofAccra
O1
200cattle:122N'Damand variouscrossbreedsbetwe n N'DamaandRePoll,Sant GertrudisanB ownSwis
38sheep:152Foresttype,26Nungua00p
Blackhead,6Sudantypeandcrossbreds
22others
Researchonmilky eldandnutrition. Geneticimprovementofsh ep.P r formancerecordskeptfallni s.
Farmingandnimalhusbandry
research.Pl ntobr ed
N'Damaonly,progressive eliminationofcrossbreeds.
EasternRegion
120kmN.W.ofAccra,forestarea
O1
200cattlefromtheLegonSta i n
weretransfe r dherthe beginningof1278cause
draught
SamesLegont tion.
158
5.2 DEVELOPMENT AND MULTIPLICATION ACTIVITIES
5.2.1 Animal Husbandry Service Stock Farms
The Animal Husbandry Service of the Ministry of Agriculture operates 12
multiplication farms for cattle as listed in Table 12. Their locations are shown by
■ 5 in Figure 1. The objectives of these farms are to improve and multiply livestock
breeds for the benefit of local livestock owners, to produce meat and milk, to distrib
ute sires and to carry out adaptation tests.
Table 12. Animal Husbandry Service stock farms.
Region Name and Location
Cattle
Numbers Breeds
Upper Wa (western Upper R. ) 260 Ghana Shorthorn, N'Dama
Upper Bazua (northern Upper R . ) 140 Sanga, N'Dama, White Fulani
Northern Pong Tamale (north of Tamale) 50 Ghana Shorthorn
Northern Bimbila (eastern Northern R . ) 100 Ghana Shorthorn, Sanga, NDanu
Brong
Ahafo Atebubu 70 Ghana Shorthorn
Brong
Ahafo Wenchi 75 Sanga, N'Dama, White Fulani
Central Winneba (west of Accra) 100 Sanga, White Fulani
300 Nellore Zebu (Brazil)
75 Draughtmaster (Australia)
Volta Amelorkope 290 N'Dama, Sanga, White Fulani
Volta Adakpo 100 Ghana Shorthorn, Sanga, White
Fulani
Greater Nungua (20 km NE of Accra) 615 N'Dama, Sanga, White Fulani
Accra
Greater Maledjor 100 NeUore Zebu (Brazil)
Accra
Greater Amrahia Dairy Farm 480 Friesian
Accra
Total 2 755
Source : Information from country visits.
5.2.2 State Farms Organization (P.O. Box 299, Accra)
The State Farms Organization is an important business enterprise coming
under the Ministry of Agriculture. The organization manages several farms around
the country with the primary objectives of agricultural production and extension. On
159
three of these farms described in Table 13, cattle are raised, mainly of local breeds.
There is no well-defined breeding policy and no information is available on perform
ance.
Sheep are raised on a number of other state farms in Ashanti, Western,
Central and Volta Regions. Although no detailed information is available, there are
apparently serious problems connected with the management of these flocks.
Table 13. State farms which keep cattle.
Name Demon Ranch Ohawu-Akatsi Ranch Kwamoso State Farm
Location (and East part of North-
reference in ern Region 120 km
Figure 1) from Tamale
5 6
Southern part of
Volta Region
Eastern Region north
of Accra
5 6
Size 800 ha
Breeds and
numbers
Approx. 100 cattle,
mainly Ghana
Shorthorn, with
Sanga and N' Dama
crossbreds
800 - 1000 Ghana
Shorthorn plus
Sanga and N' Dama
(from Tadzewa
ranch)
Comments This ranch provides
other state farms
with livestock.
This farm is in the
process of building up its
own cattle herd with stock
from the Ohawu ranch.
The main activity is oil
palm production.
Source : Information from country visits.
5.2.3 Ghana Livestock Company
This company operates three cattle ranches, one of which is still being
developed. Assistance has been provided by the IBRD and a number of commercial
banks. The ranches are described in Table 14.
5.2.4 Shai Hills Ranch (P.O. Box 9577, Airport, Accra)
This ranch is being developed in Greater Accra Region about 40 km northeast
of Accra with funding from the Bank of Ghana and technical assistance from Gunn
Rural Management Property Ltd. of Australia. The location is shown by a 8 in
160
Figure 1. As of the end of 1977, 1 100 cattle of different breeds were kept on this
6 400-ha ranch for meat production and to demonstrate the viability of commercial
cattle ranching. The goal is to build up a herd of 4 000, including 1 500 breeding
cows. The cattle on the ranch have all been identified and the facilities are well de
veloped. Plans have been made to record the performance of the herd.
Table 14. Ghana Livestock Company ranches.
Name Pong Tamale Ranch Tadzevu Ranch Branam Ranch
Location
(and refer
ence in
Figure 1)
Northern Region
north of Tamale
5 7
Volta Region Brong Ahafo Region
north of Wenchi
5 7
Size 6 000 ha
Breeds and 1500 cattle, in- Approx 500 cattle,
numbers eluding 180 NDama mainly Sanga and
No livestock as of the
beginning of 1978
cows, 500 Ghana
Shorthorn cows,
100 Sanga cows and
100 White Fulani
Zebu cows
White Fulani Zebu
Objectives Multiplication ranch,
Livestock will be
transferred to
Branam Ranch and
this will become an
animal husbandry
station.
Livestock is to be
transferred from Pong
Tamale Ranch.
Source: Information from country visits.
5.2.5 Sheep and Goat Production Development Project (P.O. Box 4308, Kumasi)
This project is being carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture on Ejura
Farm in Ashanti Region north of Kumasi with assistance from FAO/UNDP. The
location is shown by 5 9 on Figure 1. As of 1977, 830 local and Sahelian sheep and
40 local goats were kept on 800 ha, with the aim of multiplying improved animals
and producing sires for local breeders. Performance parameters such as pro
ductivity and growth are being recorded.
161
5.2.6 Ghanaian - German Fertilising
This is an integrated agricultural development project based in Northern
Region at Tamale. The animal husbandry component focuses on training personnel
and draught animals . Six draught animal training centres have been est
ablished, covering 20 to 30 farms each. The location of this project is shown by
a 10 in Figure 1.
5.2. 7 Northern Livestock Development Project
A large Ranching and Enclosures Project was being launched in 1978 at
Pwalugu in Northern Region with funding from the Bank of Ghana and technical
assistance from Gunn Rural Management Property Ltd. This project will include
both cattle and sheep production, and local stock raisers will be involved.
5.2.8 Miscellaneous Activities
There are a number of private commercial farms in Ghana, particularly in
the south, including dairy farms in Greater Accra Region. A large dairy project is
being undertaken at Kwaha Dairy Farm, Ltd. which will import Friesian cattle with
assistance from West Germany and Denmark.
5.3 DEVELOPMENT PLAN GUIDELINES FOR THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR
According to the 1975-1980 Development Plan, development of the livestock
sector will focus on:
community projects including pasture improvement, fencing, veterinary
assistance, genetic improvement of livestock and artificial insemination
services,
intensified cattle breeding programmes in five regions,
establishment or improvement of cattle breeding centres for the
production of meat and milk, and
establishment or improvement of small stock breeding centres.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Achimoto Research Institute (1973, 1974). Annual Report. Achimoto.
Buadu, M K (1972). 'The reproductive potential of Dwarf goats in the humid forest
zone of Ashanti' . In Proceedings of the Fifth Animal Science Symposium.
162
Faculty of Agriculture, Kumasi University of Science and Technology,
pp. 7-11.
Capitaine, P (1972). Ghana husbandry development project: Feasibility study
for four ranches: Zootechnical study. Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 103p.
FAO (1976). 'Perspective study of agricultural development in Ghana: Livestock
production'. ESP/PS/CHA/76/13. Rome, 66p.
FAO (1977). 'Agricultural development planning project: Ghana meat development
project'. AG:DP/GHA/72/007. Rome, 172p.
Fischer, K , Lang, H and von Watzdorf, W (1975). Ghanaian German agricultural
development project: Northern and Upper Region: Project evaluation:
Final report. Hamburg.
Ghana, Central Bureau of Statistics (1977). Economic Survey, 1972-74. Accra.
Ghana, Veterinary Services/Ministry of Agriculture (1975). 'Livestock Census' Accra.
Gunn Rural Management Property, Ltd. (1977). Northern livestock development:
Republic of Ghana. Brisbane.
Kahoun, J (1970). 'Effects of crossbreeding on growth rate and body conformation
in local cattle on the Accra plains, Ghana' . Parts 1 and 2. Ghana J. Agric.
Sci. 3, pp. 131-134, and 5, pp. 51-56.
Landsbury, T J (1960). 'A review of some limiting factors in the nutrition of cattle
on the Accra plains, Ghana'. Trop. Agric. (Trinidad). 37, pp. 185-192.
Montsma, G (1959). 'Some notes on the conformation of West African Dwarf cattle'.
Trop. Agric. (Trinidad). 36, pp. 299-303.
Montsma, G (1960). 'Observations of milk yield and calf growth and conversion rate
on three types of cattle in Ghana' . Trop. Agric. (Trinidad). 37,
pp. 293-302.
Montsma, G (1962). 'Observations of milk yield and calf growth and conversion rate
on three types of cattle in Ghana. II: Effects of plane of nutrition' . Trop.
Agric. . (Trinidad). 39, pp. 123-129.
Ngere, L O (1973). 'Size and growth rate of the West African Dwarf sheep and a new
breed, the Nungua Black Head of Ghana' . Ghana J. Agric. Sci. 6, pp.
113-117.
Ngere, L O (1974). ' Crossbreeding for beef in Ghana and Nigeria'. In First World
Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. Volume 3. Madrid,
pp. 737-742.
163
Ngere, L O, Hagan, R, Oppong, E N W and Loosli, JE (1975). ' MilMng potential
of the West African Shorthorn cow' . Ghana J. Agric. Sci. 8, pp. 31-35.
Oppong, E W (1963). 'A note on goats in Ghana with reference to the need to develop
goat husbandry to improve the nation' s diet' . The Ghana Farmer. 9 (4) t
pp. 144-149.
Oppong, E W (1973). ' Diseases of sheep in Ghana' . Ghana J. Agric. Sci. 6y PP. 3-7.
Rose-Innes, R (1963). 'The behaviour of free- grazing cattle in the West African
humid tropics: Studies on a herd of West African Shorthorns on the Accra
plans, Ghana. I: Rainy season' . Emp. J. Exper. Agric. 31, pp. 1-13.
Sada, I (1968). 'The length of the gestation period, calving interval and service
period in indigenous West African cattle : N'Dama, West African Shorthorn
and Sokoto Gudale' . Ghana J. Agric. Sci. 1, pp. 91-97.
Sada, I and Vohradsky, F (1968). 'Milk yield and butterfat content of F generation
Jersey x indigenous breeds of Ghana' . Beitrage zur Trop. Sub-Trop. Landw.
u. Trop. Vet. Med. pp. 63-69.
Sada, I and Vohradsky, F (1973) Sb. Vys. Sk. Zemed. Praze Provozne Ekon. Fak.
Cesk. Budejovicich Rada Biol. 6, pp. 173ff.
SEDES (1972). 'Rapport general'. In Etude de factibilite du projet relatif au
developpement de l'elevage au Ghana. Volume 1. Paris, 137p.
Stewart J L (1928) Report on the livestock of the coastal area of the Eastern
Provznce of the Colony Gold Coast. Accra, Government Printer, 9p.
Stewart, J L (1937). 'The cattle of the Gold Coast'. Vet. Record. 49, pp. 1289-1297.
Tuah, A K (1973). 'Prospects for dairying in the "Kumasi District" of the Ashanti
Region of Ghana: Review of the situation'. Ghana J. Agric Sci 7
pp. 157-164. " * '
Tuah, A K and Tetteh, A (1972). "The effect of feeding urea supplement on the per
formance of confined West African Dwarf Sheep' . In Proceedings of the
Fifth Animal Science Symposium. Faculty of Agriculture, Kumasi
University of Science and Technology, pp. 83-93.
University of Ghana Agricultural Research Station, Nungua (now Legon) (1967).
Annual Report 1966-67. Nungua.
University of Ghana Agricultural Research Station, Nungua (now Legon) (1975).
Annual Report 1973-74/1974-75. Nungua.
USAID (1967). Ghana livestock development handbook. Accra, 127p.
164
Vohradsky, G and Sada, I (1973). sb. Vys. Sk. Zemed. Praze Provozne Ekon. Fak.
Cesk. Budejovicich Rada Biol. 6, pp. 161 ff.
Wharton, F D, Shepard, J M and Buama, T F (1967). 'Preliminary studies on
supplemental feeding of cattle reared under essentially 'local" conditions in
Northern Ghana' . Ghana J. Agric. Sci. 7, PP. 30-36.
165
CHAPTER 11
TOGO
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Togp lies on the west coast of Africa with its capital at Lome.
The country forms a narrow strip of land stretching north to Upper Volta, with
Ghana to the west and Benin to the east. It is divided into five regions - Region
Maritime, Region des Plateaux, Region du Centre, Region de la Kara and Region des
Savanes - each of which includes several administrative districts. Most of the
government services are organized according to these divisions.
The former Service de 1' Elevage et des Industries Animales has recently
been divided into a Direction de la Production Animale under the Ministere du Devel-
oppement Rural and a Direction des Services Veterinaires et de la Sante Animale
under the Ministe're de l'Amenagement Rural. These services are provided through
out the country through offices in several circumscriptions, each of which is res
ponsible for a number of veterinary posts at the local level.
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1 .
Table 1. Background data for Togo.
2
Area 56 800 km
Latitude 6° - 11° N
Longitude 0° - 1°50' E
Population
number 2 280 001)
density 40.1/km
Livestock numbers
cattle 214 000
sheep 792 000
goats 730 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, Togo, Service de
l' Elevage, 1976.
166
North of the eighth parallel, the climate is Sahelo-Sudanian, with one rainy
season from March to October. The annual rainfall averages 1 100 mm in the far
north, 1 200 to 1 300 mm in the Fazas mountains and 1 600 mm in the Aledjo moun
tains. In the southern part of the country, the climate is Sudano-Guinean and
Guinean, with two rainy seasons from March to July and September to November.
The annual rainfall increases as one moves inland from the coast, and reaches
1 500 to 1 700 mm on the slopes of the Akposso mountains.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), the entire
country is infested with tsetse. G. palpalis and G. longipalpis are found in
the south, G. morsitans and G. longipalpis in the centre and east, G. palpalis
and G. tachinoides in the north and G. morsitans in the extreme northern part
of the country.
Itard (1968) has drawn up a detailed tsetse distribution map for the Region
des Savanes, which has the largest cattle population. He found G. tachinoides
and G. palpalis in this area. The Direction des Services de 1'Elevage et des
Industries Animales produced a sketch map of tsetse distribution in Togo, and
Mawuena (1976) made a summary of tsetse distribution in the country as a whole.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of livestock in the five regions is shown in Table 2 and
Figure 1. The dominant cattle breeds in each region are indicated, but no precise
figures on the distribution of individual breeds are available.
Table 2 reveals that the cattle population in Togo is concentrated in the
north, with Region des Savanes and Region de la Kara accounting for 54% of the
national herd. Region du Centre and Region des Plateaux in the centre of the
country have much smaller cattle populations.
There are seven times as many small ruminants in the country as cattle.
They are also concentrated in Region de Savanes and Region de la Kara in the north
and in Region Maritime.
3. CATTLE
3 . 1 BREED DESCRIPTION
In southern Togo, all cattle with a general shorthorn appearance tend to be
called Lagune, though, strictly speaking, the Lagune breed, or Dwarf West African
Shorthorn, seems to be disappearing. Most of the animals known locally as Lagune
should actually be classified as Borgou.
OS
Table2.Livestockd stributionnTog ,1276.
National
Goats
%of Total
8
16 13 21 22 100
National
Number 2030 0 82000 24000 156000 158000 73000
- %of Total
30 13 12 21
3 100
-Sheep
Density head/km
Number 2_000 1000 3000 162000 13000 722000
50.2 8.7 2.3 12.4 55.3 27.0
Total
5ebuNum er 48000 212000 187000 38000 351000 1522000
-
Borgou
c - - c c
2%
BreedDistribution a b b a a 30%
Somba
a a a b c
8%
Cattle
Density
Lagune
- - - - c 1%
head/ km
2.2 8.0 2.5 2.0 2.0 3.8
National
%of Total
_
17 28 16 6 100
- Total
Number
80000 8000 51000 38000 13000
Country214000Savanes Plateaux
Maritime
Region
Kara
Centre Entire
a.Mostnumerousbre d.
b.Breedpr sent,utnodomina .
c.Smallnumberinregion.
Source:Servidel'ElevagetsInd s riesAnimales,1276.
168
Figure 1. Administrative boundaries, location of research centres, multiplication
herds and development projects, cattle numbers and breed distribution.
 
■ Boundary of zone where crossbred cattle predominate HAUTE-VOLTA
• National boundary jf
. Administrative boundaries
Capital
Administrative centre
1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. N'Dama x Zebu
6. Zebu
n.b. Only national cattle population broken down by breeds
Research centres
^ Centre with trypanotolerant livestock as main activity
(•) Centre with trypanotolerant livestock as subsidiary activity
Multiplication herds
■ Governmental farm or ranch with trypanotolerant livestock
Development projects
▲ Livestock project focussing on trypanotolerant breeds
A Agricultural project with trypanotolerant livestock component
 
169
The Somba, a typical Shorthorn, is the most numerous breed in the country,
though crossbreeding seems to be increasing.
The Borgou is a cross between Zebu and Somba, or sometimes Zebu and
Lagune. This is a very heterogenous group in Togo. The most typical animals are
found in Region des Savanes, though the Borgou are also the most numerous breed in
Region Maritime and Region des Plateaux.
Zebu cattle have not been kept in Togo traditionally, though small numbers of
Zebu may be found, particularly in the northern part of Region des Plateaux.
Nomadic Zebu herds come into the northeastern part of the country from Upper Volta,
and Zebu being taken to slaughter also cross over Togo.
Two other African breeds have also been introduced. The N'Dama are kept
on research stations and are found in small numbers over a fairly wide area. The
Wakwa Zebu, a cross between the Brahman and Adamawa Fulani Zebu, has been
imported into the Plateaux de Dayes area from Cameroon. Some exotic breeds are
kept on research stations, for example, German Brown and German Yellow at
Avetonou and Gir and Guzera Zebu from Brazil at Anecho.
Improved animals have been imported in the past, but have not been kept as
pure breeds. Their contribution to crossbreeding, however, may explain the unusual
appearance of the cattle in Region des Plateaux.
3.1.1 Lagune
It appears that the Lagune breed in Togo is rapidly being absorbed by the
other local breeds, and the population described as Lagune is very heterogeneous.
Leclerq (1970) found significant differences in the size of animals from a herd
described as Lagune on a coconut plantation and from another herd near Assahoun
which had traditionally been considered pure Lagune. The average measurements of
these two herds are given in Table 3.
Table 3. Measurements of two herds of Lagune cattle (cm).
Adults 5-8 Years on Adult Females 5 to 10
Coconut Plantation Years in Assahoun Area
(n = 40) (n = 10)
Height at withers 101.4 + 1.1 93.2+1.4
Height at sternum 46.4+0.9 45. 1+1.1
Heart girth 137.5+1.9 128.9+2.4
Body length 116.3+1.9 109.6+2.8
Head length 38.6 + 0.5 34.9 + 0.9
Source : Leclerq, 1970.
170
Domingo (1976) also recorded measurements of Lagune cattle, as well as
Somba and Borgou, in different age categories. These are presented in Table 4.
Leclerq (1970) reported a fecundity rate of 70% and an age at first calving
between 3 and 3^ years for a herd of Lagune cattle which belonged to the Societe
Regionale d' Amenagement et de Developpement (SORAD) in Anecho. The average
carcass weight of these animals was estimated at 80 kg.
3.1.2 Somba
The Somba are typical humpless Shorthorns, similar in appearance to the
Baoule of Ivory Coast and the Ghana Shorthorn. This is still the most numerous breed
in Togo, though crossbreeding with Zebu, Borgou and sometimes N'Dama is increas
ing (see Figure 3.34, volume 1). Relatively pure Somba are found in Region de la
Kara and in Region du Centre near Sokode, which is an extension of the Atacora high
lands of Benin, inhabited by the Somba people, where the breed is said to have
originated .
There is little information available on the productivity of the Somba in Togo.
The measurements made by Domingo (1976) are given in Table 4, suggesting that the
Somba and the Lagune are about the same size. Information on carcass weights was
obtained from the Service de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales for Region des
Table 4. Measurements of Lagune, Somba and Borgou cattle (cm).
Age Group Lagune Somba Borgou
15-18 months
Number
Height at withers
Heart girth
Scapulo-ischial length
3-3^ years
Number
Height at withers
Heart girth
Scapulo-ischial length
46
80.6 + 0.2
102.8 + 0.3
92.3 + 0.8
54
95+0.2
126.8 + 0.7
114.3 +0.4
53
80.3 + 0.0
106.4 + 0.6
91.9 +1.0
47
94+0.4
124.6 + 0.5
114.7 +0.4
45
91+0.4
120.7+1.0
106.4 + 0.8
47
95 + 0.2
133.3 + 0.8
116.6 +0.6
5 years
Number
Height at withers
Heart girth
Scapulo-ischial length
54
96.2+1.1
136.3+2.1
119.7 +1.3
76
97.1 + 0.8
136.6+1.4
120.2 +1.4
50
106.6 + 0.9
145.3+1.4
128.4 +1.4
Source : Domingo, 1976.
171
Savanes, Region du Centre and Region des Plateaux, as given in Table 5. Animals
were classified as Zebu or humpless, which included Somba and Borgou.
Table 5. Carcass weights of Zebu and humpless cattle.
Region Number Weight
Average
in kg
Range
207
1 421
105.4
67.7
47-184
18-147
148
2 085
141.0
80.0
76-248
18-234
t
815
1 279
139.0
103.0 44-117
Region des Savanes: Dapaong and Mango
Zebu
humpless
Region du Centre : Sokode
Zebu
humpless
Region des Plateaux: Kpalime and Atakpame
Zebu
humpless
Source : Service de 1' Elevage et des Industries Animales, 1976.
3.1.3 Borgou
It is almost impossible to define a standard type for the Borgou breed in
Togo, as all the intermediate types between the humpless breeds and the Zebu are
commonly grouped under this name. Measurements for these animals are given in
Table 4. No other specific information is available.
3.1.4 N'Dama
Table 6 summarizes the estimates of the main production traits requires to
build up a productivity index covering the total weight of one-year-old calf plus the
liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of cow maintained per year. This
productivity index has been derived for meat production under the conditions of
Avetonou Station in a low tsetse challenge area.
3.1.5 Wakwa Crosses
The only information available on the Wakwa Zebu in Togo is derived from
data on crossbreds with the local breed at the Centre Agricole de Dzogbegan in the
western part of Region des Plateaux. Average weights recorded between 1968 and
1971 are given in Table 7 .
172
Table 6. N' Dama productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Parameter
Cow viability (%)
Calving percentage (%)
Calf viability to one year (%)
Calf weight at one year (kg)
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity indexa per cow per year (kg)
Cow weight (kg)
Productivity indexa per 100 kg cow maintained per year (kg)
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Sources: Information from country visit .
Table 7. Average weights of local and crossbred cattle at Centre Agricole de
Dzobegan (kg).
Station/low challenge/
meat
99
67
95
126
80.6
283
28.5
Birth
6 12 18 24 36
months months months months months
Local breed (male & female) 13 48 88 131 171 202
Wakwa x local: female 22 114 188 229 276
Wakwa x local: male 22 130 202 217 295 393
Source: Information from country visit.
3.2 DISEASE
Among contagious diseases, there has been no outbreak of rinderpest since
the end of a vaccination campaign carried out in 1965. Contagious bovine pleuro
pneumonia (CBPP) was a serious problem from 1960 to 1970, but has not occurred
recently. Foot-and-mouth disease occurs in Region de la Kara and Region des
Savanes in the north, and anthrax occurs in some areas where cattle have been
imported. Tuberculosis is found almost exclusively in animals which have been
imported or smuggled in illegally.
Turning to parasitic diseases, treatment for ectoparasites and gastro
intestinal parasites is carried out regularly by veterinary teams which visit every
region of the country.
173
Trypanosomiasis is endemic throughout the country, with T. vivax and T.
congolense the most important trypanosomes (Mawuena, 1976). Preventive
measures are carried out to control this disease.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
According to Somoko-Balantpli and Freitas (1978), 'Togo, even with certain
favourable climatic conditions, is not an important livestock country . Livestock
rearing is a minor, almost marginal activity which enables certain traditional
expenses to be met' .
Generally speaking, the rural population consists of two groups. The great
majority are almost exclusively sedentary farmers from a large number of tribes.
In addition, there are Fulani who farm and raise livestock. Both groups practise
rotational cropping with a long fallow period.
Though the Fulani in Togo are good farmers, they also spend a great deal of
time looking after their livestock. They tend to value large herds more highly than
the quality of the animals. They rent land for cultivation from the local tribes, and
there is often friction between the two groups, especially during the cropping season.
The Fulani construct pens near their houses where their cattle are tethered
at night. Each animal knows its place where it goes independently and waits to be tied b
the leg or the horns. Where cattle are kept on coconut plantations at the coast, each
animal is tied to a particular tree every night for a month in order to provide manure.
The cattle are milked once a day in the morning and then taken out to graze during
the day. They are often herded by children during the rainy season, but by adults
during the dry season when grazing is more difficult to find.
The local farmers in the southern part of the country are not as interested in
livestock production, and even show a certain contempt for cattle herding, though
they feel they are exploited by their Fulani herdsmen. Exceptions are the Konkomba
of Region du Centre, the Kabre of Region de la Kara and the people of Region de
Savanes, who seem to place more importance on livestock. The herding system
among the local farmers differs from that of the Fulani in that after the harvest they
leave their animals to roam freely until the next cropping season. They also appear
to use more herdsmen than the Fulani for the same number of animals, at least in
Region des Savanes. According to a study carried out in that region by the Service
de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales (Tchaniley, 1975), there were 751 Fulani
herdsmen with 66 170 cattle, or 88 cattle per herdsman, and 340 herdsmen of other
tribes with 11 967 cattle, or 35 cattle per herdsman.
In Region de la Kara herd sizes tend to be fairly small. According to the
Service de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales, 1 171 herds, or 85% of 1 381
herds surveyed in the region were less than 50 head in 1976, 143, or 10%, were 50
to 100 head and only 67, or 5%, were more than 100 head. Sarniguet and Legrand
(1974) give the typical herd composition in Togo, based on a detailed census of
3 906 cattle carried out in 1969, as shown in Table 8.
174
Draught animals are not used in the traditional farming systems. There are
very few draught oxen in the country, and these are generally kept on experime ntal
farms .
Table 8. Typical herd structure.
Breeding cows (3^ - 11 years) 39.8%
Heifers (1i - 3^ years) 18. 7%
Female calves (0-18 months) 16.6%
Total females 75.1%
Adult bulls 8.0%
Oxen (over 2 years) 2. 8%
Young bulls (1-2 years) 3.8%
Male calves (0 - 18 months) 17.5%
Total males 24.9%
Source : Sarniguet and Legrand (1974).
4- SHEEP AND GOATS
4 . 1 BREED DESCRIPTION
Sheep and goats in Togo are mainly of the Djallonke or Guinean type. In the
more urbanized areas there are also a few crossbred Djallonke x Sahelian sheep. In
Region Maritime, this crossbred is called Vogan sheep.
4.1.1 Sheep
For adult sheep over four years, the height at withers is generally about 50 to
55 cm and the liveweight 22 to 24 kg for ewes and 26 to 32 kg for rams. The age at
first lambing is about 18 months, and the lambing rate is about 110%. Mortality up
to weaning is about 20%, among lambs after weaning it is 10% and among adult
animals 5%. Table 9 gives average body weights in three regions according to age.
Carcass yields for animals kept under village conditions average about 50% (SEDES,
1975).
Table 10 summarizes estimates of the major production traits required to
build up a productivity index based on the total weight of five-month-old lamb pro
duced per 10 kg of ewe maintained per year. This productivity index has been
derived for production under village conditions in a light to medium tsetse challenge
area.
175
Table 9. Body weights for sheep in three regions» (kg).
Age in Region des Plateaux Region du Centre Region de la Kara
months female male female male female male
0-2 3.5 4.0 5.0 5.0 - -
4-6 7.5 7.0 8.0 10.0 -
11. oa
10- 12 13.0 13.0 15.5 17.0 11.5
13 - 18 16.0 17.0 - - - -
19 - 24 17.0 20.0 22.0 26.0 - -
25 - 36 19-0 21.0 22.0 - 16.0 16.0
37 - 48 21.5 25.0 23.0 28.5 20.0 22.0
over 48 24.0 24.0 33.0 22.0 26.0
a. 8-12 months
Source : SEDES, 1975.
Table 1Q. Productivity estimates for sheep.
Parameter
Production Environment
Village Aight to medium
challenge
Ewe viability (%)
Lambing percentage
Lamb viability to one year (%)
Lamb weight at five months (kg)
Productivity index per ewe per year (kg)
Ewe weight (kg)
Productivity index per 10 kg ewe maintained
per year (kg)
95
165
80
11.5
15.6
23
6.8
a. Total weight of five-month-old lamb produced.
Source: Information from country visit.
4.1.2 Goats
According to SEDES (1975), typical height at withers for adult goats is 40 to
45 cm and liveweight is 18 to 22 kg for females and 22. 5 to 25 kg for males. The
age at first kidding is about 15 months and the kidding rate is about 120%. Mortality
rates are slightly higher for goats than for sheep: 22% up to weaning, 10% for kids
after weaning and 8% for adult animals. Milk production averages about 30 kg over
60 days. Typical body weights among goats in three regions are given in Table 11.
176
Carcass yields are about 50% for goats kept under village conditions and
about 52% for young animals reared on an improved diet. The Service de l'Elevage
et des Industries Animales gives the following average carcass weights for sheep and
goats in three regions in 1976:
Region des Savanes Region *du Centre Region des Plateaux
number kg number kg number kg
sheep 122 7.9 416 9.1 1 605 10.5
goats 208 6.7 709 7.1 1 560 9.0
Table 11. Body weightsi for goats in three regions (kg).
Age in months Region des Plateaux Region du Centre Region de la Kara
male female male female
0-2 2.0 4 4 - -
4-6 5.5 7 8 - -
10 - 12 11.0 12 13
9a 8.0a
13 - 18 12.0 - - - -
19 - 24 14.0 17 16 - -
25 - 36 16.0 22 18 11 13.0
37 - 48 19.0 25 19 13 18.0
over 48 23.0 - 22 19 25.5
a. 8-12 months.
Source : SEDES, 1975a.
Table 12 summarized the estimates of major production traits required to
build up a productivity index based on the total weight of five-month-old kid produced
per 10 kg of female goat maintained per year. This productivity index has been
derived for production under village conditions in a light to medium tsetse challenge
area.
4.2 DISEASE
Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is the most widespread infectious
disease among sheep and goats in Togo, particularly during the rainy season.
Generally small ruminants receive no veterinary treatment, but some flocks are
beginning to be vaccinated and dewormed on a fairly regular basis (Amaizo and
Kavege, 1978).
4.3 FLOCK MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
Togo.
Tchaniley (1975) has reported on the management of sheep and goat flocks in
Among the Fulani, small ruminants are kept crowded together at night in
177
Table 12. Productivity estimates for goats.
Production Environment
Parameter VillageAight to medium
challenge
Female goat viability (%) 92
Kidding percentage 180
Kid viability to one year (%) 78
Kid weight at five months (kg) 7.5
Productivity index per female goat per year (kg) H • 0
Female goat weight (kg) 20
Productivity index per 10 kg female goat maintained
per year (kg) 5«5
a. Total weight of five-month-old kid produced.
Source : Information from country visits.
small pens near the owner's house. Women and children are responsible for their
care. During the cropping season, they are tethered during the day near the house
with enough rope to allow them to eat the grass and legumes left by the cattle. At
midday, they are given water and tethered in a new place. During the dry season,
sheep and goats are allowed to roam freely in flocks in search of scarce grazing.
Watering is a problem during this season because the animals are not tended and
must find sources of water on their own.
Among the local farming population, households generally own a few sheep and
goats wh ich are looked after by the old men, women or children. Management of the
flocks is the same as among the Fulani, except that they are often supplemented with
bran, cassava and yam parings.
According to SEDES (1975a), the average size of flocks in Region des Plateaux
is 16, and 24% consist of less than five animals and 7% of more than 50. In Region
du Centre, the average flock size is only 3, with 41% of the flocks composed of 1 to
2 animals and only 2% over 30, and in Region de la Kara the average flock size is
19. In Region des Plateaux, 39% of all households keep only sheep, while 30%
keep both sheep and goats. In Region de la Kara, 20% of the households keep only
sheep, and 63% keep sheep and goats. The typical composition of sheep and goat
flocks by age and by sex is shown in Table 13.
178
Table 13. Composition of sheep and goat flocks (%).
Sheep
Region des Region du
Plateaux Centre
Goats
Region des Region du
Plateaux Centre
Structure by Age
0-6 months 24 22 34 31
6-12 months 21 14 20 16
1-2 years 18 23 19 21
2-4 years 22 21 16 19
> 4 years 15 20 11 13
Structure by Sex
All females 73 76 71 71
All males 27 24 29 29
Females > 2 years 32 39 23 30
Females '.1-2 years 14 15 14 17
Females < 1 year 27 22 34 24
Males > 2 years 5 2 4 2
Males 1 - 2 years 4 8 5 4
Males < 1 year 18 14 20 21
Source: SEDES, 1975a.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH
The two centres carrying out research on trypanotolerant livestock in Togo
are described in Table 14.
5.2 MULTIPLICATION HERDS
A number of stations around the country keep small herds of cattle, sheep and
goats . These include Nassable" Station in Region des Savanes near Dapaong (b3 in
Figure 1), Na Station near Sokodg in Region du Centre ("4 in Figure 1), Dzogbegan
Monastery on Dayes Plateau in Region des Plateaux («5 in Figure 1), Dayes-Apeyine
Centre ( 5 6 in Figure 1), the Centre d'Apprentissage Agricole de Tove («7 in Figure
1) and the Centre Polyvalent d'Adeta («8 in Figure 1).
179
Table 14. Research Centres.
Name Centre d' Elevage et de Ecole Superieure d'Agronomie
Recherche sur la Trypanoso- (B.P. 1515, Lome)
miase et la Trypanotolerance
(CERTT) (B.P. 27,
Agou-Gare)
Location (and Avetonou, 100 km from Lome Lome
reference in on Kpalime road
Figure 1) • 1 (•) 2
Organization Ministere du Developpement Universite du Benin
responsible Rural
Size 650 ha 5 ha
Breeds and
numbers
Objectives
External aid
Project period
1 783 cattle: 139 Brown Swiss
and German Yellow, 759 N' Dama,
50 local breeds, 398 crossbred
European x local (Fl), 435 cross
bred Fl x N'Dama, 2 crossbred
local x N'Dama (July 1978)
Research on trypanotolerance and
on the genetic potential of try-
panotolerant and non-trypano-
tolerant types and their cross
breeds. Research on the
economic value of the trypano-
tolerant types. Systematic
collection of production data.
Germany
1977 - 1980
Sheep
Improvement of different food
crop varieties in Togo combined
with sheep production. Genetic
improvement of the local breed
through selection, crossbreeding
and feeding.
Source : Information from country visit.
5.3 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Four development projects are described in Table 15.
5 o
Table15.Developmentprojects.
Name
'Togo-Nord'Programme d'AménagementuNord
Togo
PRO-DE-BODévelop
pementdl'ElevageBovin
pourlaCultureAttelé
(B.P.144,Sokode)
ProjetduRanche
l'Adélé
ProjetPil tAg icole
Location( nd referencein
Figure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Objectives
Externalaid
Projectperiod
RegiondelaKara(L ma
Kara)
A2
MinistèreduDéveloppe
mentRural
Regiond sPlateauxete-uCen re
giondeCentre(Sok déa d
Atakpamé)108
Regiond sSavanes
(Dapaong)
A12
MinistèreduDéveloppem nt
Rural
60000ha,15tropicalCovering4farms
livestockunits(TLU)
Integratedruraldevelop
mentandimprovementof
productiontechniques.
Planstoimport2005ebu
intotheLamaK rarefo
useadraughtoxen.
UNDP/FAO 1276-8
Establishmentoffivtra n-WIPfeasibili ys udyor
inganddemonstration
stationsfordr ughtoxen.
EEC( DF)
1277-8
threeranch s.Breeding
ranchtobedeveloped
first.
EEC( DF)
Integratedagricultural
developmentproject.
EEC( DF)
Source:Informationfromc n ryvisi .
181
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Amaizo, B F and Fiadogbe, F (1977). 'La transhumance au Togo et l'elevage bovin' .
Paper presented at the Colloque Recherches sur l'Elevage Bovin en Zone
Tropicale Humide, held in Bouake.
Amaizo, B F and Kavege, K F (1978). 'Inventaire des maladies du Detail au Togo' .
Paper presented at the Reunion Sous-Regionale OAUABAR de 1'Afrique de
l'Ouest, held in Lome, 10-14 July.
Centre Agricole de Dzogbegan (1969). 'Rapport d'elevage bovin, caprin, avicole'.
Dzogbegan.
Centre Agricole de Dzogbegan ( ? ). 'Note sur l'elevage bovin: Introduction de la
race Wakwa au Togo'. Dzogbegan.
CERTT (1978). 'Proposition pour une programme de travail pour 1' etude de la
trypanotolerance' . Avetonou, Ministere du Developpement Rural/GTZ.
Diallo, A (1960). 'Considerations sur l'elevage des bovins dans la zone soudano-
guineenne'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Nationale Ve.te.rinaire, Toulouse,
88p.
Djato, K N (1975). ' Contribution a 1' etude de l'approvisionnement en viande au Togo' .
Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Medecine
Veterinaire, Dakar, 108p.
Domingo, A M (1976). 'Contribution a 1' etude de la population bovine des Etats du
Golf du Benin'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis. Ecole Inter-Etat des Sciences et
Medecine Veterinaire, Dakar.
Itard, J (1968). 'Enquete entomologique dans la region des savanes (Rep. du Togo)'.
Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 21 (3), pp. 375-385.
Leclerq, P (1970). L'elevage bovin dans la region maritime du Togo.
Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, H5p.
Mawuena, K (1976). 'La situation de la trypanosomiase animale au Togo'. Lome,
Direction des Services Veterinaires et Sante Animale.
Mueller, J O (1967). Problemes de l'elevage contractuel des bovins par les
pasteurs Foulbe (Peulh) en Afrique occidentale: Arguments et opinions
relatifs au developpement de l'elevage en milieu paysan en prenant
exemple sur les Ewes et d'autres tribus au Togo. Munich, D70 Institut
fur WIrtschaftsforschung, Afrika-Studienstelle, 187p.
182
Sarninguet, J and Legrand, Y (1974). Diagnostic et perspectives sur la
production animale au Togo. Paris, SEDES, 109p.
SEDES (1975). Projet de développement des productions ovines et caprines dans
les Régions Plateaux, Centrale, La Kara: Rapport général et rapports
complémentaires. Paris, 336p.
Somoko-Balantpli, MandFreitas, M A (1978). ' Considération sur l' élevage, la
production et les industries animales au Togo' . Paper presented at the
Réunion Sous-Régionale OAUABAR de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, held in Lome,
10 - 14 July.
Tchaniley, M (1975). 'Signification économique et sociale de l'élevage traditionnel
des ruminant au Togo'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Inter- Etat des Science
et Medecine Veterinaire, Dakar.
Togo, Direction de la Statistique (1973). Annuaire statistique du Togo 1973.
Lome, Ministère du Plan, 181p.
Togo, Direction du Service de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales (1961, 1963,
1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971). Rapport Annuel. Lome,
Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et des Eaux et Forêts et Ministère
de l'Economie Rurale.
Togo, Direction Générale du Plan et du Developpement ( ? ). Troisième plan de
développement économique et sociale, 1976-1980. Lomé, Ministère du
Plan, 547p.
Togo, Ministère du Developpement Rural (1976). 'Programme du développement de
l' élevage au Togo1 . Lomé, 10p.
183
CHAPTER 12
BENIN
1. BACKGROUND
The People's Republic of Benin is a narrow strip of land on the west coast of
Africa, with its capital at Porto-Novo. The country is surrounded by Togo to the
west, Upper Volta and Niger to the north and Nigeria to the east. The administration
is divided into six provinces, each of which is composed of several districts which in
turn are sub-divided into Communes Rurales.
The Service de 1' Elevage comes under the Ministere du Developpement Rural
et de 1' Action Cooperative and has its headquarters at Parakou. A Societe de
Developpement des Ressources Animales (SODERA) has also been established under
the same ministry. The Service de 1' Elevage is organized into seven livestock re
gions which correspond to the provinces, except for Borgou Province which is divided
into South Borgou and North Borgou, or Kandi, regions. These livestock regions are
divided into sectors, each with one or more Postes d' Elevage.
In 1975, the Centre d'Action Regionale pour le Developpement Rural
(CARDER) was formed under the Minist§re du Developpement Rural et de 1' Action
Cooperative. This brings together all government activities at the regional level in
agriculture, animal husbandry, development of waterways, forestry, fishing and
agricultural processing.
Basic data for the country as a whole are given in Table 1.
The climate in the northern part of the country is S ahelo-S udanian, with one
rainy season from May to October. In the south, the climate is S udano-Guinean and
Guinean, with two rainy season from March to July and from September to November.
Annual rainfall throughout the country averages about 1 200 mm, increasing from
west to east.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977) and Gruvel (1978),
the entire country is infested with tsetse . G, fusca and G, mediocorvm are found
in the south, G. palpalis gambiensis is found everywhere except in the northwest,
and G. tachinoides is found everywhere except in the far south. G. longipalpis
is found in the southern half of the country and G. morsitans in the northern half,
except for the northeast. Lazic (1976) carried out a detailed study of the tsetse
184
Figure 1. Administrative divisions, location of research centres, multiplication
herds and development projects, cattle numbers and breeds distribution.
— National boundary
Administrative boundaries
NIGER
/////
I Capital
Administrative centre
Boundary of zone
where Zebu predominate
Boundary of zone
where crossbred cattle predominate
HAUTE-VOLTA
Research centres
A Centre with trypanotolerant livestock
as main activity
(•)Centre with trypanotolerant livestock
as subsidiary activity
Multiplication herds
5 Government farm or ranch
with trypanotolerant livestock
Development projects
▲ Livestock project focussing
on trypanotolerant breeds
A Agricultural project with
trypanotolerant livestock
1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. N'Dama x Zebu
6. Zebu
n.b. Only national cattle population broken down by breeds
 
185
Table 1. Background data for Benin.
Area 112 600 km2
Latitude 6°20' - 12°30' N
o o
Longitude 1 - 4 E
Population
number 3 200 001)
density 28. 4Am
Livestock numbers
cattle 726 000
sheep 881 000
goats 848 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, Service National de
l'Elevage, 1977.
infestation on the pilot livestock breeding farms at MBetecoucou and Samiondji as
part of an FAO project entitled 'Developpement de la Culture Attelee et de la Pro
duction Animale' .
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
The livestock population in the six provinces is given in Table 2 as recorded
in 1977 by the Service de l'Elevage.
According to Gruvel (1978), the distribution of cattle breeds in Benin is
complicated and in a state of change. Estimates of cattle numbers and distribution
by breed type are given in Table 3.
This table indicates that the largest breed group is the Zebu x Borgou cross
breed, which illustrates the absorption process of humpless cattle by Zebu which is
taking place. The 2 700 Somba recorded for Boukombe. District may however be an
underestimate. In Table 2 the breed types are reduced to four groups with the approxi
mate distribution of each.
There are more than 1. 7 million small ruminants in Benin, with approximately
the same number of sheep as goats for the country as a whole. In Borgou Province
8on
30
Goats
%of
National
Total 33.5 23.4 22.8 8.6 3.7 8.4 100.0
i-
%of
National
Numbers 84000 122000 12000 73000 31000 71000 88000
Sheep
Total
41.7 18.7 22.7 6.8 1.7 8.4 100.0
Numbers 500 000 000 000 500 000 000
-
Predomi
nantly
38
165 200 60 18 74 881
5ebu
a - - - -
13000
18
Borgou&
crosses
a a a b b b
5000
62
1277.
Somba
- a a - "*
8000 10
Livestockdistributionbyprovince, Lagune 20000
Cattle
%of
National
- - - a a a 3
Servicedel'El vage,1277.
Total
3.5 12.1 7.7 3.0 1.7 2.0
100.00
Numbers 48600 138700 3100 21500
i12000
14700 78600
a.Majoritygr up. b.Minoritygroup.
Table2.
Province
Borgou Atacora
5ou
Oueme
Atlantique
Mono Total
%
Source:
187
Table 3. Cattle distribution by breed type, 1976.
Breed Type Distribution Number °
National Herd
Zebu North of Borgou Province
Zebu x Borgou Centre and south of Borgou Province
Somba Boukombe District
Borgou x Somba Atacora Province
Borgou South Borgou and east Atacora
Borgou x Lagune South and centre of country
Lagune Lower valleys of Oueme, Aplahoue and
Abomey
Total
55 200 7.7
253 100 35.3
2 700 0.3
104 600 14.6
193 600 27.0
81 700 11.4
26 500 3.7
717 400 100.0
Source : P Canard and B Striffling, quoted in Gruvel, 1978.
there are more sheep than goats, while in Zou and Mono Provinces the sheep and goat
populations are about equal. There are more goats than sheep in the other southern
provinces and Atacora Province.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
The four cattle types in Benin are the Lagune, or Dwarf West African Short
horn, the Somba, or Savanna Shorthorn, the Borgou, which is a Zebu x humpless
crossbred, and the Zebu.
3.1.1 Lagune
The Lagune cattle of Benin are typical of the breed as described in chapter 3
of volume 1. The coat is usually black, black with white spots, or black-and-
white (see Figure 3.27, volume 1). Red or red-and-white animals are very
rare. Mucosa, eyelids and hoofs are black. The average height at withers was
0.88 m for a sample of 17 adult cows recorded by Striffling (1977).
3.1.1.1 Performance Traits. Heinemann (1963) reported a calving rate of only 35to
45% for Lagune cattle kept under village conditions, and Lazic (1978) recorded a
calving rate of 58% at Samiondji Station in 1976-77. The Ministere du Developpe-
188
ment Rural et de 1' Action Cooperative gave a calving rate of 70% for metayage oper
ations (see chapter 3 of volume 1) which seems very high compared to the figures
given in the other sources .
For metayage operations, the Ministere du Developpement Rural reported
mortality rates of 15% for calves up to one year and 7% for adult animals. At
Samiondji Station, mortality rates of 24% for oalves up to one year and 5% for adult
cows were recorded by Lazic (1978).
Striffling (1977) reported average birth weights of 11 kg for 8 female calves
and 10 kg for 5 males and body weights of 53 kg for the same group of females and
47 kg for the males at six months. The average weight of adult cows was 131 kg.
Lazic (1978) gave average weights for different age groups as shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Average weights for Lagune cattle.
Females Males
number kg number kg
Birth
6 months
12 months
Adults
Source : Lazic, 1978.
Striffling (1977) recorded average weights of cows under ranching conditions
in 1976-77. Six three-year-old cows weighed an average of 159 kg each, six four-
year-olds averaged 158 kg, seven five-year-olds averaged 163 kg and 29 cows six-
years-old and over averaged 165 kg.
3.1.1.2. Index of Productivity. Table 5 summarizes the estimates of the main
production traits required to build up a productivity index covering the total weight
of one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of
cow maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for meat produc
tion under the conditions of Samiondji Station in a medium tsetse challenge area.
3.1.2 Somba
The Somba of Benin are stocky animals with good conformation for meat pro
duction. The height at withers is 0. 90 to 1. 00 m, and the coat is generally dark,
either uniformly black, black-and-white, red-and-white or pied, usually with dark
extremities (see Figure 3.44, volume 1). Average measurements from two surveys
are given in Table 6.
16 9.5 17 10
11 47.0 9 49
6 87.0 5 83
51 152.0 - -
189
Table 5. Lagune productivity estimates.
Parameter
Production Environment
Station/medium
challenge/meat
Cow viability (%) 95
Calving percentage 58
Calf viability to one year (%) 76
Calf weight at one year (kg) 85
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 38.4
Cow weight (kg) 152
Productivity index per 100 kg cow maintained per year (kg) 25.3
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Source : Lazic, 1978.
Table 6. Measurements from two samples of Somba cattle.
II
Number of animals 36 76
Sex and age adult cows over 5 years
Height at withers (m) 0.92 0.97
Scapulo- ischial length (m) 1.05 1.20
Heart girth (m) 1.30 1.37
Body weight (kg) 149 -
Sources: Fori, Striffling, 1977; for n, Domingo, 1976.
3.1.3 Borgou
The Borgou in Benin is a crossbreed between West African Zebu (main White
Fulani Zebu) and West African Shorthorn. The coat is usually white or grey, or
sometimes black-and-white, and the mucosa are usually black (see Figures 3.50 and
3. 58, volume 1). Height at withers ranges from 1. 05 to 1. 20 m among adult
animals (Striffling, 1977). These animals are much more docile than the Lagune or
Somba.
3.1.3.1 Performance Traits. Striffling (1977) reported a calving rate under
village conditions of 54.5% in Borgou Province, compared with 73% for a sample of
14 cows at M1 Betecoucou Station in 1975/76. The calving rate varies considerable
190
according to the degree of trypanosomiasis infestation. Lazic (1978) recorded a
calving rate at M Betecoucou of only 33% in 1976/77. At M Betecoucou, the mortality
rate during 1976/77 was 28% for calves and 12% for adult cows (Lazic, 1978). The
average weights of Borgou cattle at M Be'tecoucou Station in 1976/77 are given in
Table 7.
Table 7. Average weights of Borgou at M Betecoucou Station.
Age
Female:
number
3 Males
number kgkg
Birth
6 months
12 months
15
16
16 26 17
18 86
12 130
66
17 112
Source: Lazic, 1978 •
Average weights reported by Striffling (1977) are given in Table 8.
Table 8. Average weights of Borgou.
Age in Months
Females
number kg
MaleIS
number kg
Birth 26 15.6 29 16.4
6 19 71.5 19 90.9
12 17 116.7 11 125.9
18 13 151.7 10 163.6
24 9 206.7 9 199.5
36 2 197.0 3 225.6
Source : Striffling, 1977.
Average weights for adult animals range around 250 kg. Striffling (1977)
recorded an average weight of 244 kg for a sample of 81 adult cows under village
conditions and 248 kg for a sample of 30 adult cows under ranching conditions.
Lazic (1978) reported an average weight of 226 kg for 73 adult cows at M Betecoucou
Station. At Okpara Farm, an average weight of 307 kg was recorded in 1974 for a
sample of 43 males over 5 years old (Striffling et al. , 1975).
Viaut (1966) recorded an average dressing out percentage of 52% at the
Parakou abbatoir for 24 males and 8 females. The average iiveweight of the males
191
was 265 kg and the average carcass weight 137 kg, while for the females average
liveweight was 227 kg and carcass weight 117 kg.
3.1.3.2 Index of Productivity. Table 9 summarizes the estimates of the main
production traits for Borgou cattle needed to build up a productivity index covering
the total weight of one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced
per 100 kg of cow maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for
meat production under conditions at M' Betecoucou Station in a medium tsetse chal
lenge area.
Table 9. Borgou productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Parameter
Station/medium
challenge/meat
Cow viability (%) 88
Calving percentage 33
Calf viability to one year (%) 72
Calf weight at one year (kg) 119
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 30.1
Cow weight (kg) 226
Productivity index per 100 kg cow maintained per
year (kg) 13.3
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Source : Lazic, 1978.
3.1.4 Pabli
Several authors (e.g. BrSmaud, 1967) have mentioned the existence of a
Pabli breed in the Kerou area north of Kouande in Atacora Province. This area is
now populated by typical Borgou cattle; red animals were pointed out during the
country visit as the remnants of the Pabli breed, which has effectively been absorbed
by the Borgou.
3.1.5 Crossbreeds
There is great variety in appearance among crossbreeds in Benin depending
on the original breeds which were crossed and the proportions of each (see Figures
3. 62 and 3. 63, volume 1). There are no precise data on the performance of the
crossbreeds, but these values are generally similar to those obtained for the breeds
which were crossed. The N'Dama breed has been introduced on Okpara Farm near
192
Parakou in Borgou Province and in the south at the SOBEPALH palm plantation near
Ouedo in Atlantique Province for crossbreeding purposes. There is little trace of
N'Dama influence in village herds.
3.2 DISEASE
According to Gruvel (1978) and statistics from the Service National de
l'Elevage for 1975, the cattle disease situation in Benin is similar to that found in
other West African countries. Serious viral and bacterial diseases are uncommon
and seem to be under control, but parasitic diseases are a serious problem.
Among infectious diseases, there has been no sign of rinderpest since 1972.
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) was last reported in the north in 1973,
brought in by animals from Upper Volta. Pasteurellosis occurs throughout the
country: there were 95 foci in 1975. Anthrax is found largely in Atacora Province,
with 20 foci in 1975. Some tuberculosis cases have been reported in Borgou Province,
mainly among Zebu.
Parasitic diseases are the chief cause of poor health among cattle in Benin.
The most common are coccidiosis, gastro-intestinal strongylosis, ascariasis,
piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis. Streptothricosis occurs mainly in the south.
Trypanosomiasis is a major problem in the northern part of the country :
there were 1 125 outbreaks in 1975. Microscopic examinations to determine the types
of trypanosomes involved are not carried out on a regular basis. T. vivax, T.
congolense and T. brucei have all been reported, with T. vivax occurring
most frequently. Lazic (1978) found that 86% of a herd of Borgou cows at
M' Betecoucou responded positively to trypanosomiasis tests, along with 51% of a herd
of Lagune cows at Samiondji. These findings suggest that the level of trypanosomiasis
infestation in Benin is very high.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
There are two general types of traditional cattle production in Benin:
sedentary production in the Guinean region, which accounts for about 20% of the
national herd, and transhumant production, which accounts for the other 80% (Atchy,
1976). Transhumance generally occurs from the south to the north and from the west
to the east.
Sedentary production systems in the south can be grouped into three types.
The first involves free grazing on flooded plains. When waters are low in tsetse
areas from December to June, the animals are left to graze freely on fields demar
cated by water. As the water rises, the animals are gathered together and kept on
rafts and fodder is collected from outside the flooded area and brought to them every
day by boat. Animals belonging to village fishermen and farmers are combined in
one herd which is tended by a hired herdsman. In other areas, farm households own
two or three cows only, which they take out in the morning to graze tethered at the
193
edge of the fields. They are brought back to the farms in the evening. Under the
third type of production system, cattle belonging to several owners are brought
together in herds and tended by hired Fulani herdsmen under palm trees, coconut
trees, on fallow land or on bush savanna. These herds are milked regularly and the
milk is marketed in the towns . The animals are largely Borgou, and many suffer
from streptothricosis.
Most livestock production in the central and northern parts of the country is
carried out by Fulani who look after their own animals (accounting for more than 50%
of the total cattle population) or are hired to look after animals which belong to other
people. The Fulani in Benin are relatively sedentary, but they make brief seasonal
migrations, leaving the old people and a few cows which have recently calved at their
winter camp which is never moved. In Borgou Province, the herds are brought in
every evening and individual animals are tethered in a circular arrangement near
the camp. The calves are tethered in the centre and the cows on the outside, with
the bulls left free. The cows are milked twice a day.
Somba farmers in the northeast keep cattle in small family herds. They are
herded during the cropping season, but after the harvest they are left to roam freely.
The size of cattle herds depends on the owners and the production system
employed. Herds in the south tend to be small, while those in the north, particularly
in Borgou Province, tend to average about 80 head (Striffling, 1977).
Table 10 gives typical herd compositions for the two main livestock regions,
Borgou and Atacora Provinces, and for the south, where the herds are chiefly com
posed of Lagune cattle .
Table 10. Herd composition in three areas (%).
Borgou Province Atacora Province Southern Area
Male calves ( < 1 year)
Young bulls (1-3 years)
Oxen and bulls
11.6
9.5
10.3
8.8
5.4
3.4
8
4
2
3
2.4
Total males 23.5 27.9 17
Female calves (< 1 year) 12.2 10.9
18.0
43.2
11
Heifers 16.8
47.5
14
58Cows
Total female s 76.5 72.1 83
Sources : For Borgou and Atacora. Striffling, 1977;; for southern area, Bremaud,
1967.
194
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
Most of the sheep in Benin are of the Djallonke breed. In the north, there are
also Fulani sheep and crossbreds between the two types. Sheep in the north tend to
be bigger than in the south.
Arnaud (1977) quoted an annual birthrate over two years of 1. 74 lambs per
ewe at the Lycee Agricole de Sekou. The same author reported an average age at
first lambing of 10 months under village conditions and a lamb mortality rate of
approximately 40%. Average weights for adult ewes in good conditions were 20 to 25
kg, and for adult rams 30 to 35 kg.
Table 11 summarizes estimates of the major production traits required to
build up a productivity index based on the total weight of five-month-old lamb pro
duced per 10 kg of ewe maintained per year. This productivity index has been
derived for production under station conditions in a low to medium tsetse challenge
area.
Table 11. Sheep productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Parameter „
Station/low to medium
challenge
Ewe viability (%) 95&
Lambing percentage 174
Lamb viability to one year (%) 60
Lamb weight at five months (kg) 11.5
Productivity index per ewe per year (kg) 12. 3
Ewe weight (kg) , 22.5
Productivity index per 10 kg ewe maintained per year (kg) 5. 5
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of five-month-old lamb produced.
Source : Arnaud, 1977; information from country visits.
The goats in Benin are of the West African Dwarf type (see Figure 3.84,
volume 1). No information on their production traits was available.
4.2 DISEASE
The most important disease affecting small ruminants in Benin is Peste des
195
Pet-its Ruminants (PVR). Many animals suffer from helminthiasis, which makes
them weak and more susceptible to infectious diseases such as PPR.
4.3 FLOCK MANAGEMENT
Sheep and goats are owned by individual households and are generally kept in
small numbers around the house. The animals from a village are never brought
together in one flock. Most households keep sheep and goats together and have two to
five animals in all. They are not given any veterinary attention or supplementary
feeding.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
There are no livestock research centres as such in Benin. However,
MBetecoucou and Samiondji Stations, which are listed in Table 12 under multiplication
herds, are treated as research stations in Figure 1 because research work is being
carried out at these stations by FAO. Multiplication herds are described in Table 12
and development projects in Table 13.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arnaud, R (1977). ' Projet de developpement de la production ovine : Province de
Zou' . UNDP/FAO project. Cotenou, SODERA, 21p.
Assogba, M N (1977). 'Contribution a. 1' etude de la couverture des besoins en
proteine d' origine animale de la population de la Republique Populaire du
Benin'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Inter- Etat des Sciences et Medecine
Veterinaire, Dakar.
Atchy, A A (1976). ' Contribution a 1' etude de la transhumance en Republique
Populaire du Benin'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Inter- Etat des Sciences et
Medecine Veterinaire, Dakar.
Benin, Direction Nationale de l'Elevage (1975). Statistioues 1975. Cotonou.
Benin, Ministere du Developpement Rural et de la Cooperation (1969). 'Essai
d'embouche a la ferme de l'Okpara'. In IEMVT. Colloque sur l'elevage.
Fort Lamy, pp. 362-373.
Table12.Researchandmultiplicationh rds.
LyceeAgricolede
Sekou
FermedeKpinnou
Stationde
M'Betecoucou
StationdeSamiondji
BorgouPr vince,16AtlantiquePr vinceM o
■1(•)23
Name
Centred'Elevage
l'Okpara(B.P.361,
Cotonou)
Location(and
referencein
Figure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
Externalaid
kmfromPa akou
SODERA
37000ha
about750Borgou, about150N'Dama
Selectionandmul i
plicationofBorgouand N'Damafordistribution
inrurala eas-6000
headplanned(2500
breedingcows).
BanqueOuestAfri- cainedeDeveloppe-
ment(BOAD)
SODERA
300ha
80cattle, 210sheep
80Lagune,200
Borgouf rattening Demonstrationhe dasS lectionamul
partofther ining
programme.In1963-
65,severalBrown
Swisswereintroduc d,
butnowo lytraces remainintheh rd.
plicationofBorgoux
Laguneforthe
metayageoper tionin
thesouth rnarea.
FAO/UNDP
(B.P.506,Cotonou)
ZouProvince
SODERA 5000ha(25 planned)
Breedingh rdof111
Borgou+300
draughtoxen
Selectionandmul i plicationofBorgou.
Dataontryp no
somiasisandwe ght
areavailableon
monthlybasisa dd a
onreproduction
dailyb sisforthepast
twoyears.
FAOProject
BEN72/015
(B.P.506,Cotonou)
ZouProvince
SODERA
9000ha(15planned)
Breedingh rdof112Lagune,
200Borgouxenkeptin
reserveasd aughtanimals Selectionandmultiplication
ofLagunebreed.S me
datasforM1Betecoucou.
FAOProject
BEN72/015
(B.P.506,Cotonou)
-3
Table13.Developmentprojects.
SOBEPALH(Societe BeninoisedePalme-
raiesd'Huile)
ProjetdeDeveloppement
delaCultureAtt lee
laProductionAnimale
Amelioration
DeveloppementdelaPro
ductionAnimale
(B.P.506,Cotonou)
entirecountry
(Cotonou) ▲7
entirecountry
(Cotonou)
ProjetdeDeveloppement
de1'ElevageansSud
Borgou
SouthBorgouProvince
(Parakou)
ProjetdeDeveloppement
de1'ElevagesPetits
Ruminants
Atacora,BorgouandZou
Provinces(Cotonou)
A9
MinistSreduDeveloppe
mentRural
SODERA
SODERA
SODERA
25cooperativeseach
comprisingseveral
villages
Breedsan2853cattle(LagunendBorgou,L
numberssomeN'Damacrossb eds),cro sbr ds
130pairsofdr ughtoxen
Borgou,Laguneand
crossbreds
Name
Location
(headquarters andreference
inFigure5)
0[i6m6Province
(PortoNovo)
A6
Organization
responsible
Size
Objectives
Externalaid
Projectperiod
Meatandmanure
production.
Developmentofdraugh
animals,commercial
beefproduction.D mon stration,es ablishment oflivestockc n resfo
Borgou(M'etecoueo ) andLagune(S miondji)
andcollectionimpr ve
mentofdraughtoxen
(Okpara).
UNDP/FAO72/055 5974-87
Continueworkf M'Bet6coucouand
SamiondjiStatio s.I troduceimprovedliv
stockhusbandrymethods
intherurala eas.
UNDP/FAO
BEN/87/002/A/05/52
5987-5
Improveandexpandt a
ditionalherds.Int duce
veterinarys rvices.
Reducecalfmortality
from30t50%. EEC( DF)
4years
Increasenationalproductionnd revenue.Raisli ingstandards
ofsmallfarmers.Introduce
improvedhe danagem nt.
Establishupportingtechn cal
centrea dannimalh alth
componentincludi gtreatment
againstPPRndparasites.
USAID
5978-83
198
Benin, Mnistere du Developpement Rural et de 1' Action Cooperative (1977). Projet de
developpement de l'elevage des petits ruminants'. Cotonou. 18p.
Bernet, J and Winterhalter, H (1969a). 'Operation metayage au Dahomey avec des
bovins trypanotolerants. InlEMVT. Colloque sur l'elevage. Fort-
Lamy, pp. 134-139.
Berney, J and Winterhalter, H (1969b). ' Premiers resultats de selection et de
croisement a partir d'animaux laitiers'. InlEMVT. Colloque sur l'ilevage.
Fort Lamy, pp. 499-502.
Berney, J and Winterhalter, H (1969c). ' Comportement d'animaux laitiers importes
d' Europe apres 20 mois d' adaptation'. InlEMVT. Colloque sur l'elevage.
Fort Lamy, pp. 140-147.
Bremaud, O (1967). La production de boeuf en relation avec sa commercialisation.
AT 2387. Rome, FAO, 58p.
Borget, M, Delcasso, Dumont Glele, A and Lefort, (1969). 'Possibilites de
developpement de la production fourragere au Dahomey'. In IEMVT. Colloque
sur l'elevage. Fort Lamy, pp. 459-467.
Dineur, B (1978). 'Projet pour 1' amelioration et le developpement de la production
animale au Benin: Rapport et activiteV . UNDP/FAO project. Cotonou. 48p.
Domingo, A M (1976). ' Contribution a 1' etude de la population bovine des etats du
Golfe du Benin'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Inter- Etat des Sciences et
Medecine Veterinaire, Dakar, 148p.
Gani, S S (1976). ' Contribution a 1' etude de 1' exploitation du troupeau bovin en
Republique Populaire du Benin'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Inter- Etat des
Sciences et Me'decine Veterinaire, Dakar.
Gruvel, J (1978). Rapport au gouvernement de la Republique Populaire du Benin
sur la lutte contre les trypanosomiases en Republique Populaire du
Benin. AGA/RP/TRYP/78/1. Rome, FAO, 52p.
Guelly, P and Saka, G S (1978). 'Intervention de la delegation de la Republique
Populaire du Benin' . Paper presented at the Conference OAU sur la Sante et
la Production Animale dans les Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, held in Lome',
10 - 14 July.
Heinemann, H (1963). Le developpement des ressource8 animales et de la sante
animale au Dahomey. Report No. 1688. Rome, FAO/ETAP, 23p.
Kofod, H (1964). Enquete laitiere entreprise au titre de la campagne mondiale
contre la faim dans la Republique du Dahomey. FFHC/ANB/64/17. Rome,
FAO, 13p.
199
Lazic, S (1976). 'Enquête sur les glossines et les trypanosomiases autour des fermes
pilotes d'elevage de M Bétécoucou et de Samiondji: Rapport partiel.
Projet UNDP/FAO pour le Développeme nt de la Culture Attelée et de la
Production Animale. Cotonou.
Lazic, S (1978). 'Comparison of production of trypanotolerant cattle types: Lagune
and Borgou cattle in Benin' . Report by the International Livestock Centre for
Africa to the UNDP/FAO Project BEN/77/002. Nairobi.
Putman, W C (1969). Livestock survey of West Africa. New York, Rockefeller
Foundation, 35p.
Striffling, B (1977). 'L' elevage bovin'. Cotonou.
Striffling, B, Canard, P and Paseri, P (1975). 'Enseignements tires d'observations
faites sur bovins mis a l'embouche dans le centre de la Republique Populaire
du Benin' . UNDP/FAO Projet pour le Developpement de la Culture Attelee et
de la Production Animale, Cotonou, 44p.
UNDP/FAO (1977). 'Conclusions et recommandations du projet'. In Benin: Projet
de développement de la culture attelée et de la production animale.
AG:DP/BEN/72/015 Final Report. Rome, FAO, 32p.
Viaut, P L S (1966). La methodologie pour un developpement de l'elevage harmonise
avec l'ensemble du developpement rural et exemples d'application.
AT 2252. Rome, FAO, 22p.
200
201
CHAPTER 13
NIGERIA
1. BACKGROUND
The Federal Republic of Nigeria lies on the west coast of Africa, on the Gulf
of Guinea, with Benin to the west, Niger to the north and Cameroon and Tchad to the
east. The capital is at Lagos, and the country has been divided into 19 states since
1976. Before this, there were 12 states.
Government livestock services are provided by both the national and state
governments. Each state has a Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
with Livestock or Veterinary Divisions which operate state farms and provide tech
nical and veterinary assistance to livestock raisers. At the federal level, the
Federal Livestock Department, which is part of the Federal Ministry of Agricul
ture and Natural Resources, has offices in each state and coordinates livestock
development and animal health controls.
Basic data for the country as a whole and for the study area are given in
Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Nigeria.
Whole Country Study Area
Area 913 100 km2 400 000 km2
o o o o
Latitude 4 - 14 N 4-11 No o o o
Longitude 3 - 15 E 3 - 11 E
Population
number 77 000 01)0 44 000 000*
density 84,3/km 110Am
Livestock numbers
cattle 8 235 000 766 000
sheep 18 099 000 1 900 000
goats 23 146 000 5 520 000
a. Estimate
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, Nigeria, Federal
Office of Statistics, 1977; for sheep in the study area, Sellers, 1978.
O to
Figure1.Administrativediv ions,bound eyfstudyzoneanlocationresearchce s,multipl cation
herdsandevelopmentprojects.
NIGER
TCHAD
■•■■Nationalbound ry
"-Administrativebou da ies
—River
ACapital
•Administrativece re
Studyzonebelowthisline
v.-3
BENIN
Maidugu
_5,-O
• **-
/
-^-"^
"^^^^
,
->
Bauehi"*?^-
Da/25"Z,A5
|V^YolaJ
x/.y^T'
*\BORNO
\J
\
,'
■■\
J8
BAUCHI1
1
•<.
5-/s\ ;
«.
IAmJ
^
S Pl-ATJFAU
>Day 1•'^
**
Kano KANO
,Ai
(JOS'
^ •
•
**
1 s / ~
1 / /
1
•9 KADUN
'■"■•«,»®24
/+6
FED.'-,I
1 1
\+5
*"~\
Minnav JCAPITAL/
|TERRITORY
sokoto
sOKOTO
-
/
NIGER
^^ESSap.™,
•
GONGOLA
m
Researchcent es
TLaboratoryworkingntryp no-
toleranceand/ortrypanosomiasis
0Centrewi htrypanotol rant
livestockasm inact vity
QUniversityfarmsw th
trypanotolerantlives ock
Makurdi
CAMEROUN
OIUN''^ONDO
Ikaja.LAGOS,\'
-»15gfcJ»'»IBenin
CityI
1/
m
Enugugig
ANMBRA
1/Owen^.
CROss
RIVER
nivtnsPort''Calabar
Harcourt
Multiplicationherds
5Governmentalfarmoranch
withtrypanotolerantlivestock
Developmentprojects
▲Livestockprojectfocussing
ontrypanotolerantbreeds
(X)Livestockprojectfocu sing
onno -trypan tolerantb eeds
203
There is a forest climate in the southern part of the country, below the
seventh parallel in the west and the sixth parallel in the east, with annual rainfall
between 1 800 and 3 000 mm. Moving north, there is a derived savanna zone,.
Guinean savanna, Sudanian savanna and finally a Sahelian zone in the northeast,
south of Lake Chad. There is generally one rainy season throughout the country,
extending from April to October in the south and for a shorter period to the north.
2
Approximately 600 000 to 700 000 km are infested with tsetse, or 75% of the
entire country, including 25% infested only seasonally and 50% infested throughout
the year. Since 1956, the Nigerian government has made substantial efforts to
clear infested areas in the north, and by 1975 approximately 186 000 km had been
cleared, nearly doubling the previous tsetse-free area.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), Kano and
Bornu States are free of tsetse, while Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gongola and
Sokoto States are partly infested and Niger is completely infested. As these eight
states have no trypanotolerant cattle, except for a small Muturu population in
Plateau, they are not included in the study. The remaining 11 states, which are
tsetse infested, form the study area : Ondo, Cyo, Ogun, Lagos, Bendel, Anambra,
Imo, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Benue and Kwara.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
Out of a total cattle population of 766 000 in these 11 states in 1974/75,
about 300 000 were of the trypanotolerant breeds. The rest were Zebu kept in sed
entary or transhumant herds or slaughter stock en route to the southern markets.
In the country as a whole, 96% of the cattle are Zebu, kept primarily in the north.
The main Zebu breeds are White Fulani, Sokote Gudali, Red Mbororo and Shuwa
Arab.
Table 2 shows the distribution of the three major breeds of trypanotolerant
cattle in the 11 states of the study area. These figures were readjusted between
1975 and 1977 according to the new state boundaries and differ slightly from those
of 1974/75 (Nigeria, Federal Office of Statistics, 1977).
The figures for Muturu given in Table 2 are based on information from the
veterinary and livestock services, but they seem to be underestimates. There are
generally thought to be between 100 000 and 120 000 Muturu in the study area.
This population was sharply reduced during the Nigerian civil war and is said to
be decreasing still. In the western states, the Muturu are threatened by absorp
tion due to crossbreeding with WDama. It is widely reported that Muturu are
mainly kept in the forest zone, but large concentrations of these cattle are also
found in the southern derived savanna areas, as shown in Figure 2. In Chapter 2
of volume 1, a distinction is made between Forest Muturu and Savanna Muturu.
204
Table 2. Distribution of trypanotolerant cattle ('000).
State
Total
Number
Muturu N'Dama Ketekua
Ogun
Ondo
Oyo
Lagos
Bendel
Anambra
Imo
Rivers
Cross Rivers
Benue
Kwara
20 2 1
30 3 4
100 2 6
5 1 1
18 5 1
50 10 0.35
20 3 -
0.5 - 0.15
23 4 0.10
150 25 0.20
250 2 1
Total 666.5 57 14.80 150- 180
a. Distribution by state unknown.
Source : Information from country visit.
From field observations it would seem that the estimated total of 120 000 can be
divided roughly into 38 000 Forest and 82 000 Savanna types.
N' Dama are kept mainly on government ranches and on a few commercial
farms in the derived savanna and Guinean zones . Some are also found in the
forest zone, however, in Lagos and Ogun States. N'Dama bulls have been distrib
uted to small commercial farms by the government livestock services for upgrading
Muturu and Keteku herds .
Keteku are found mainly in the derived savanna and Guinean zones of Kwara
and Oyo States in the west, as shown in Figure 2. Similar ecological zones exist
in Benue, Plateau and Anambra States, but very few Keteku are found there because
the local people have traditionally kept pure Muturu herds which play a role in their
traditional ceremonies.
The boundaries of the Zebu areas are difficult to define precisely, and the
line given in Figure 2 is rather arbitrary. In fact, there are large transitional
zones, mainly in the west, with mixed populations of Keteku and White Fulani Zebu,
and there are transhumant Zebu herds in trypanotolerant areas and even sedentary
herds maintained with regular or occasional treatment with trypanocidal drugs. Sub
stantial Zebu herds are also found on the Obuda plateau in southeastern Cross
River State and in the foothills of the Adamawa plateau in southeastern Gongola
State, as these two areas are free of tsetse.
A number of Ghana Shorthorn were imported in the early 1940s, but they
seem to have vanished, along with the Biu of Boanu and the Yola of Adamawa which
205
Figure 2. Cattle breed distribution.
TCHAD
BENIN
 
CAMEROUN
Boundary of tsetse-infested zone
WM>Boundary of zone where Zebu predominate
Tsetse-free zones
 
1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. NTJama x Zebu
6. Zebu
206
were mentioned by Mason (1951).
The national census of 1974/75 reported a sheep population of 5.5 million
in the study area, along with an equal number of goats. Sellers (1978), however,
estimated the sheep population of the 11 states at 1.9 million. Observations made
during the country visit suggest that goats outnumber sheep in Nigeria by a
ratio of about three to one, which suggests that Sellers' s lower estimate for sheep
is probably more accurate. For the country as a whole, there are an estimated 3
million trypanotolerant sheep and 6 million trypanotolerant goats, including some
of the animals in the eight states which form an intermediate zone between the try
panotolerant dwarf breeds in the south and the larger Sahelian breeds in the north.
3. CATTLE
3 . 1 BREED DESCRIPTIONS
3.1.1 Muturu
Muturu is the most common name in Nigeria for a breed which is also known
as Dwarf West African Shorthorn, or as Pagan in a small area of the former Benue
Plateau State. The breed is described in chapter 3 of volume 1, where a distinction
is made between the Forest Muturu, which is the true Dwarf West African Shorthorn,
and the Savanna Muturu (see Figures 3.35 and 3.40, volume 1).
The coat colour is generally black or black-and-white. Black is more
common in the forest zones and black-and-white in the savanna areas.
Muturu kept at Nsukka under ranch conditions with a small dry-season
supplementation were measured in 1977 as follows:
Number Age in Weight Height at Heart Body
Years (kg) Withers (cm) Girth (cm) Length (cm)
Females 27 4 140 88 130 96.5
Males 5 4 141 95 125 86.0
These figures seem rather low, especially for the small sample of males. The
Vom Substation of the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR)
recorded average weights of 160 to 170 kg for adult cows under ranching conditions
with no tsetse challenge.
W. Ferguson (1966) reported a heat tolerance among Muturu of only 65%,
based on the Rhoad test. This low figure was derived mainly from their sensi
tivity to solar radiation, rather than to ambient temperature. Their temperament
depends on how they are managed: they are docile under village conditions but
207
rather wild on the ranches. Muturu are not used as draught animals in Nigeria.
3.1.1.1 Performance Traits. The age of bulls at first service is between four
and five years under village conditions. W. Ferguson (1967) recorded an average age
at first calving of 26 months at Ado Ekiti Livestock Investigation Centre (LIC) in
Ondo State under unrestricted mating conditions. At the NITR Substation at Vom,
which is in a tsetse-free zone, the average age at first calving was 21 months with
dry-season supplementation (Roberts and Gray, 1973a). In village herds, however,
the average is between four and five years.
Calving intervals can be as short as 11 to 13 months under intensive
ranching or research station conditions (W. Ferguson, 1967; Olutogun, 1976;
Oyenuga, 1967; and Roberts and Gray, 1973a), but is generally from 18 to 24
months under village conditions. Calving occurs throughout the year. Mortality
rates of only 2% are reported from research stations, and the mortality rates
under village conditions are also very low.
Body weights of Muturu at different ages have been obtained from three
locations, as presented in Table 3.
Table 3. Body weights of Muturu cattle.
Ado Ekiti LIC NITR Substation at Vom Upper Ogun Ranch
females males females males males
kg kg n kg n kg kg
Birth 11 8 14+2 7 14+2 16
6 months 58 56 18 61+11 17 71 ±13 87
12 months 92 91 9 94+12 14 108 + 11 119
18 months 178 113 3 110+19 10 147 + 24 -
24 months 136 114 - - - -
36 months 177 196 - - - -
Sources : For Ado Ekiti, W. Ferguson, 1967 and Olutogun. 1976; for Vom,
Roberts and Gray, 1973a; for Upper Ogun, Olutogun, 1976.
Information on the cattle at Ado Ekiti was recorded from 1952 to 1957 under natu
ral grazing conditions with forage supplementation during the dry season. Infor
mation on the cattle at Vom was recorded from 1964 to 1976 under natural grazing
in a high-altitude tsetse free zone, also with dry-season supplementation, and
information on the cattle at Upper Ogun was recorded from 1954 to 1955 under
natural grazing conditions.
An average milk production of 421 kg was recorded over 216 days before
1969 at Ado Ekiti (Olaloku, 1976). Dressing out percentages for Muturu range
208
from 50 to 53% (W. Ferguson, 1967; Nigeria, Ministry of Agriculture and
Natural Resources, Western State, 1967).
3.1.1.2 Productivity Index. Table 4 summarizes estimates of the main production
traits required to build up a productivity index for Muturu covering the total weight
of one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of
cow maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for three pro
duction environments - meat production under village conditions in a light tsetse
challenge area (information from country visit), meat production under station con
ditions in a light tsetse challenge area (W Ferguson, 1967) and meat production
under station conditions with a particularly high level of management in a tsetse-
free area (Roberts and Gray, 1973a).
Table 4. Muturu productivity indices.
Production Environment
Parameter Village /light StationAight Station/tsetse
challenge/meat challenge/meat free/meat
Cow viability (%) 95 95 100
Calving percentage 57 92.4 95.9
Calf viability to one year (%) 85 90+ 95
Calf weight at one year (kg) 80 91.5 100.8
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow
- -
per year (kg) 39.8 78.0 91.8
Cow weight (kg) 150 177 183
Productivity index per 100 kg
cow maintained per year
(kg) 26.5 44.1 50.2
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Sources : For column 1, information from country visit; for column 2, W.
Ferguson, 1967; for column 3, Roberts and Gray, 1973.
3.1.2 N'Dama
N'Dama were first imported into Nigeria from Guinea in 1939 and kept at
florin Farm in Kwara State in order to study their adaptability. In 1942, additional
N' Dama were imported from Guinea and a more substantial breeding programme
was initiated at Fashola Farm in Cyo State. Since then, more N'Dama have been
imported from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Zaire.
209
The breed is described in more detail in chapter 3 of volume 1 and in the
reports on the countries where it originates. Generally, N'Dama seem well adapt
ed to high ambient temperature, moderate humidity and moderate solar radiation.
They usually graze in the open at midday without seeking shade. They are docile
under village conditions, but wild on the ranches. They are not used as draught
animals in Nigeria.
The N' Dama breed has been chosen by the Nigerian government to be used
for upbreeding the Muturu and Keteku herds . This policy has been widely accepted
by commercial farmers, as indicated by the fact that prices for N'Dama breeding
stock have become very high, up to N 600 (US $ 1 000) for heifers and N 1 000 (US
$ 1 660) for bulls.
3.1.2.1 Performance Traits. The age of bulls at first service is between three
and four years on farms and ranches. Olutogun (1976) reports an average age at
first calving of 47.6 months under natural savanna grazing conditions in Oyo State;
under the same conditions Akinokun (1970) reports an average of 40.5 months and
Claus (1976) 41 months. On some commercial farms in Kwara State, if N'Dama
heifers are not pregnant between 30 and 39 months, they are culled.
Olutogun (1976), Akinokun (1970) and Claus (1976) report calving intervals
of 472 to 570 days for N'Dama on natural savanna pasture. Roberts and Gray (1973a)
report an average calving interval of 363 days in a tsetse-free high-altitude zone.
Calves are born throughout the year, with a peak from November to March. On
government ranches, calving rates vary from 54 to 78%. Mortality rates are said
to be low at around 2 to 3%.
The body weights of N Dama males and steers at two government facilities
are given in Table 5. The animals at Upper Ogun Ranch in Oyo State were main
tained on natural pasture grazing, the males during 1960/61 and the steers from
1954 to 1956. At the NITR Substation at Vom, the animals were kept under natural
grazing conditions with dry-season supplementation from 1966 to 1968. As pre
viously mentioned, this substation is in a tsetse-free high-altitude zone.
At Upper Ogun Ranch, 604 steers were raised from birth to 40 months on
natural pasture grazing without supplementation between 1957 and 1963. Their final
weight averaged 283 + 19 kg, with an average daily gain of 221 g (Steinbach and
Balogun, 1973). Steers born during the early part of the rainy season (March -
April) averaged a daily weight gain 14 g higher than those born during the dry season
(December - January). Steers finished during the dry season averaged a daily weight
gain 10 g higher than those finished during the rainy season, irrespective of their
month of birth.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (1967) reports an
average carcass weight of 127 kg for two-year-old N' Dama steers slaughtered at an
average liveweight of 250 kg, giving a dressing out percentage of 51%.
210
Table 5. Body weights of N'Dama.
Upper Ogun Ranch NITR Substation at Vom
males steers males
n kg n kg n kg n kg
Birth 305 18+2 20 17 7 18 ± 3 9 16 +4
6 months 287 109 +17 20 85 10 95+12 14 92 + 14
12 months 232 164 * 24 20 140 8 137 + 14 12 125 + 22
18 months 155 202 + 24 20 183 6 192 + 16 5 166 + 22
24 months 103 246 + 32 20 220
36 months 20 262
48 months 94 259 + 36
Sources : For males at Upper Ogun., Olutogun, 1976; for steers at Upper Ogun,
Hill and Upton, 1964 and Dettmers and Hill, 1974; for Vom, Roberts and Gray,
1973a.
3.1.2.2 Productivity Index. Table 6 summarizes estimates of the main production
traits required to build up a productivity index for N' Dama covering the total weight
of one-year-old calf plus the liveweight equivalent of milk produced per 100 kg of
cow maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived for two produc
tion environments, meat production under ranch conditions in a medium tsetse
challenge area and meat production under station conditions with a high level of
management in a tsetse-free area.
Table 6. N'Dama productivity indices.
Parameter
Production Environment
Ranch/medium Station/tsetse
challenge/meat free/meat
Cow viability (%) 99 100
Calving percentage 58 100
Calf viability to one year (%) 95 97
Calf weight at one year (kg) 156 131
Annual milked out vield (kg)
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 86.4 127.8
Cow weight (kg) 260 266
Productivity index per 100 kg cow main
tained per year (kg) 33.2 48.1
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf plus liveweight equivalent of milk produced.
Sources : For ranch environment, Olutogun, 1976; for station environment, Roberts
and Gray, 1973a.
211
3.1.3 Keteku
The cattle most widely known as Keteku in Nigeria are also sometimes
called Kataku, Ketari, Borgu, Borgawa or Kaiama. Mason (1951) and Faulkner
and Epstein (1957) refer to this breed as a natural crossbred between Muturu and
White Fulani Zebu, with some N'Dama blood. Gates (1952) and Olutogun (1976)
consider the Keteku a cross between the Muturu and the White Fulani only, which
seems more likely. As an extension of the large Borgou population in Benin, the
Keteku seem to have been in western Nigeria for a long time and can be regarded
as a native breed (see Figures 3.51 and 3.59, volume 1).
Faulkner and Epstein (1957) and Oyenuga (1967) give the following average
weights and measurements for adult Keteku:
weight height at withers body length heart girth
(kg) (cm) (cm) (cm)
females 295 113 130 153
males 330 115 143 166
In the drier northern parts of Kwara State, the Keteku are said to be larger
and taller than they are further south. They are found in settled Fulani herds, in
small village dairy schemes and on the government ranches. They tend to be
docile under village conditions, but fairly wild under ranch conditions.
3.1.3.1 Performance Traits . The age of bulls at first service is around four
years. The age at first calving averaged 47 months among 353 heifers kept at Upper
Ogun Ranch from 1954 to 1974, and 38 months for another group of 214 heifers kept
on the same ranch from 1958 to 1960. These ages are about the same as those re
ported for N'Dama heifers, but farmers in Kwara State generally consider the Keteku
to be relatively late breeders. For example, one farmer reported culling N'Dama
and Muturu heifers between 30 and 39 months if they were not pregnant, but waiting
to cull Keteku heifers at 48 to 57 months, based on previous experience.
Calves are born throughout the year, with a slight peak during the dry
season. Mean calving intervals of 578 days were recorded at Upper Ogun Ranch
from a sample of 537 observations from 1954 to 1974. Among the 192 first inter
vals, the average was 673 days (Olutogun, 1976). Of 550 calving intervals reported
by Claus (1976) from 1958 to 1969, the average length was 491 days.
At Upper Ogun Ranch, the mortality rates of Keteku, N'Dama and Keteku x
N' Dama calves averaged 4.6% to weaning and total herd mortality averaged 2. 2%
from 1957 to 1975 (Olutogun, 1976).
Average Keteku body weights recorded at Upper Ogun Ranch are given in
Table 7. The weights of males were recorded during 1960/61, and the birth
weights of females were recorded from 1952 to 1973. The weights of steers were
recorded from 1954 to 1956.
212
18 149 + 19
10 174 + 25
18 214 + 28
28 273 + 37
6 18
6 76
6 142
6 176
6 214
6 256
Table 7. Body weights of Keteku on natural pasture grazing at Upper Ogun Ranch.
Males Females Steers
n kg n kg n kg
Birth 220 18+2 1 179 18
6 months ~ - -
12 months 1 5 131
18 months
24 months
36 months
48 months
Sources : For males and females, Olutogun, 1976; for steers, mil and Upton, 1974.
Carcass weights of two-year-old Keteku steers slaughtered at an average live-
weight of 274 kg averaged 127 kg, giving a dressing out percentage of 51% (Nigeria,
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1967.
3.1.4 N' Dama x Keteku Crosses
N'Dama x Keteku crossbreeding has begun recently under government
initiative and is assuming increasing importance on small commercial ranches in
Kwara and Oyo States. Breeding and management are the same as for N'Dama.
3.1.4.1 Performance Traits. The age at first calving averaged 43 months among
372 heifers at Upper Ogun Ranch from 1952 to 1974, and an unnamed ranch recorded
an average age at first calving of 39 months for 126 heifers from 1958 to 1968.
Both groups were kept on natural pasture grazing. An average calving interval of
548 days was recorded from 969 observations at Upper Ogun Ranch, with an average
of 615 for first intervals (Olutogun, 1976). On the unnamed ranch, an average
calving interval of 472 days was recorded from 292 observations (Claus, 1976).
Table 8 gives average body weights for N' Dama x Keteku crossbreds on
natural pasture grazing at Upper Ogun Ranch. The figures for males were obtained
during 1960/61 and those for steers from 1954 to 1956.
Table 8. Body weights of N'Dama x Keteku crossbreds.
Males Steersn kg n kg
Birth 60 18+2 12 17
6 months - - 12 79
12 months 66 145 + 21 12 127
18 months 111 178 + 22 12 173
24 months 31 204 +31 12 208
36 months - - 12 270
48 months 68 295 + 28 - -
Sources: For males, Olutogun, 1976; for steers, Hill and Upton, 1964.
213
3.2 DISEASE
IBAR (1978) listed cattle diseases found in Nigeria, though chiefly among
the Zebu in the northern livestock areas, as follows: foot-and-mouth disease,
rabies, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), anthrax, streptothricosis,
anaplasmosis, piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis. Rinderpest is under control,
and lumpy skin disease was reported recently.
T. vivax is the most important pathogenic trypanosome found among cattle in
Nigeria, followed by T. congolense and T. brucei. T. theileri is also
found occasionally together with T. vivax or T- congolense. in the southern
states, 90% of the trypanosomiasis among domestic cattle is caused by T. vivax
(Esuruoso, 1973).
Muturu cattle generally do not receive any veterinary treatment, as dis
eases and premature mortality are uncommon. The most important cause of deaths
among young stock is helminthiasis, and there have been sporadic outbreaks of
anthrax, as reported by W. Ferguson (1966).
N' Dama kept on farms and ranches are vaccinated fairly regularly against
the common diseases, and also dewormed and sprayed against ticks. Cases of
heartwater, foot-and-mouth and piroplasmosis have been reported among N'Dama
herds, and one five-year study of settled herds in the western states indicated a
brucellosis infection rate of up to 60% (Esuruoso, 1973). Brucellosis is likely to
be carried to other herds through the sale of N'Dama bulls to farmers. In general,
no treatment is carried out against trypanosomiasis, though a few ranches and
commercial farms are starting prophylactic programmes to avoid weight losses.
Hill and Esuruoso (personal communication) have stressed the apparent high resist
ance of N'Dama to streptothricosis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
Olutogun (1976) mentions that Keteku are susceptible to streptothricosis,
while N'Dama are not. Cases of heartwater and foot-and-mouth disease are reported
among both Keteku and N'Dama, and a survey carried out on government ranches
found brucellosis among both breeds (Esuruoso, 1973). Depending on the level of
Zebu blood, the Keteku and more susceptible to traypanosomiasis than N'Dama or
Muturu kept in the same areas.
The main disease problems among Zebu cattle in southern Nigeria are try
panosomiasis, streptothricosis, tick-borne diseases and helminthiasis.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
Three distinct herd management systems are found in Nigeria: village
husbandry, commercial farming or ranching and transhumant husbandry.
3.3.1 Village Husbandry
According to the National Agriculture Sample Census (Nigeria, Federal
Office of Statistics, 1977), only 0.3% of all rural households in western and south-
214
eastern Nigeria keep cattle, with an average of four animals per household and rarely
over 10. Cattle herds are generally concentrated in a few villages, with neigh
bouring villages owning no cattle at all. In addition, veterinary officers in Kwara
State mentioned a few private herds of 50 to 60 cattle.
These herds are generally composed of Muturu cattle, or Muturu x N'Dama
crossbreds in the western states. They are kept together with West African
Dwarf or Djallonke sheep and goats, mainly by agricultural people such as the Ibo,
Tiv and Idomo in the east and the Egun and some of the Yoruba in the west. It is
generally believed that the meat of humpless cattle tastes better than that of the
Zebu, though they are never kept as a regular source of income or meat supply.
They are principally used for ceremonies, particularly funerals. Manure is col
lected occasionally, but not on a regular basis.
The prices obtained for Muturu cattle are high: for adult females, N 350
to 340 (US $ 580 to 720) in Benue State in 1978 and N 250 to 350 (US $ 410 to 580)
in Bendel State.
In Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Kwara States, Muturu are often upgraded with
N'Dama bulls to increase their size. This breeding programme is supported by
the government (see Figure 3.65, volume 1).
Village cattle are rarely herded, except sometimes in the savanna areas
by hired Fulani herdsmen during the cropping season. The cattle generally
gather together for the night in an open place in the village, though they are some
times tethered in family compounds or put in a small hut or kraal. When Muturu
bulls are used, they usually come from the same village herd. The animals are
grazed on roadside grass, natural pasture and fallows, and they are fed house
hold wastes and crop residues. No mineral salts are given. The animals are not
castrated or weaned systematically and they are rarely milked.
3.3.2 Commercial Farming or Ranching
This sector includes commercial farms and government breeding or multi
plication ranches, generally keeping Keteku or N'Dama cattle.
The commercial farms carry out breeding operations, as well as short-
term fattening of Keteku or White Fulani Zebu. Herds are usually 80 to 200 head
and are mainly Keteku, though crossbreeding with N'Dama bulls is increasing.
The animals are usually herded by hired Fulani herdsmen on natural pastures,
often with some dry- season supplementation with fodder or crop residues.
Mineral concentrates are usually given throughout the year. The breeding stock
are usually housed at night, and the weaning and fattening stock kept in paddocks.
The animals are usually weaned, castrated and sprayed against tick-borne dis
eases, and the Fulani herdsmen often practise milking.
The government ranches are mainly concerned with the multiplication of
N' Dama cattle through the production of female breeding stock and improved
bulls. The animals have generally been kept on fenced natural pastures, though
215
this system is increasingly being replaced by herding. They are weaned and
sprayed regularly, though castration is rapidly being abandoned because of the
demand for bulls.
Mineral licks are given throughout the year, and the animals are some
times grazed on artificial pastures or given fodder or crop residues during the dry
season. Officially, they are not milked. Herd compositions vary widely on dif
ferent ranches.
3.3.3 Nomadic and Transhumant Husbandry
Seasonal transhumance is practised with Keteku cattle in the Guinean
savanna zone, though most of the more nomadic herds are composed of White
Fulani Zebu. The animals are treated against trypanosomiasis on a regular or
occasional basis.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
4.1.1 Sheep
West African Dwarf sheep account for 17% of the national sheep population,
and they are found further north than the trypanotolerant cattle breeds. Sheep in
the drier northern parts of the tsetse zone tend to be taller and heavier than the
sheep in the humid forest areas. The breed is described in chapter 3 of volume 1.
Studies have been carried out at Ibadan and Ife University Farms, as reported by
Dettmers and Hill (1974), Dettmers and Loosli (1974), Matthewman (1977),
Dettmers, Igoche and Akinkuolie (1976), Ademosun (1973), Oyenuga (1967), Adu
et al. (1974), Adeleye and Oguntona (1975) and Adebambo et al. (1974).
4.1.1.1 Performance Traits. Under village conditions, the age of rams at first
service is usually from 1. 5 to 2. 0 years, and the average age of ewes at first
lambing is the same. High prolificacy was recorded at Ibadan University Farm,
with 8% triplets and 40 to 56% twins. Lambing intervals under village conditions are
about one year, but they averaged 268 days at Ibadan University Farm (Dettmers
and Hill, 1974).
Mortality under village conditions was recorded at about 15% up to weaning
and 11% among adults, including deaths from traffic accidents (Matthewman, 1977).
However, these figures are probably underestimates, due to the sampling method
used. Milk production has been recorded over a 10-week lactation at 22 kg with 75%
of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) energy standard and 38 kg with the full
ARC energy standard. This was calculated by weighing lambs before and after
suckling and hand milking one day a week.
216
Body weights recorded from 1950 to 1959 and slaughter weights and dress
ing out percentages from 1973 and 1974 at Ibadan University Farm are given in
Tables 9 and 10.
Table 9. Body weights of sheep at Ibadan University Farm.
Females Males
n kg n kg
Birth 158 1.7 147 1.7
3 months 84 7 94 9
6 months 72 11 67 12
12 months 51 16 25 19
18 months 45 19 18 23
24 months 30 24 17 24
36 months 18 24 4 31
Source: Oyenuga, 1967.
Table 10. Slaughter weights and dressing out percentages of sheep at Ibadan
University Farm.
Ewes Ewes Rams
B - C
Ewes Rams Ewes Rams Rams
Age (months)
Slaughter weight
(kg)
Dressing out %
Type of fattening
24-48 60
44 41
15
39
5-6 5-6 12-14 12-14 9
9.8
46
9.4
46
16 25 24
51A A*44 44
Cynodon nlensfuensis+ 0.5
kg concentrate
a. Hot carcass weights on the basis of liveweight after starving.
Sources : For A, Dettmers and Hill, 1974; for B, Adeleye and Oguntona, 1975;
for C, Adebambo et al. , 1974.
4.1.1.2 Index of Productivity. Table 11 summarizes estimates of the major
production traits of sheep required to build up a productivity index based on the
total weight of five-month-old lamb produced per 10 kg of ewe maintained per year.
This productivity index has been derived for station conditions with low tsetse
challenge and village conditions with medium tsetse challenge.
217
Table 11. Sheep productivity estimates.
Parameter
Station/low Village/medium
challenge challenge
90a
94
194 173
85a
78
10.9 10
18.9 13.9
24 22
Ewe viability (%)
Lambing percentage
Lamb viability to one year (%)
Lamb weight at five months (kg)
Productivity index per ewe per year (kg)
Ewe weight (kg)
Productivity index per 10 kg ewe
maintained per year (kg) 7.9 6.3
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of five- month lamb produced.
Sources : Information obtained on country visit; Matthewman, 1977.
4.1.2 Goats
The West African Dwarf goat, found in the study area, is described in
chapter 3 of volume 1. Studies of this breed have been made by Mecha (1975),
Sellers et al. (n.d.), Oluwasanmi et al. (1966), Matthewman (1977) and Ademosun
(1973). (See Figures 3.77, 3.79 and 3.81, volume 1).
Cyenuga (1967) reports that West African Dwarf goats generally measure 40
to 50 cm at the shoulder and weigh 18 to 20 kg, while Matthewman (1977) reports
that animals near Ibadan measure 40 to 60 cm at the shoulder and weigh 20 to 30
kg. Mecha (1975) measured a sample of 1 348 adult goats collected from several
areas in the eastern and western states. He found that 6. 2% measured less than 40
cm, with an average height of 37. 3 cm, 67. 5% measured 40 to 50 cm with an average
height of 44. 6 cm, and 26.3% measured more than 50 cm, with an average height of
53.1 cm.
There is no doubt that goats in the very humid areas of southern Nigeria
tend to be smaller than those in the drier savanna areas further north. However,
the goats in the northern parts of the study area could be influenced by crossbreeding
with the Sahelian breeds.
4.1.2.1 Production Traits. Matthewman (1977) reports that the age of young
males at first service is often under one year. The age at first kidding can be as
low as 13 months on research stations and up to 18 months under village conditions
Kidding rates recorded in 1975/76 for two villages and in 1971/72 at the University
of Ife, all in Cyo State, are given in Table 12.
218
Table 12. Kidding rates .
Fashola Jago University of
Village Village Ife
Mean kidding percentage (number kids
per 100 kidding females)
Kidding % (1st parturition)
Kidding % (2nd parturition)
Kidding % (3rd parturition)
Kidding % (4/5/6th parturition)
Mean percentage single births
Mean percentage twin births
Mean percentage triplet births
159 151 -
100 107 -
164 165 -
150 167 -
200 200 -
27 34 35
67 62 55
6 5 10
Sources : For villages, Matthewman, 1977; for University of Ife, Ademosun,
1973.
Mecha (1975) reports that medium-sized goats are more prolific than dwarf
goats. He found that the larger animals had shorter kidding intervals and gave
birth to twins more frequently .
Matthewman (1977) recorded annual mortality rates of 15% up to weaning
and 10 to 15% among adult animals in two villages near Ibadan, including deaths
from road accidents. However, he emphasizes that these figures are underestimates,
due to the sampling methods employed.
Weights of a sample of Dwarf goats which were stall fed and given minerals
at the University of Ife in 1971/72 under zero grazing conditions are reported by
Ademosun (1973) as follows (kg):
Birth 2 months 3 months 4 months 6 months
females 1.4 5.0 6.0 6.5 8.0
males 1.6 5.0 7.0 7.0 9.0
Mba et al. (1974) carried out a three-week fattening trial with 12 castrated
goats, 6 to 8 months old and weighing 7 to 15 kg at the outset. With urea as the
source of nitrogen, the mean daily weight gain was 36 g, and with groundnut cake it
was 31 g. Cold carcass dressing out percentages were 47% with urea and 49% with
groundnut cake.
4.1.2.2 Index of Productivity. Table 13 summarizes estimates of the major
production traits of goats required to build up a productivity index based on the
total weight of five-month-old kid produced per 10 kg of female goat maintained per
year. This productivity index has been derived for production under village con
ditions in a medium tsetse challenge area.
219
Table 13. Goat productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Village/medium challenge
Female viability (%) 81
Kidding percentage 232
Kid viability to one year (%) 78
Kid weight at five months (kg) 7 . 5
Productivity index per female goat per year (kg) 15.2
Female weight (kg) 19
Productivity index per 10 kg female goat
maintained per year (kg) 7. 9
a. Total weight of five-month-old kid produced.
Source : Matthewman, 1977.
4.2 DISEASE
Disease is generally recognized as the major constraint on sheep and goat
production in the humid zone. The most important diseases affecting small rumi
nants in Nigeria are Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), mycoplasmosis
pasteurellosis, helminthiasis and ectoparasites (Sellers, 1978). IBAR (1978) also
mentions blue tongue, sheep pox and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia.
4. 3 FLOCK MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
4.3.1 Sheep
According to the National Agriculture Sample Census carried out in 1974-75
(Nigeria, Federal Office of Statistics, 1977), between 5 and 10% of all rural house
holds in the southern states keep sheep, usually from 4 to 13. The average com
position of village flocks is given in Table 14 for four areas, all in Oyo State. At
Fashola and Jago villages, the flocks were observed during 1975/76, at Uboma
village during 1963/64 and at Eruha Village in 1974.
Matthewman (1977) concludes from his survey of two villages that 90% of the
farmers who keep sheep view their flocks as an investment or a source of cash,
and only 5% primarily as a source of food. Although adult sheep are slaughtered
occasionally in the village for traditional ceremonies, 90% of the male lambs and
40% of the females are sold at local markets at weaning. The annual offtake of
adult sheep, either for sale or for slaughter at home, is estimated at 19%. Simi
larly, Oluwasanmi et al. (1966) conclude that sheep are more important in the
villages of eastern Nigeria as a source of income than as a family food supply.
220
Table 14. Average composition of sheep flocks in four villages (%).
Fashola
Village
Jago
Village
Uboma
Village
Eruha
Village
Adult males (%)
Adult females (%)
Young (%)
8
63
0
67
33
17
47
33
All males (%)
All females (%)
24
18
82
Sources : For Fashola and Jago, Matthewman, 1977; for Uboma, Oluwasanmi
etal., 1966; for Eruha, Sellers etal., n.d.
Sheep are not herded, but they are sometimes tethered during the cropping
season. They graze on crop stubble, village pastures and along the roadsides and
are often given maize stalks, bean husks, yam peelings or cassava. The cassava
is sometimes bought especially for the sheep. In the eastern states, supplementa
tion is less common. Sheep are not weaned or castrated systematically, and sheep
manure is not collected. They are seldom housed, and in general are not valued as
highly as goats.
4.3.2 Goats
The National Agriculture Sample Census (Nigeria, Federal Office of Stati
stics, 1977) indicates that a much higher proportion of households in the southern
states keep goats than sheep. Household goat flocks usually consist of 2 to 7
animals. Percentages of households with goats and the average size of household
flocks are given in Table 15 for the former states of the study area.
Table 15. Household goat flocks.
Former State
Western
Mid-Western
Rivers
South East
East Central I
Lagos
Benue Plateau
Source : Nigeria, Federal Office of Statistics, 1977.
% of Households Average Number of
with Goats Goats Kept
41 4.3
42 6.2
24 17.9
50 5.6
32 4.6
43 3.0
61 6.5
221
Typical compositions of the goat flocks in four villages of Oyo State are
given in Table 16. The flocks in Fashola and Jago villages were observed during
1975/76, those in Uboma village during 1963/64 and those in Erowa village during
the rainy season of 1974.
Table 16. Average composition of goat flocks in four villages (%).
Fashola Jago Uboma Eruwa
Village Village Village Village
Adult males (%)
Adult females (%)
Young (%)
All Males (%)
All Females (%)
6
59
35
2
G3
35
25
75
15
51
34
Sources : For Fashola and Jago, Matthewman, 1977; for Uboma, Oluwasanmi
et al. , 1966; for Eruwa, Sellers etal., n.d.
Among female goats in two villages observed by Matthewman (1977), 29 and 39%
were not yet mature, 44 and 49% had kidded one or two times, 22 and 15% had kid
ded three or four times, and 5 and 4% had kidded five or six times.
Husbandry practises are very similar for goats as for sheep, though goats
are much more widely kept. Goats, along with poultry, are by far the most im
portant animal among households in the humid and semi-humid tsetse- infested
areas.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
5.1.1 University of Ibadan
The location of the University of Ibadan in Oyo State is shown by ol in
Figure 1. The University Farm keeps about 300 N'Dama, White Fulani Zebu,
German Black Pied, German Brown and crossbred cattle and about 300 Dwarf
West African sheep on 25 ha, including 4 ha of artificial pastures. The Animal
Science Department is carrying out a number of research projects covering :-
a. aspects of grazing and food intake on various pasture combinations with
German Brown x N'Dama crossbreds,
b. supplement requirements for growth of N'Dama, White Fulani Zebu,
German Brown, German Black Pied and N' Dama x German Brown crossbreds,
222
c. physiological analysis of the reproductive performance of N'Dama and
Muturu at the Fashola Stock Farm,
d. revision of N'Dama body measurements,
e. growth rates for N'Dama on natural and artificial pastures, and
f. birthweights of N'Dama at Fashola Stock Farm.
In addition, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is working on the production of an
antigen for T. vivax and plans to study trypanotolerance among N'Dama.
5.1.2 University of Ife
The University of Ife includes a University Farm where research work is
carried out by the Animal Science Department. The location is shown byo2 in
Figure 1. There is a cattle herd of 115, made up of 85 N'Dama, 6 Muturu and 24
crossbreds among N'Dama, White Fulani Zebu and Muturu. The Goat Unit keeps
54 West African Dwarf goats, 23 mixed goats from Maiduguri in Bornu State in the
north and 20 Saanen Dairy x West African Dwarf crossbreds. The Sheep Unit
keeps 172 West African Dwarf sheep and 54 West African Dwarf x Permer cross
breds. The Permer breed in turn is a cross between Marino and Persian Black
head.
Research work is underway on the preweaning performance of N' Dama at
Upper Ogun Ranch and the production performance of N'Dama, N'Dama x White
Fulani Zebu crossbreds and West African Dwarf sheep and goats at the University
Farm.
5.1.3 University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Research work is being carried out by the Animal Science Department of the
University of Nigeria, Nsukka on the growth and reproduction of N'Dama, Muturu
and Boran cattle and the reproduction of local sheep and goats. The University
Farm includes 67.5 ha of natural pasture, with another 18 ha to be fenced. As of
April 1978, there were 128 N'Dama, 39 Muturu, 48 Boran and 6 White Fulani Zebu.
The Sheep and Goat Unit included 80 West African Dwarf ewes and 30 West African
Dwarf female goats. The location of the farm is shown byo3 in Figure 1.
5.1.4 Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR) Substation at Vom
The location of the Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR)
Substation at Vom is shown by* 4 in Figure 1. The Institute itself is located at
Kaduna (P.M.B. 2077), as shown by +5 in Figure 1.
At the Vom Substation, 47 N'Dama, 25 Muturu, 15 White Fulani Zebu and
6 White Fulani x N'Dama crossbreds are kept on 50 ha of natural pasture. The
growth of N' Dama, Muturu and White Fulani Zebu is being studied under different
feeding regimes with and without tsetse challenge. The growth of trypano-suscep
tible Yankasi sheep and Red Sokoto goats is also being studied with and without
tsetse challenge. Birth records are kept of individual animals and body tempera
tures are recorded daily.
5.1.5 Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Division of the Federal Livestock Department
at Kaduna
The Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Division of the Federal Livestock Depart
ment at Kaduna (P.M.B. 2012) carries out tsetse eradication projects throughout
the country. This division is also in charge of tsetse infestation surveys and the
identification of pathogenic trypanosomes . The location of the headquarters is
shown by +6 in Figure 1.
5.1.6 Institute of Agricultural Research and Training of the University of Ife
The Agriculture Department of the University of Ife includes an Institute of
Agricultural Research and Training at Moor Plantation near Ibadan. The location
of the Institute is shown by • 7 in Figure 1.
In 1975, the Institute purchased N'Dama, Keteku, Muturu and White Fulani
Zebu cattle in order to carry out milking trials. Beef cattle trials have also been
conducted, aimed mainly at identifying favourable grazing systems on natural pas
tures and suitable grass and legume combinations for artificial pastures.
5.1.7 ILCA Small Ruminants Programme
The ILCA Small Ruminants Programme (c/o IITA, P.M.B. 5320, Ibadan)
was initiated in 1978 to investigate strategies for improving the productivity of
sheep and goats through increased labour and capital inputs at the village level.
More intensive management systems are compared on an experimental basis, as
well as specific innovations introduced into traditional systems. The returns
achieved are compared with those obtained from similar investments in crop pro
duction.
Experimental sites are located at Fashola in Oyo State and at Ikenne in
Ogun State. The location of the programme's headquarters is shown by • 8 in
Figure 1.
5.1.8 National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI)
The National Animal Production Research Institute is located at Shika in
Kaduna State, as shown by • 9 in Figure 1. So far, only productivity studies of the
Zebubreeds have been carried out, but the Institute plans to extend its research
activities into southern Nigeria, focussing on the N'Dama and Muturu.
5.2 MULTIPLICATION HERDS
Fourteen important multiplication herds which work with trypanotolerant
breeds in Nigeria are described in Table 15. In addition, a number of smaller
government farms under the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources carry
out multiplication work with herds of less than 100 cattle. These farms are found at
Table15.Multiplicationherds.
Name
UpperOgunRanch
FasholaStockFarm
AkunuCatt OndoState
■55
Ado-EkitiLivestock InvestigationCen re
OndoState
■54
OgboroStation
OyoState
■53
ShakiLivestock
Station
OyoState
■52
Oka-AkoCattleR nch
WesternLivestock
Company(Ibad )
30N'Damaasof
530Ketekuand
OgunState
■10
50000ha
April888,
crosses
Location(and referencei Organization responsible Breedsan
Figure5)
Size
numbers
OyoState
■U
MinistryofAgr cul
tureandNatu al
Resources(Ibadan)
550ha(mainlyarti
ficialpasture)
420N'Dama-asof
April888,320
Ketekuandcrosses
800ha
280N'Damaand
crosses,60Keteku
asofApril588
WesternLivestock
Company(Ibada )
8000haunder
development
540N'Damaasof
April588
MinistryofAgr cul
tureandNatu al Resources(Akure)
600haartificialnd
improvedpastur s 355N'Damaasof
April588,00Keteku, 60Muturu,580crosses, 50ZebuandEuropean cattle,85localsheep
WesternLivestock
Company(Ibadan)
8000ha
5840NDamasof
April588
N'Damamultiplication,N'DamamultiplicaProductionofbreedingN'DammultiplicationKe ku
saleofbreedingtock,anedingtock.Individualr -heri c as dN'D mabrep odu t on
OndoState
■16
WesternLivestock
Company(Ibad ) 55250haunder
development
450N'Damaand
N'DamaxKeteku
crossesaofApril
888
Objectives
Externalaid
commercialbeefp o-stock.Individual duction.Datare-re ordsavailable,
cording:individual
recordsavailable.
Developmentfinanc partlybyIBRDLive stockDevelopment
Projectloan
cordsavailable.
to4000head.
Individualrecords
available.
Developmentfinanced
partlybyIBRDLive
stockDevelopment
Projectloan
stock.Planso
specialiseinda ry
cattleonly.Individual
recordsavailable.
breedingstock.
Individualrecords
available.
Developmentfinanced
partlybyIBRDLive stockDevelopment
Projectloan
N'Damamultiplication herdtobeincr ased 5000head.Indivi ual
recordsavailable.
Developmentfinanced
partlybyIBRDLive
stockDevelopment
Projectloan
to
Table15,cont.
UbiadjaGo tFarm BoardfFooPro
ductionCorporation
(BeninCity)
BendelState
523
ShaoLivest cktati n
MinistryofAgricul
tureandNatural Resources(Ilorin)
KwaraSt te
522
MinistryofAgricul
tureandNatu al Resources(Ilorin)
KaiamaLivestock
Station
KwaraSt te
525
RaavLivestock8nvesti
gationandBree i g
Centre
MinistryofAgricul
tureandNatural
Resources(Maburdi)
BenueStat
520
AgriculturalDevelop
mentCorporation
(P.M.B.60255Enugu)
EzilloNkalaguSt te
Farm
AnambraState
569
BenelFoodProduction
Board(BeninCity)
8garraCattleR nch
BendelState
58
MinistryofAgricul
tureandNatu al Resources(Ikeja)
PotaCat leR nch
LagosState
567
Location( nd referencei
Figure5)
Organization
responsible
Name
Size
approx.5000ha
5600ha
2500ha+32 artificialpasture
500haunderdevelop-approx.0
ment
approx.500ha
Breedsan
numbers
550N'Damaasof
April5975,570
Muturuandcrosses
625N'Damaasof
May5979560Muturu,
20ZebuandKeteku
225N'DamasofMay
6979,80Muturu,
30Wadaraandcrosses, 35Kenanaa dcrosses5
90WhiteFulaniZebu
andcrosses
205N'Damaasof
April6979
535Ketekuasof
April6979
95N'Damaasof
April6979,35 Keteku
80WestAfrican
Dwarfgoatsincluding crosseswithnorthern
breeds525W st
AfricanDwarfsheep
includingrosseswith
northernbreeds
Objectives
N'Damamultiplication5 productionofb eeding
bulls.
Multiplicationandpro ductionoffeederstock.
Individualrecords
available(birth
register).
Commercialbeefpro
duction,multipl cation
ofN'Dama5milkpro
duction(Kenana)5
crossbreedingexp r
imentswithZebu5
N'DamaandMuturu. Herdl velrecor s
available.
N'Damamultiplication
andproductionof
breedingstock.H rd
levelr cordsavailab e.
Productionofbreeding
stock.Herdl vel
recordsavailable.
N'Damamultiplic tion
andproductionof
breedingstock.H rd
levelr cordsavai
able.
Multiplicationf o ko beincreased.Flock
levelr cordsavailab e.
Externalaid
226
Imara, Ikenne and Odeda in Ogun State, Osara in Kwara State and Bori, Yenagoa and
Degema in Rivers State. There are also two government model farms at Ikoto-
Efanga and Obio-Akfa in Cross Rivers State. All of these farms are working with
ISPDama cattle.
5.3 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
The Third National Development Plan covers the period from 1975 to 1980
and includes an estimated total expenditure of N 344 046 191 (US $ 573 410 000) for
the livestock sector, allocated through the state and federal governments. The
greater part of these funds is directed towards projects to increase the productivity
of the large Zebu stock in the country. Substantial funds are also allocated to the
development of the dairy industry, based on imported exotic breeds (mainly
Friesian, but also Brown Swiss) and their crosses with White Fulani Zebu. Zebu
production and dairy enterprises based on exotic breeds are being developed in
southern Nigeria, as well as in the north, on the basis of tsetse eradication in
limited areas or prophylaxis and treatment for trypanosomiasis or a combination of
both.
The only activities included in the Plan which focus entirely or mainly on
trypanotolerant cattle in the tsetse areas concern the establishment or expansion of
N'Dama herds on government farms and ranches. The total budgetary allocation is
approximately N 13 693 000 (US $ 22 821 670), or 4% of all expenditure in the live
stock sector. The policy on the development of sheep and goat production in the
tsetse areas expressed in the Plan is to 'encourage research on the improvement of
the indigenous breeds of sheep and goats through crossbreeding with suitable exotic
breeds of high productivity' .
Other livestock development projects cover both trypanotolerant and try-
pano-susceptible livestock, making it difficult to specify the level of expenditures
directed to each. The Nigeria Livestock Development Project, funded jointly by
the World Bank (EBRD) for the period 1977 to 1989, is directed by the Livestock
Project Unit at Kaduna, indicated by® 24 in Figure 1. The project aims to improve
Zebu production in the northern states and to establish fattening operations in Oyo
and Ondo States based on Zebu stock. The provision of veterinary services is also
included.
Five breeding or multiplication ranches are also being established or
developed under this project in the southern states, aimed at increasing the pro
duction of N' Dama and N' Dama x Keteku slaughter stock and N' Dama breeding stock.
These are directed by the Western Livestock Company at Ibadan (P.M.B. 5435), with
headquarters shown by A 25 in Figure 1. Two new ranches have been started, Ogboro
and Oke Ako, and a third, Meko, is still in the planning stage, while two existing
ranches, Upper Orun in Oyo State and Akunu in Ondo State, are being further developed.
227
Finally, a feasibility study was initiated in April 1978, with funding from
the World Bank, for an integrated rural development project in Benue State called
the Ayangba Agricultural Development Project. This project includes the improve
ment and expansion of veterinary services, aimed at both trypanotolerant and
trypano-susceptible cattle, and the improvement of local West African Dwarf goats
at the Idah Goat Farm through crossbreeding with exotic breeds or stock from
northern Nigeria.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adebambo, V O, Olaloku, E A and Oyenuga, V A (1974). 'Effects of variations in
dietary energy levels on the growth and carcass quality of the Nigerian Dwarf
sheep'. Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 1 (1)» p. 104.
Adegbola, A A (1975). 'Techniques for livestock development in relation to Nigeria' .
In Proceedings of the Third World Conference on Animal Production.
Sydney, University of Sydney Press, pp. 345-350.
Adeleye, L O A and Oguntona, E (1975). 'Effects of age and sex on liveweight and
body composition of the West African Dwarf sheep. ' Nigerian J. Anim.
Prod. 2 (2), pp. 264-269.
Ademosun, A A (1973). ' The development of the livestock industry in Nigeria' .
Ruminants' . In Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria.
10, pp. 13-20.
Adepoju, A (1974). 'Effect of urea supplementation in dry season feed for N'Dama
cattle'. Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 1 (1), p. 92.
Adu, J F, Olaloku, E A and Oyenuga V A (1974). 'The effects of energy intake
during late pregnancy on lamb birth weights and lactation of Nigerian Dwarf
sheep'. Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 1 (2), pp. 151-161.
Akinokun, O (1970). 'A preliminary study of age at first calving and calving interval
of a herd of N' Dama cattle' . Nigerian Agric. J. 7, (2), pp. 148-151.
Akinsoyinu, A O, Mba, A U and Olubajo, F O (1975). 'Studies on comparative
utilization of urea and groundnut cake rations by young growing West African
Dwarf goats. II: Effect on carcass quality and chemical composition of the
organs and muscles'. Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 2 (1), pp. 81-88.
Aliu, Y O (1975). 'Dry season Fulani transhumance and cattle trypanosomiasis: The
nature of the relationship'. Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 2 (2), pp. 204-211.
228
L
Amakiri, S F and Mordi, R (1975). 'The rate of cutaneous evaporation in some
tropical and temperate breeds of cattle in Nigeria' . Nigerian J. Anim.
Prod. 20, pp. 63-68.
Bates, J D, Howze, G, Abercrombie, F A and van Blake H (1975). A review of
USAID projects in four major livestock producing states in Nigeria:
An assessment of range management. Research Triangle Park, N. Carolina
(USA), Research Triangle Institute, 171 p.
Brinckman, W L and Adu, I F (n.d). 'The problems of goat production in the
savannah regions of Nigeria' . Zaria, National Animal Production Research
Institute, 5p.
Chandler, R L (1952). 'Comparative tolerance of West African NTJama cattle to
trypanosomiasis'. Ann. Trop. Med. Paras itol. 46, pp. 127-134.
Chandler, R L (1958). 'Studies on the tolerance of NTJama cattle to trypanosomiasis' ,
J. Comp. Path. 68, pp. 253 - 260.
Claus, J (1976). ' Produktionsleistung autochtoner Rinderrassen und Ansatze zur
Steigerung der Rindfleischerzeugung in der Feuchtsavanne Nigerias' . Dr.
Ag. Sc. thesis, Institut fur Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik, University of
Goettingen, 128p.
Davis, R G D (1973). Report to the Government of Nigeria on dairy development.
Rome, FAO.
Dettmers, A, Igoche, C A and AMnkuolie K (1976). "The West African Dwarf
sheep. I: Reproductive performance and growth' . Nig. J. Anim. Prod. S
(1), pp. 139-147.
Dettmers, A and Loosli, J K (1974). 'Live performance and carcass traits in West
African sheep' . Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 1 0-). P« 108«
Dettmers A and Hill, D H (1974). 'Animal breeding in Nigeria' . In First World
Congress on Genetics applied to Livestock Production. Volume 3.
Madrid, pp. 811-820.
Domingo, P M (1976). 'Contribution a 1' etude de la population bovine des Etats du
Golfe du Benin'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Inter- Etats des Sciences et
Medicine Veterinaires de Dakar, 148p.
Esuruoso, G O (1973). 'The Epizootiology, prevalence and economic aspects of
bovine trypanosomiasis in Nigeria' . Paper presented at the 77th
U.S. Animal Health Association Meeting, St. Louis.
Esuruoso, G O (1974). 'Bovine brucellosis in Nigeria.' Vet. Pec. 95, PP. 54-58.
Esuruoso, G O (1975). 'Outbreaks of trypanosomiasis in N'Dama cattle in western
Nigeria'. Bull. Animal Health Prod. Africa 23, pp. 323-332.
229
FAO (1963). The Farm Settlement Scheme in the Western Region: Report to the
Government of Nigeria. Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance
No. 1720. Rome, 21p. + annexes.
FAO (1966). Agricultural development in Nigeria 1965 - 1980. Rome, 512p.
FAO (1975). International scheme for the coordination of dairy development:
Nigeria report. AGA: ISCDD 175/NIR. Rome, 99p. + appendix.
Ferguson, W (1966). ' Grazing behaviour of dwarf cattle in Nigeria with some
husbandry implications' . In Proceedings of the First Symposium of the
Society for Veterinary Ethology, pp. 1-2.
Ferguson, W (1967). 'Muturu cattle of Western Nigeria'. Parts 1 and 2.
J. W. Afr. Sci. Assoc. 13 (1), pp. 29 - 44.
Ferguson, D (1967). The Nigerian beef industry. Cornell International Agricul
tural Development Bulletin No. 9. Ithaca, Cornell University, 86p.
Gates, G M (1952). 'Breeds of cattle found in Nigeria' . Farm and Forest
(Nigeria). 11, pp. 19 - 43.
Grandin, B E (1977). 'Notes on Maun Oke with special reference to Muturu' . 5p.
Hill, D H (1962). 'Beef production in southern Nigeria'. Nigerian Grower and
Producer. 1 (3), p. 5.
Hill, D H and Upton, M (1964). 'Growth performance of ranch reared NFDama and
Keteku cattle and their crosses in the derived Guinea savanna zone, Western
Nigeria'. Trop. Agriculture (Trinidad). 41 (2), pp. 121-128.
Hubl, K (1973). ' L'embouche intensive des zebus Gudali a Mokwa (Nigeria)'. In
IEMVT. Colloque sur l 'embouche intensive de bovins en pays tropicaux.
Dakar, pp 295 - 296.
Ibadan, University of, Department of Animal Science (1975). Information hand
book: 1975 - 1976.
Ife, University of (1968). Second annual research report of the Faculty of
Agriculture. 36p.
Ife, University of (1969). Third annual research report of the Faculty of
Agriculture. 42p.
Leefland, P (1975). "Trypanosomiasis and animal production in Nigeria' . Nigerian
J. Anim. Prod. 2 (2), pp. 27-31.
Matthewman, R W (1977). 'Small livestock production in two villages in the forest
and derived savanna zones of southwest Nigeria'. Dept. of Agric. Extension
Serv. Research Bulletin No. 1. University of Ibadan. 81p.
230
Mba, A U, Akinsoyinu, A O and Olubajo, F O (1974). 'Studies on comparative
utilization of urea and groundnut cake rations by West African Dwarf goats.
1: N-balance and growth' . Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 1(2), pp. 209-216.
Mba, A U, Boyo, B S and Oyenuga V A (1975). 'Studies on the milk composition of
West African Dwarf, Red Sokoto and Saanen goats at different states of
lactation: Parti'. Journal of Dairy Besearah (U.K.). 42, pp. 217-226.
Mecha, J (1975). 'Traditional goat husbandry in soit hern Nigeria'. Nigerian J.
Animal Prod. 2 (1), pp. 67-68.
Mecha, J (n.d. ). 'Identification of the existing goat breeds of southern Nigerian
origin on the basis of external characteristics' . Animal Science Department,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 16p.
Ngere, L O (1975). 'The improvement of livestock production in Nigeria through
breeding'. Nigerian J. Anim. Prod. 2 (1), pp. 36-43.
Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (1974). Federal
Livestock Department Report: January 1970 to March 1974. Kaduna, 47 p.
Nigeria, Federal Livestock Department (1975). Annual report of the Tsetse and
Trypanosomiasis Division 1973-75. Kaduna, 63p + maps.
Nigeria, Federal Office of Statistics (1977). National Agriculture Sample Census
of Nigeria 1974-75: Report on livestock enquiries June - December
1974. Lagos, Agricultural Census Division, 29p.
Nigeria, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Western State (1967).
'Slaughter characteristics of two-year-old West African steers', lp.
Nigeria, Central Planning Office (1975). National Development Plan 1975-80.
Federal Ministry of Economic Development.
Nigeria, Benue Plateau State (1975). Lafia agricultural development project:
Feasibility study. Lagos.
Nigeria, (1975). Benue Plateau State: Lafia agricultural development project.
Lagos.
Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (1964, 1965, 1970, 1971, 1972,
1973, 1974). Annual Report. Kaduna.
Nigerian Livestock and Meat Authority (1977). Livestock population in Nigeria,
1974/75'. Kaduna, lp.
Ogunsiji, O, Olaloku, E A and Oyenuga V A (1974). 'Influence of prepartum
increase in nutrient concentration on the yield and composition of milk of
White Fulani cattle at Ibadan' . Nigerian J. Animal Prod. 1 (1), p. 94.
231
Okorie, 1 1, Hill, D H and Mcllroy, R J (1965). "The productivity and nutritive
value of tropical grassAegume pastures rotationally grazed by N'Dama
cattle at Ibadan, Nigeria'. J. Agric. Sci. 64, pp. 235-245.
Olaloku, E A (1976). 'Milk production in West Africa: Objectives and research
approaches'. J. Ass. Adv. Agric. Sci. Africa (AAASA). St pp. 5-13.
Olaloku, E A and Oyenuga V A (1973). Studies on the White Fulani (Bunaji) Zebu
cattle'. J. Assoc. Agric. Sci. Africa. (AAASA). 1 (Supplement), p.
20.
Olaloku, E A and Oyenuga, V A (1974). 'Observations on the White Fulani Zebu
cattle of Northern Nigeria in a Southern Nigerian environment. HE: Feed
intake, yield and composition of milk of cows' . E.A. Agric. For. J. 4 (1),
pp. 103 - 110.
Olutogun, O (1976). 'Reproductive performance and growth of N'Dama and Keteku
cattle under ranching conditions in the Guinea savannah of Nigeria' . Ph. D.
thesis, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, 292p.
Oluwasanmi, H A, Okali, C, Dema, I S and Upton, M (1966). Uboma: A socio
economic and nutritional survey of a rural community in Eastern
Nigeria. World Land Use Survey Occasional Paper No. 6. Bude (UK),
Geographical Publications, 116p.
Oyenuga, V A (1967). Agriculture in Nigeria. Rome, FAO, 308p.
Oyenuga, V A (1975). 'Intensive animal production on a subsistence scale' . In
Proceedings of the Third World Conference of Animal Production.
Sydney, Sydney University Press, pp. 393 - 400.
Patel, A U and Olayide, S O (1976). 'Report on the Badeku expanded project on
rural development' . Department of Agricultural Extension Services,
University of Ibadan, 47p.
Roberts, C J and Gray, A R (1973a). 'Studies on trypanosome-resistant cattle.
1 : The breeding and growth performance of N' Dama, Muturu and Zebu
cattle maintained under the same conditions of husbandry' . Trop. Anim.
Health Prod. _5J> pp. 211 - 219.
Roberts, C J and Gray, A R (1973b). ' Studies on trypanosome-resistant cattle, 2:
The effect of trypanosomiasis on N'Dama, Muturu and Zebu cattle' . Trop.
Anim. Health Prod. 5, pp. 220- 223.
Ruthenberg, H (1974). 'Artificial pastures and their utilisation in the southern
Guinea savanna and the derived savanna . Tour d' horizon of an agricultural
economist. Part II: Beef production on artificial pastures' . Zeitschrift
fur Auslandische Landwirtschaft 12, PP- 312-330.
232
Saka Nuru, C (n.d. ). ' The rearing of trypanotolerant breeds of cattle in Nigeria' .
Shika Institute of Agricultural Research. Zaria, Ahmadu Bello University,
11p.
Sellers, K G (1978). 'Problems facing the increased production of dwarf goats and
sheep in the humid tropics' . Paper presented at the General Conference of
the Association of Advanced Agricultural Science in Africa. Ibadan, 8p.
Sellers, KG, Dipeolo, O O, Falede, and Babalola, R (n.d.). 'Household live
stock in the Eruwa District of the Ibarapa Division, Gyo State, Nigeria' .
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, 1Op.
Steinbach, Y (1971). 'Seasonal variations in the conception rate of beef cattle in
the seasonal-equatorial climate of Southern Nigeria' Int. J. Biometeor.lS,
pp. 71 - 79.
Steinbach J and Balogun, A A (1973). 'Effect of season of birth on the growth rate
of N Dama steers . In Preconference volume 1: Short contributions .
Melbourne, Third World Conference on Animal Production, pp. 5(e) 33 - 35.
Stephen, L F (1966). 'Observations on the resistance of West African and N'Dama
and Zebu cattle to trypanosomiasis following challenge by wild Glossina
morsitans from an early age' . Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 60, pp.
230- 246.
Tims, W (1974). Nigeria: Options for long-term development.
World Bank Country Economic Report. Baltimore, John Hopkins University
Press, 256p.
Van Hoeve, K (1971). 'Some observations on the performance of N'Dama and Muturu
cattle under natural conditions in northern Nigeria' . In Proceedings of the
13th meeting of ISCTR. Lagos, pp. 103 - 106.
Werhahn H, Fricke W, Hunger, F, Weltz, F, Gottschalk, U H and Saager, H
(1964). The cattle and meat industry in northern Nigeria. Frankfurt/
Main, 286 p.
West African Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (1961, 1962, 1963) Annual
Report. Kaduna.
Yassen, A M (1977). 'Respiratory responses of N'Dama and Boran cattle to
climate conditions in Nigeria' . World Rev. Anim. Prod. 12, PP* 31-41.
233
CHAPTER 14
CAMEROON
1. BACKGROUND
The United Republic of Cameroon lies on the west coast of Africa, with Nigeria
to the west, Chad and Central African Republic to the east and Congo, Gabon and
Equatorial Guinea to the south. The country is divided into seven provinces, with
its capital at Yaounde. Northwest and Southwest Provinces comprise the English-
speaking former West Cameroon, while the other five provinces comprise the
French-speaking former East Cameroon. Each province is divided into several de
partments, which are sub-divided into arrondissements and further into districts.
The administrative boundaries are shown in Figure 1.
The Ministry of Animal Breeding and Industries includes a Direction of
Veterinary Services and a Direction of Animal Production and has offices at the pro
vincial and departmental levels . North Province is divided into two Secteurs
Provinciaux d'Elevage , North Livestock Sector, with headquarters at Maroua, and
Centre Livestock Sector, with headquarters at Ngaoundgre, which includes the
Adamawa Plateau. This division has been made because this province accounts for
2.2 million cattle, or 75% of the national herd.
Basic data for the country as a whole are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Cameroon.
- 2
Area 475 000 km
Latitude 2° - 13° N
o o
Longitude 9 - 16 E
Population
number 7 600 D00
density 16Am
Livestock numbers
cattle 2 917 000
sheep and goats 3 653 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, Cameroon, Ministry
of Animal Breeding and Industries, 1977.
234
Figure 1. Administrative divisions and location of research centres and development
project.
National boundary
[ Administrative boundaries
Capital
Administrative centre
Research centres
(•) Centre with non-trypanotolerant livestock as main activity
Development project
(2) Livestock project focussing on non-trypanotolerant breeds
 
EQUATORIALE CONGO
235
The southern part of the country has a forest climate with two rainy seasons,
from March to June and from August to November. The annual rainfall is between
1 500 and 4 000 mm. Moving north, the climate changes to Guinean, then Sahelo-
Sudanian and to Sahelian in the extreme north. There is one rainy season from April
to October in the Guinean zone, becoming shorter in the north - from May to October
in the Sahelo-Sudanian zone and from June to September in the Sahelian zone. Annual
rainfall is 1 400 to 1 700 mm in the Guinean zone, 800 to 1 400 mm in the Sahelo-
Sudanian zone and around 600 in the Sahelian zone.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), tsetse is wide
spread throughout the country except in the area north of Garoua and in certain high-
altitude areas on the Adamawa Plateau and in the west and southwest. Figure 2
shows the approximate boundaries of the infested areas .
G. tachinoides and G. morsitans are found on the Adamawa Plateau
just to the north, while G. tachinoides is found further north in the valley of the
Benoue River and its tributaries and in parts of the Logone River valley. G. fusca,
G. fuscipes and G. palpalis are chiefly found south of the Adamawa Plateau,
while G. tabaniformis, G. nigrofusca, G. pallicera and G. caliginea
are found in the forest zone.
The Adamawa Plateau, at over 1 000 m, used to be considered free of
tsetse, but in fact is heavily infested with G. morsitccns submorsitans (Boutrais,
1974; Eyidi, 1971). The OAU/STRC map indicates that more than half of the
plateau is infested. For this reason, Fulani and Mbororo Zebu herds have been
removed from vast areas of pasture, particularly in the northwestern part of the
plateau. A special tsetse eradication campaign was initiated in 1976/77 in this area
as part of the national livestock development project (Banser, 1977).
A number of eradication campaigns have also been undertaken against G.
tachinoides in North Livestock Sector. These campaigns have been carried out in
the Benoue, Logone and Moyokebbi valleys and towards the Nigerian border around
Mayotiel (Eyidi, 1971; Gruvel, Fernagut and Simeon, 1970; Gruvel, Troncy and
Tibayrenc, 1970).
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
Official estimates of the livestock population in the seven provinces are given
in Table 2 for 1977.
2.1 CATTLE
Table 2 shows that 75.4% of the national herd is found in North Province. Another
16.6% is found in West and Northwest Provinces, which include high-altitude pasture
236
Table 2. Livestock numbers and distribution in 1977.
- Cattle - Sheep & Goats -
Provinces and Capitals Number %of Estimated Humpless Number %of
National Cattle Population National
North
Total Total
North Livestock o
Sector (Maroua) 1 100 000 37.7 5 000-6 000 1 500 000 41.2
Centre Livestock
Sector (Ngaoundere) 1 100 000 37.7 negligible 350 000 9.6
West (Bafoussam) 126 000 4.3 \ b
750 000 20.5
Northwest (Bamenda) 360 000 12.3 > <1 000 200 000 5.5
Southwest (Buea) 5 000 0.2 ) 20 000 0.3
Littoral (Douala) 250 200 000 5.5
Centre South (Yaounde) 70 000 2.4)
5.4/
<1 oooc 500 000 13.7
East (Bertoua) 156 000 133 400 3.7
Total 2 917 250 100.0 6 000-8 000 3 653 400 100.0
a. Found in two pockets maintained by the KapsiM and Doayo people.
b. Bakosi and Muturu in two isolated pockets and a few N'Dama. c. A few NTJama.
Source : Ministry of Animal Breeding and Industries .
lands extending to the Adamaoua Plateau. The cattle in these provinces, which together
constitute 92% of the national herd, are generally Fulani or Mbororo Zebu kept in the
areas which are free of tsetse or only lightly infested. In the highland areas, such as
the Manengouba Mountains near Nkongsambia, settled Zebu herds can be found as far
south as the fifth parallel. Dry-season transhumance is practised in Centre South and
East Provinces, which account for 8% of the national herd. There are also a few cattle
in relatively settled herds just south of the Adamawa Plateau, near Yoko in Centre
South Province and near Garoua- Boulai in East Province. These are also Zebu cattle,
often of the Mbororo breed.
The distribution of cattle in Cameroon thus appears paradoxical : although
more than 80% of the country seems to be infested with tsetse, more than 99% of the
national herd is made up of non-trypanotolerant Zebu cattle.
A number of factors at least partly explain the presence of Zebu cattle in the
tsetse-infested areas. For one thing, in some areas the tsetse challenge is slight
and only seasonal. Cameroon has a high-altitude region, called the Cameroon Dorsal,
which starts with Mount Cameroon in the southwest and extends to the Adamawa
Plateau. These highland areas have a very light tsetse infestation or none at all, and
they serve as a seasonal retreat for transhumant Zebu herds, allowing them to take
advantage of pastures at other times which are only seasonally infested. In addition,
to co
000 000 000 000000
H
N ? 8-j 3n 1 S8
a_* 3 2.0 2o a.■ 1
Dp 5= a Cfig.B a a 3Pg3
3n io 3 N reso
z6 E
1N'Dam
Zebu
» X s
 
"3 to Opag pcB8. g a & 8 op
238
Zebu cattle are given chemo-prophylactic treatment for trypanosomiasis on a large
scale in Cameroon, which allows them to survive in lightly infested areas. Finally,
the government has carried out intensive tsetse eradication programmes around the
country, most recently in Adamawa.
These factors explain, at least in part, how the Zebu herds in Cameroon are
able to survive. They do not indicate why so little use has been made of the trypano-
tolerant breeds.
2. 2 SHEEP AND GOATS
Table 2 shows that 50. 8% of the sheep and goats in Cameroon are found in
North Province and another 26% in West and Northwest Provinces. Southwest,
Littoral, Centre South and East Provinces, all of which are infested with tsetse,
account for 853 400 sheep and goats, or 23.2% of the national flock,with 500 000 of
these in Centre South Province.
No figures are available by species, but Vallerand and Branckaert (1975)
suggest there are three goats for every two sheep in Cameroon. It is possible to
estimate the sheep and goat populations in the four southern provinces using this
formula, as shown in Table 3.
Table 3. Estimated sheep and goat populations in the southern provinces.
Province Sheep Goats
Centre South 200 000 300 000
Littoral 80 000 120 000
East 80 000 120 000
Southwest 8 000 12 000
Source : Compiled by the authors.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
There are very few trypanotolerant cattle in Cameroon and very little infor
mation on their numbers or characters . Five groups were identified during the
country visit, as shown in Figure 2. There are Kapsiki, or Kirdi, cattle in very
localized herds in North Province around Mokolo. There are also very localized
herds of Doayo, or Namshi, cattle in North Province towards Poli. In Southwest
Province, there are localized herds of Bakosi cattle around Bangem and ' Muturu'
239
cattle towards Buea and Victoria. Finally, small numbers of N'Dama have been intro
duced in Cameroon and are widely scattered in several provinces .
3.1.1 Kapsiki or Kirdi
The Kapsiki people keep humpless cattle in the Mandara Hills (1 000 m) along
the Nigerian border in Margui-Wandala Department of North Province, between
Mokolo and Bourrah. Apparently there are very few herds on the Nigerian side of the
border. This area is a fairly uneven plateau where tsetse infestation is likely to be
very light, if it exists at all.
The Kapsiki are classified among the 'Kirdi', a general term used by the
Fulani for non- Moslem pagans. They are traditionally cattle owners, and cattle play
an important role in their customs and ceremonies.
The cattle they keep are a humpless type, similar to other Savanna West
African Shorthorn populations such as the Baoule and Ghana Shorthorn. They are
rather small, measuring 1.00 to 1.10 m at withers, with horns of medium length
(20 to 40 cm) and usually a black or black-and-white coat (see Figure 3.41, volume
1). Transhumant Zebu herds are also brought into the area during the dry season,
and some Zebu or crossbred bulls were seen with Kapsiki herds during the field
visits. Traces of crossbreeding can be seen, such as the relatively long horns on
some animals.
The Director of North Livestock Sector has estimated the number of cattle in
the Mandara Hills as follows (personal communication) :
1975-76 1976-77 1977-78
Mokolo area 3 042 5 036 7 186
Bourrah area 1 056 1 046 1 241
Total 4 098 6 082 8 427
These herds are stable or even expanding, but they include an increasing
number of Zebus. The number of relatively pure Kapsiki is probably around 3 000.
3.1.1.1 Performance Traits. No precise records of performance are available,
but the Kapsiki are known to be fairly prolific, but not early maturing. Their lon
gevity is excellent. Measurements were made of ten animals at Roumsiki, in the
heart of the Kapsiki area, as presented in Table 4.
Nothing is known about the trypanotolerance of these cattle, as the area where
they are found is apparently free of tsetse.
3.1.1.2 Management . Individual households generally own only five to ten
cattle, or sometimes fewer. These are brought together in village herds, tended by
240
TabLe 4. Measurements of adult Kapsiki cattle.
6 Adult Cows 4 Adult Bulls and Oxen
Height at withers (cm) 100-109 105-110
Heart girth (cm) 130-145 148-160
Scapulo - ischial length (cm) 115-132 135-145
Estimated weight (kg) 170 200
Source: Information from country visit.
children. They are herded together in the grazing areas during the day and penned
together at night, or sent back to the households to be penned in their compounds.
They are never milked and have only recently started to be used as draught animals.
Cattle play an important role in traditional Kapsiki society. They are not
exploited commercially, but are used for dowries and slaughtered for special feasts.
At least one animal must be slaughtered for a funeral, and the hide used to wrap the
body.
Other so-called Kirdi groups in northern Cameroon, such as the Mafa or
Meri, kept humpless cattle in the past. These animals have completely disappeared
for various reasons, such as population movements towards the mountains, lack of
grazing land, or absorption by other breeds. These groups still sometimes keep a
'boeuf de case', one animal slaughtered every four years at Mere on special oc
casions, but this tends to be a Zebu bought from the Fulani.
3.1.2 Doayo (or Namshi)
The Doayo people, pejoratively called Namshi (or Namji) by the Fulani, keep
humpless cattle in a small area on the northwestern foothills (500 to 900 m) of Poli
Mountain, in Benoue in Garoua Department of North Province. This area is infested
with tsetse, probably the G. morsitans or C. tachinoides species. The people
are traditional cattle keepers, and cattle play an important role in their social and
cultural life.
The appearance of the Doayo varies widely, but observation of several typical
herds in the field indicates that they should be classified as a Savanna West African
Shorthorn breed, such as the Baoule. Epstein's (1971) classification of the Doayo as
a longhorn breed cannot be sustained. These are small cattle, measuring only 97 to
110 cm at withers, with mainly uniform black, black-and-white or spotted black coats,
though brown or spotted brown coats also occur (see Figure 3.42, volume 1). Cross
breeding with Zebu has been fairly extensive and a number of N' Dama have also been
introduced into the area for crossbreeding.
241
3.1.2.1 Performance Traits. Doayo cattle appear to be prolific, early maturing
and of excellent longevity. Two herds were studied for some time at Poli and at
Finyole, and first calving was found to be at around three years with a calving inter
val of about one year. Average measurements for ten typical animals are given in
Table 5.
Table 5. Measurements of adult Doayo cattle.
6 Cows 4 Oxen
Height at withers (cm) 97-106 100-110
Heart girth (cm) 125 - 140 140 - 159
Scapulo-ischial length (cm) 110 - 130 125 - 145
Estimated weight (kg) 150 180 - 210
Source: Information from country visit.
3.1.2.2 Management. The animals belonging to each household are herded
together by herdsmen from the village. They are never milked, and the use of
draught oxen has only recently been introduced.
The cattle are not exploited commercially, but are kept for social and
religious purposes. Several animals are usually slaughtered at a funeral, depend
ing on the importance of the deceased, and the skins are used to wrap the body.
Doayo cattle are without doubt trypanotolerant. They maintain condition
well during the dry season, but tradition prevents the expansion of the herds. The
population is stable or decreasing, and the breed is increasingly threatened by
crossbreeding.
3.1.3 Bakosi
Information on Bakosi cattle was collected either during the country visit
or has been drawn from Ejedepang-Koge (1978). The Bakosi people are found in
southwestern Cameroon, west of Nkongsamba on the border between Southwest and
Littoral Provinces. Their cattle-rearing areas, however, seem to be limited to
the northeastern part of their territory, on the western slopes of Mount Manangouba
in the Bangem Arrondissement of Southwest Province. It is a high-altitude area
with a very humid climate, including both forest and savanna vegetation. The level
of tsetse infestation is not fully known, but there are probably no tsetse in the
higher-altitude areas and varying degrees of infestation in the forests.
The Bakosi people are traditionally cattle keepers. According to legend,
Ngoe, the ancestor of the Bakosi, found cattle and began keeping them in herds.
242
The Bakosi cattle are said to be descendants of the forest antelope or of a cross
between the antelope and the dwarf forest buffalo.
The Bakosi cattle are of the shorthorn type, about 110 cm at withers like
the Kapsiki. Coats vary from black to white, but more than half are brown or
black (see Figure 3.43, volume 1). There are more Mbororo Zebu in this area
than there are humpless cattle, and crossbreeding is fairly common.
There are no official estimates of the size of the Bakosi cattle population,
but most sources suggest that there are several hundred. Ejedepang-Koge (1978)
counted 60 cows, which is obviously a minimum. This breed is disappearing, due
to the increasing cultivation of commercial crops such as coffee. The same
situation has been observed among cattle of neighbouring groups such as the
Bamileke.
The Bakosi cattle seem to be becoming smaller and less fertile, due to
isolation and inbreeding. The calving interval is from 18 to 24 months.
These cattle are neither herded nor milked. One animal may have
several owners, with each person said to own one or more legs.
3.1.4 ' Muturu' of Cameroon
There are a few ' Muturu' cattle in Cameroon, probably a few hundred at the
most, at the foot of Mount Cameroon between Buea and Victoria in Southwest Pro
vince. The local name for this breed is 'Bakweri', or they may be called 'Muturu'
as in Nigeria. It is not clear whether these animals have been in the area for some
time or whether they were introduced from Nigeria fairly recently.
The 'Muturu' seem to be typical Dwarf West African Shorthorn. Adult cows
measure 95 to 100 cm at withers, and the horns are short or sometimes rudimen
tary (see Figure 3.39, volume 1). They are sometimes kept on palm plantations
where they graze a legume which grows under the palm trees, kudzu or Pueraria
phaseoZides .
3.1.5 N'Dama
A few N'Dama were introduced into Cameroon in 1960, and the herd was
multiplied at Kounden Station in the Bamoun area of Foumban Department, West
Province. This station is free of tsetse, and the N'Dama in Cameroon have generally
been distributed in tsetse-free zones.
There are probably fewer than 1 000 N'Dama in all, scattered around the
country on government stations and farms, on missions and on private farms.
Small numbers are found in Ppli and Mbe in North Province, in Nkolbisson, Obala
and Ntui in Centre South Province and in Batouri and BStare in East Province.
243
Efforts to introduce N'Dama cattle in Cameroon have never been followed up:
as of the end of 1977, there were no development programmes in the country includ
ing an N' Dama component. According to the Ministry of Animal Breeding and
Industries, the multiplication herd at Kounden Station and most of the settled herds
throughout the country have disappared.
3.2 DISEASE
There is very little precise information about diseases among humpless cattle
in Cameroon because the efforts of the Veterinary Services are aimed exclusively at
the Zebu herds, which are more numerous and which require a variety of veterinary
treatments . The humpless cattle seem to be well adapted to their environment and
resistant to most diseases. The only treatment they seem to have received is vacci
nations over the past few years. In the Doayo area, there are traditional accounts of
periodic epidemics, probably of rinderpest or contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
(CBPP), and most animals now seem to be vaccinated against these diseases. Try
panosomiasis does not seem to be a serious problem.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
The sheep and goats of southern Cameroon seem to be of the typical Djallonke
or West African Dwarf type. The sheep on the Adamawa Plateau are of this type,
but tend to be larger, while in the extreme north the sheep are intermediate between
the Djallonke and the Sahelian types .
Sheep and goats are found throughout the country, particularly in the villages
of the humid forest areas in the south. They seem to be very well adapted to diverse
ecological conditions, from the humid forests to the high-altitude zones.
4.1.1 Sheep
The West African Dwarf sheep in Cameroon vary widely in appearance.
Epstein (1971) describes three types, one with a tan coat and black belly, as well as
the typical black and black-and-white. In fact, there is only one type of sheep in
southern Cameroon, but with variable coat colour. Mason carried out a survey of
397 sheep in Centre South Province in 1977, and reported coat colours as shown in
Table 6.
4.1.1.1 Performance Traits. Vallerand and Branckaert (1975) report perform
ance traits of sheep at Nkolbisson Station in Centre South Province near Yaounde.
Among 85 ewes, the average age at first lambing was 17 months from 1966 to 1977
244
Number % of Total
150 37.8
131 33.0
18 4.5
41 10.3
15 3.8
6 1.5
2 0.5
25 6.3
7 1.8
2 0.5
Table 6. Coat colours of sheep in Centre South Province.
Colour
Black
Black-and-white
White
Tan with black belly
Tan with black belly and white patches
Other tricolours
Tan
Tan-and-white
Light tan-and-white
Tan-and-black
Total 397 100.0
Source : Information from country visit.
and prolificacy was 117% from 1966 to 1974. The lambing interval averaged 8 months,
not including 10 to 11% of the intervals which were over 13 months.
Birth weights averaged 2.3 kg for female single births and 2.5 for males.
Among twins, the birth weights averaged 1. 8 kg for females and 2. 0 for males.
Daily weight gains from birth to 30 days averaged 115 g for single births and 85 g for
twins at the station from 1965 to 1969, compared with an average of 80 g on small
farms. From 1970 to 1973, daily weight gains at the station averaged 134 g for
single births and 112 g for twins. Daily weight gains from 30 to 150 days at the
station with supplementary feeding were 57 to 79 g for females and 64 to 85 g for
males, compared with 45 g for females and 52 g for males on small farms. The rate
of weight gain at the station depended on the type of concentrates fed, as did the age
at which the animals reached 20 kg. This varied from 8.5 to 10.9 months for females
and from 7.3 to 9. 6 months for males. Slaughter weights varied from 18 to 28 kg
and dressing out percentages (hot carcass) from 44.5 to 53.5%.
4.1.1.2 Index of Productivity. Table 7 summarizes estimates of the major pro
duction traits required to build up a productivity index based on the total weight of
five-month-old lamb produced per 10 kg of ewe maintained per year. This pro
ductivity index has been derived for production under station conditions in a very low
tsetse challenge area.
4.1.2 Goats
According to Branckaert and Vallerand (1969), adult goats in Cameroon aver
age 45 cm height at withers and weights average 18 kg for females and 20 kg for males.
They are generally black or black-and-white.
245
Table 7. Sheep productivity estimates .
Production Environment
Station/very low challenge
Ewe viability (%) 95
Lambing percentage 175
Lamb viability to one year (%) 80
Lamb weight at five months (kg) 13
Productivity index per ewe per year (kg) 18.7
Ewe weight (kg) . 25
Productivity index per 10 kg ewe maintained per year (kg) 7.5
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of five-month-old lamb produced.
Source : Information from country visit.
4.2 DISEASE
Respiratory diseases, toxicosis and maternal agalactia are the principal causes
of death among sheep and goats in Cameroon, according to Vallerand and Branckaert
(1975).
4.3 MANAGEMENT AND FLOCK COMPOSITION
The typical composition of sheep flocks in southern Cameroon kept under
village conditions is 40% adult ewes, 4% adult rams, 30% lambs under eight months
and 26% lambs over eight months (Vallerand and Branckaert, 1975). Sheep and
goats generally roam freely near the village during the day, returning at night when
they are sometimes kept in a special hut. Sheep are slaughtered on special occasions
and are sometimes given away or sold. According to Vallerand and Branckaert
(1975), 35% of the sheep offtake is consumed at home, 25% is given to visitors, 20%
is sold and another 20% is given as dowries.
5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH
Three research stations in Cameroon are described in Table 8. Most of the
research work carried out in the country is on non-trypanotolerant livestock, however.
N3
Table8.Researchcentres.
Name
WakwaStation(B.P.65,
Ngaoundgre)
BambuiStation
NkolbissonFarm
Location( nd referencei
Figure1)
Organization
responsible Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
Ngaounde.re
®1
HeadquartersoftheInstitutd
Recherche5ootechnique(IR5)under theOfficeNationaledelaRec er h ScientifiqueeTechniqu(ONAREST)
About1800cattle
SelectionofFulani5 buthe Adamawatype.Crossbreeding
BrahmanxFulani5ebutop od ce
Wakwa.Milkingherdscompo edof
Holsteinandvariouscrossbreeds.
Researchonpastureandf ragc ops.
NorthwestfPamenda
I8
About500cattle
Meatprogrammewith5ebus.
DairyherdsofHolsteinan
Jersey.Researchonpasture
land.
Yaounde. ®3
Departementde5ootechnifth
EcoleNationaleSup rieure
d'Agriculture,YaoundeUn versity
50cattle:2NDamaand1Brown
Swisscows.Ab ut40ewe(some
crosseswithRomanov).
Thisfarmism inlydemonstration farmorthestudentsofENSA.Pro
grammesareactuallyverylimit dd
tohelackofspace.Tf rmcould
bemovedtoDschang(WesternPro
vince),whi houldallowdevelopment
ofamilkherdinparticular.
Externalaid
France
247
5. 2 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The main livestock development project is being carried out by the Societe
de Developpement des Productions Animales (SODEPA) which comes under the
Ministry of Animal Breeding and Industries. The headquarters are at Yaounde (B.P.
1410), shown by ® 4 in Figure 1.
This project involves the development of three ranches and construction of two
abbatoirs. Traditional farmers are also given credit and other assistance and train
ing is carried out. The project is not especially concerned with the trypanotolerant
breeds, but includes a special mission concerned with tsetse eradication. Assist
ance is provided by the World Bank and GTZ.
A Study of the Development of Livestock in the North Cameroon was carried
out in 1975-76, with assistance from USAID and FAO, covering North Province except
Adamawa. This study included a tsetse eradication component, but no work was
carried out on trypanotolerant cattle.
Finally, a cattle production scheme is projected in the SOCAPALM palm tree
plantations at M' Bongo and Ezeka. A study of this project was carried out by SEDES
(Tyc et. al., 1977).
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abdoulaye, M (1969). 'Bilan des cinq dernieres annees au Cameroun: Situation
actuelle, perspective d'avenir' . In IEMVT . Colloque sur l'elevage.
Fort Lamy, pp. 40-44.
Banser, J T (1977). 'Annual report of tsetse eradication component: Cameroon
Livestock Development Project' . Project No. 983 CM. Ngaoundere, Special
Mission for Tsetse Eradication, 15p.
Boutrais, J (1974). 'Les conditions naturelles de I'elevage sur le plateau de
l'Adamaoua (Cameroun)'. Cahiers ORSTOM Ser. Sci. Hum. 11 (2), pp. 145-198.
Branckaert, R (1968). 'Etude sommaire de I'elevage en Republique Federate du
Cameroun: Situation actuelle, perspective d'avenir', Yaounde, Ecole
Superieure d' Agriculture, 62p.
Branckaert, R and Ferguson, D S (1973). 'Investigation of the intensive feeding of
Wakwa and N' Dama x Wakwa crosses utilizing dried brewers' grains In derived
and Guinea savanna zone in Cameroon'. In IEMVT. Colloque embouche
,intensive des bovins en pays tropicaux. Dakar, pp. 151-158.
248
Branckaert, R and Vallerand, F (1969). 'Production de vlande a partir des petits
ruminants en Afrique centrale' . InlEMVT. Colloque sur l 'elevage.
Fort Lamy, pp. 884-895.
Branckaert, R and Vallerand, F (1972). ' Utilisation des dreches de brasserie
dessechees dans 1' alimentation animale en re'gions equatoriales et tropicales' .
Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 25, pp. 101-107.
Cameroon, Ministry of Animal Breeding and Industries (1976). Proposition d'une
etude preliminaire pour l 'experimentation du grand elevage dans les
zones humides des cotieres du Cameroun. Rome, AGROTEC.
Cameroon, Ministry of Animal Breeding and Industries (1977). TroisiSme eonseil
de l'elevage et des peches maritimes: Recommendations. Yaounde'.
Cameroon, Secretariat d'Etat a L' Elevage, Cameroun Oriental (1962, 1963). Rapport
annuel. Yaounde.
Ejedepang-Kode, S N (1978). ' Bakosi livestock' . Report prepared for UNEP/FAO
Project on Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources. Yaounde', 31p.
Eyidi, N (1971). ' Controle et prophylaxie des trypanosomiases au Cameroun
Oriental'. Bull. Off. Int. Epiz. 76, pp. 291-299.
FAO (1971). Mission centrafrique: Rapport sur le secteur agricole en
Republique Federale du Cameroun. DDA:MISC/71/S. Rome, 58p.
Ferguson, D S (1973). "The potential for the stratification of the cattle industry in
Cameroun and Central Africa' . InlEMVT. Colloque embouche intensive
des bovins en pays tropicaux. Dakar, pp. 251-260.
Georges, M (1965). La culture attelee et la modernisation rurale dans le Nord
Cameroun. Paris, BDPA, 362p.
Gruvel, J, Fernagut, R and Simeon, M (1970). 'Execution d'une campagne de lutte
continue contre les glossines au Nord Cameroun dans les valines du Mayo-
Kebbi et de la Benoue' . Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 23, pp. 93-99.
Gruvel, J, Troncy, P M and Tibayrenc, R (1970). ' Contribution a la connaissance de
la distribution des glossines au Nord Cameroun' . Rev. Elev. Med. Vet.
Pays Trop. 23, pp. 83-91.
Lacrouts, M (1963). Report on the problems concerning cattle-raising and cattle and
meat trade in the occidental Cameroun' . 86p.
Lacrouts, Mand Sarniguet, J (1965). Le cheptel bovin du Cameroun: Exploitation
commercialisation, perspectives d'avenir. Volumes 1 and 2. Paris,
Ministere de la Cooperation, 404p.
249
Rageau, J and Adam, J P (1953). 'Repartition des glossines au Cameroun francais' .
Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays trap. 6, pp. 73-76.
Tyc, J, Hadji- Thomas, A and Quesnel, M (1977). Projet d'elevage bovin sur les
plantations SOCAPALM de M'Bongo et Ezeka. Paris, SEDES, 41p.
USAID/FAC and Cameroon, Ministry of Animal Breeding and Industries (1974).
' Terms of reference for the design of an integrated livestock production project
for Northern Cameroun (excluding Adamaoua)' . Yaounde*, 108p.
Vallerand, F and Branckaert, R (1975). 'La race ovine Djallonke au Cameroun:
Potentialites zootechniques, conditions d'elevage, avenir' . Rev. Elev. Med.
Vet. Pays Trop. 28, pp. 423-518.
World Bank (1974). Appraisal of the Livestock development Project, Cameroun.
Report No. 295-CM. Washington, D.C.
250
251
CHAPTER 1 5
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
1. BACKGROUND
The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in the middle of the
African continent, bordered by Cameroon to the west, Chad to the north, Sudan to
the east and Congo and Zaire to the south. The country is divided into 14 Prefec
tures, with its capital at Bangui, as shown in Figure 1.
The Service de l'Elevage is part of the Ministere de 1' Agriculture, de
l'Elevage, des Eaux et Forets, de la Chasse, de la Peche et du Tourisme. The
Service is meant to provide technical and veterinary services to livestock raisers
and to manage government ranches and metayage operations. There is also a
Societe d' Etat de Gestion des Abattoirs under the same ministry, as well as a
Bureau d' Etudes et de Coordination (BEC) concerned with the study of agricultural
projects and general problems of agricultural development.
In fact, the Service de 1' Elevage does not operate at present, as it lacks the
necessary financial and material resources. Technical and health support for the
Zebu herd is provided by the FAO/UNDP development project, with headquarters at
Bouar, and the EDF project centred at Bambari.
Basic data for the country as a whole are given in Table 1 .
Table 1 . Background data for Central African Republic .
___ - --_ _- . ___
Area 623 000 km
Latitude 3° - 11° N
Longitude 14 - 28 E
Population
number 1 827 01)0
density 2. 9 /km
Livestock numbers
cattle 850 000 to 1 115 000
sheep 64 000a or 76 000
goats 650 000a or 506 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for cattle numbers, national estimates for
1978; for sheep and goats, a. UDEAC et al. , 1976, b. FAO, 1978.
Figure1.Administrati41div ions,locatfmult plic ionherdsandevelopme tpr jects,anzo eswZ bu
predominate.^
—~Nationalbound ry
Administrativebounda ies
•Administrativece e
mjjBoundariesofzoneswheZebupr d minate
TCHAD
SOUDAN
CAMEROUN
 
to 01 CO
River
0Capital
Multiplicationherds
5Governmentalfarmorr chwittrypanotolerantli es ck
DevelopmentProjects
@Livestockprojectfocussingonnon-t ypanotolerantbr eds
253
Three climatic zones can be distinguished in the country : a dense forest
zone in the south with a humid tropical climate and annual rainfall averaging 1 800
mm, a central Guinean savanna zone with annual rainfall averaging 1 400 mm, and
a sub-Sahelian zone in the north with grassy savannas and annual rainfall averaging
1 200 mm.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977), the region north
west of Bouar is free of tsetse. This is a continuation of the Adamawa Plateau of
Cameroon with an altitude of over 1 000 m. The region southeast of Bambari has
recently been freed of tsetse as the result of an eradication campaign. The rest of
the country is infested, but the tsetse, especially G. fuscipes, are generally con
centrated in the forest galleries, leaving wide areas of savanna tsetse free.
According to Bertucat (1965), the northeastern part of the country is infested
with G. tachinoidesj G. morsitans and G. fuscipes, the central area with G.
morsitans and G. fuscipes and the southern area with G. fuscipes. Two localized
eradication campaigns were carried out in the 1960s, in the Baboua area west of
Bouar and along the Topia River east of Carnot, to make it possible for cattle to
cross there. The area between Boda and Berberati and the triangular zone between
Bouca, Damora, Sibut and Dekoa are heavily infested and thus unsuitable for Zebu,
even on a temporary basis. In the eastern part of the country, the areas around
N' Dele and east of the Kotto River are also heavily infested. Attempts to drive
Mbororo cattle into these regions in 1954, and again in 1963, led to heavy losses
and had to he abandoned.
There has been no recent large-scale study of tsetse infestation in the
Central African Republic. A World Bank livestock project in the western part of
the country, now in the planning stage, will include such a study.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
2.1 CATTLE
Most of the cattle in the Central African Republic are Mbororo Zebu. The
Mbororo people began migrating into the country with their herds around the
ning of the century from northern Cameroon, western Chad, eastern Niger and the
extreme north of Nigeria and settled in the highlands west of Bouar which are free
of tsetse. From there, they have slowly moved down towards the south and south
east where the pastures are richer. More recently, the same movement towards
the south has occurred further east, in the Bambari area. Between 1960 and 1978,
these movements increased and the number of Mbororo Zebu in the country doubled.
These animals are concentrated in two livestock regions. To the west in the
highlands around Bouar, there are about 650 000 to 800 000 Mbororo Zebu, including
150 000 further south up to 60 km from Bangui. To the east, there are 200 000 to
254
300 000 animals in the area east of Bambari.
The movement of these animals into tsetse-infested areas can be explained
by several factors: a shortage of grazing further north due to drought and increased
agricultural settlement, the availability of pastures with particularly low livestock
and wildlife populations, and a reduction of the tsetse challenge due to low rainfall
and low humidity associated with the Sahelian droughts. The Mbororo have also
developed strategies to minimize the risk of trypanosomiasis by grazing on the
open highlands where tsetse infestation is light, watering and crossing rivers only
at night or after fires, avoiding particularly heavily infested areas during the rainy
season and using trypanocidal drugs. However, in spite of these precautions, there
is a risk that the incidence of trypanosomiasis is increasing due to increasing
animal numbers and the incorrect use of drugs, and it ie feared that the Mbororo
herds may be forced to withdraw to the north. The most serious consequence of
the increase in cattle numbers and the breakdown of the traditional transhumance
system however, is rapid pasture degradation due to overgrazing and anarchistic
burning, leading to denuded pastures in the highlands and bush invasion in the sav
anna areas.
The indigenous peoples of the Central African Republic did not keep cattle at
all until the late 1950s. At that time Baoule and N'Dama began to be imported by
the government and basic breeding herds were distributed to the villages under the
metayage system described in chapter 3 of volume 1. As of 1969, there were
18 700 Baoule, 800 N'Dama and a number of N'Dama x Mbororo crossbreds.
2.1.1 Baoule"
The Baoule were imported from Ivory Coast and Upper Volta between 1955
and 1969. Their distribution under the metayage system is shown in Table 2 as of
1969. At that time, the total Baoule population was 18 700, but this has decreased
and is now probably closer to 15 000.
The cattle kept under metayage throughout the country increased from 7 620
in 1965 to 15 150 in 1969. The population then remained fairly stable until 1974, but
since then it seems to have decreased. In the Bossembele area for example, there
were 1 945 cattle in village me'tayage herds and on redistribution stations in 1974,
and only 640 in 1977. In the Bambari area, there were 4 350 in 1974 and only 3 970
in 1977.
It is difficult to know how much of this decline in cattle numbers is real and
how much is due to censusing problems. However, there are several factors which
could explain the decline. For one thing, cattle which are not supervised cause
damage to crops and are then killed or injured by farmers. For example, in 1974 in
the Bossembel£ area 67 of the 123 cattle deaths reported were caused by arrows or
spears and another 20 were due to road accidents. Livestock owners who come
before traditional tribunals are also often required to pay heavy fines in the form of
cattle. In addition, the Service de 1' Elevage, which has been inoperative for several
years, is the only official marketing channel for the sale of metayage cattle. The
official selling price for cattle was fixed in 1969 and is now about 50% below the
255
Number of Number of
Participants Cattle
158a
1 938
95 990
11 3a
1 312
128 1 508
103 2 157
24 306
74 931
2 54
205 2 996
104 1 334
102 824
28 267
34 503
market price. These factors explain the widespread illegal sale and slaughter of
animals which has reached alarming proportions and the number of failures recorded
among the metayage operations .
Table 2. Distribution of Baoule' cattle under the metayage system, 1969.
Prefecture
Nana Mambere
Haute Sangha
Ouhamoende
Ouham
Ombella-Mpoko
Lobaye
Kemo Gribingui
Bamingui- Bangoran
Ouaka
Basse-Kotto
Mbomou
Haut-Mbomou
Haute-Kotto
Vakaga
Total under Metayage 1170 15150
a. Including metayages with N'Dama and N' Dama x Zebu crossbreds.
Source: Central African Empire, Bureau d' Etudes et de Coordination, 1977.
2.1.2 N'Dama
N'Dama were imported from Zaire and Ivory Coast between 1952 and 1954
and again between 1965 and 1969. They are kept on government ranches at Boali,
Bambari, Tambia and Bokolobo and in villages under the metayage system in the
Boali and Bambari areas. There is little information available on these animals,
but it seems that their numbers have been decreasing recently due to excessive
slaughtering on the ranches.
2.1.3 N'Dama x Mbororo Zebu
During the 1960s, N'Dama x Mbororo crossbreeding experiments were
initiated at Bokolobo Ranch in the eastern livestock region (see Figure 3. 67, volume
1 ) and a number of N' Dama bulls were distributed to the Mbororo pastoralists . The
objectives were to produce draught animals for the farming population which were
larger than the N' Dama but had a certain level of trypanotolerance, and also to
interest the Mbororo breeders in the advantages of crossbreeding. The introduction
of crossbred draught oxen was fairly successful, but this programme came to a halt
in 1970 due to the problems of the Service de l'Elevage.
256
At the outset, the Mbororo showed little interest in the trypanotolerant
breeds or their crosses because they were smaller than their Zebu cattle and were
poor walkers. However, as the Mbororo have settled in regions where they
could observe Baoule. and N'Dama herds for some time, they have been impressed
with the good condition of these animals. Renewed efforts to crossbreed with the
N'Dama, which are more highly regarded than the Baoule because of their con
formation and their adaptability to herding, would likely meet with a favourable re
sponse. At present, the number of crossbreds is estimated at 1 500 to 2 000.
2.2 SHEEP AND GOATS
The distribution of sheep and goats in 11 of the Prefectures of the Central
African Republic is given in Table 3 as of 1975.
Table 3. Distribution of sheep and goats, 1975.
Prefecture Sheep Goats
Ombella- Mpoko
Lobaye
Haute Sangha
Nana Mambere
Ouham Pende
Ouham
Kemo Gribingui
Ouaka
Basse Kotto
JVPBomou
Haute Kotto
1 859 31 983
1 671 23 263
3 536 20 283
6 514 49 750
7 112 94 720
3 134 173 382
- 51 063
28 818 107 628
9 261 63 958
561 17 310
1 081 16 810
Total 63 547 650 150
Source: UDEAC et al. , 1976.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTIONS
No distinction can be made between Baoule and N' Dama in terms of their
health conditions, fecundity or resistance to disease, particularly to trypano
somiasis. Both breeds have adapted quickly to their new environment.
257
3.1.1 Baoule"
The Baoule in Central African Empire tend to be larger than in their areas
of origin in Ivory Coast (see Figure 3.36, volume 1). This can be explained by a
more favourable environment and husbandry system. Between 1965 and 1969, the
calving rate was estimated at 66 to 70%. The mortality rate was 20% for calves,
7% for one- to two-year-olds and 4% for adult cows. Losses among adult males
were about 10%, mostly due to illegal slaughter.
Table 4 summarizes estimates of the main production traits required to
build up a productivity index covering the total weight of one-year-old calf produced
per 100 kg of cow maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived
for meat production under village conditions in a medium tsetse challenge area.
Table 4. Baoule productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Parameter T7.,, , ,.
Village /medium
challenge /meat
Cow viability (%) 96
Calving percentage 68
Calf viability to one year (%) 80
Calf weight at one year (kg) 90
Annual milked out yield (kg)
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 50. 0
Cow weight (kg) 190
Productivity index per 100 kg cow maintained
per year (kg) 26.3
a. Total weight of one-year-old calf produced.
Source: Lacrouts et al. , 1967.
3.1.2 N'Dama
The early metayage operations in Central African Empire did not include
N'Dama because they are larger than the Baoule' and their temperament was con
sidered more difficult. However, the N'Dama now observed under metayage con
ditions appear manageable and well adapted. At Grimari, for example, herds of 60
are tended by one herdsman and penned at night with no problems .
3.2 DISEASES
Trypanosomiasis in the Central African Republic is due chiefly to T. vivax
and T. congolense. The Baoule and N'Dama herds have not received any
veterinary attention for the past eight years. However, their good condition is
258
emphasized by observers throughout the country. Losses are mainly due to helmin
thiasis among calves, to pasteurellosis, blackquarter and rickettsiosis. In the
eastern area, mucosal disease is also common. Tuberculosis is transmitted from
the Mbororo Zebu herds and brucellosis is also present, but the incidence of these
two diseases is unknown.
3.3 HUSBANDRY SYSTEMS
3.3.1 Metayage
Metayage operations were introduced in Central African Republic during the
1950s (see Desrotour et al. , 1967; Desrotour and Renard, 1969). Villagers were
encouraged to build up small herds of cattle for commercial offtake and also for
home consumption, particularly in connection with traditional ceremonies. Each
participating family received a basic breeding herd of 1 bull and 5 to 10 heifers from
the government distribution centres. They agreed to provide one family member to
tend the animals during the day and to build a pen to keep them at night. They also
agreed to provide minerals and not to introduce other animals into the herd without
the agreement of the Service de l'Elevage. They were to repay the government's
initial investment through the natural expansion of their herds by returning the same
number of animals they had received, all at least 18 months old, within five years
(see Figure 3.38, volume 1).
In practioe, cattle kept under metayage are often left to roam freely during
the day and are not provided with any night shelter or mineral supplementation. The
cows are not milked. They have not been dipped or sprayed or received any veter
inary attention for the past eight years. These herds tend to be viewed with hos
tility by neighbouring farmers and the participants are often forced to slaughter
their animals .
The average size of a metayage herd is about 12. As of 1974, the average
herd composition was 36.9% adult females and 7.2% adult males, 32.5% female
calves up to two years and 23.4% male calves, making a total of 69.4% females and
30.6% males. It is estimated that about 50% of the original metayage herds have
failed to expand or have even decreased. However, some metayage herds have been
very successful. For example, at Kidjigra near Bambari, a herd which consisted
of 3 heifers and 1 bull in 1957 has now grown to 200 animals, without any further
purchases and allowing for the sale or slaughter of a number of males .
3.3.2 Ranching
Government ranches operate on a fairly small scale with NTJama herds of
60 to 250. Management is very simple: all the animals are kept together in one
herd, servicing and weaning are not controlled and castration is rare. However,
the animals are dipped regularly and receive mineral supplementation. The system
of fenced pastures initiated earlier has been abandoned, and the herds are now ten
ded by Mbororo herdsmen who do not follow any pasture management system. The
number of animals has diminished considerably due to excessive slaughtering.
259
3.3.3 Draught Oxen
The use of oxen for ploughing was introduced in the cotton region in the north
using Mbororo and Arab Zebu. During the 1960s, experiments were carried out
using N' Dama, Baoule and N' Dama x Mbororo crossbreds as draught animals in the
Bossembele and Bambari areas, with assistance from the French Fonds d'Aide et
de Cooperation (FAC). The crossbreds were the most successful, as the Baoule
and N' Dama were considered too light to work on heavy soils with the implements
available (see Figures 3.22 and 3.46, volume 1).
At present, there are about 100 pairs of oxen in the Bambari area, more
than half Mbororo or Arab Zebu. However, N' Dama and Baoule oxen are now more
favoured because of their resistance to disease. Yet overall, the use of oxen is
decreasing in the area, despite the support of the Christian missions, due to the
absence of the government livestock service.
The oxen are usually worked for three hours ploughing in the early morning
and then led out to pasture where they are herded or tied. Towards the end of
the afternoon they do some lighter draught work and are then put in night pens and
fed on crop residues. Losses are high, approaching 50% for the country as a whole,
mainly due to poor management, and in particular poor feeding and overwork.
Farmers have shown an interest in draught animals, but the government training
centres have almost disappeared.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
The sheep and goats in Central African Republic are of the West African
Dwarf type. The sheep are usually black-and-white. Some crossbreeding has
been observed with the Mbororo sheep, which is a Djallonke Savanna type. The
crossbreds are often white and have longer legs. The goats are black or black-and-
white, but brown goats with a black line on the back are also common.
Little information is available on diseases among sheep and goats, but the
most important problem seems to be helminthiasis.
The management system for sheep and goats is comparable to that in similar
parts of Africa. The animals are left to roam freely and are not given any mineral
supplementation or shelter at night. Goats are generally valued more highly than
sheep. They are reared for sale and for slaughter during traditional ceremonies,
rather than as a regular source of home consumption.
260
5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
5.1 RESEARCH CENTRES
The only research centre in operation is the Institut Pasteur at Bangui,
which carries out research on ticks and tick-borne diseases. It also carried out
a study recently on tsetse infestation in the Topia area near Carnot.
5.2 MULTIPLICATION HERDS
The ranches with multiplication herds are described in Table 5. There is
little information available, but apparently these operations are decreasing.
There is no important livestock centre for sheep and goats.
5.3 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Two livestock projects are concerned with the Mbororo Zebu: the FAO/
UNDP project aimed at strengthening animal health services in the eastern region,
'Renforcement des Services de Sante' Animale dans la Zone Occidentale' , with
headquarters at Bouar (B.P. 183) as shown by ® 8 in Figure 1, and the EDF project
'Amenagement et Assainissement d'une Zone d'Elevage dans la Region de Bambari',
with headquarters at Bambari (c/o FED, B.P. 1298, Bangui) as shown by ® 9 in
Figure 1. An extension of the EDF project was envisaged, including the reorgan
ization of the N'Dama ranches in the eastern area, but, as of April 1978, this
component seemed to have been dropped.
A World Bank project, ' Developpement de l' Elevage Traditionnel dans la
Zone Occidentale', is now under study. This project should continue the work of
the FAO project with Mbororo Zebu. In addition, it includes suggestions for the
reorganization of the Service d' Elevage and studies of tsetse infestation.
The only project directly concerned with trypanotolerant cattle is the
' Projet de Relance pour le Developpement de 1' Elevage Bovin Baoule' . This is
being studied by the Bureau d' Etudes et de Coordination of the Ministere de 1' Agri
culture, de 1' Elevage, des Eaux et Forets, de la Chasse, de la Peche et du
Tourisme, but the necessary financial support has not yet been made available.
There is no project concerned with sheep and goats.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Agrotec (1978). Prolongation du projet ' Assainissement et Amenagement d'une
Zone d'Elevage a Bambari. Rome.
£Table5.Multiplicationherds.
CentredeMulti
plication
Semenciere
Grimari
Prefectureof
Ouaka
Ministerede 1'Agriculture
andFAO
75N'Damain
twoherds
Manureproduction,
demonstrationa
theCollege
Techniqued'Agri
culturede
Grimarisitu ted
attheCen re
■7 +100ha
Prefectureof
Basse-Kottoon
Bambari-
Alindaoroad
■6
80N*Damasof
March1978
Productionof breedingstock
Stationde
Tambia
Servicede
1'Elevage +1000ha
Stationde Bokolobo
Prefectureof
Ouaka
Bambari-
Alindaoroad
■5
Servicede
1'Elevage
88N1Damawith tracesofMboro-
roblo dasof
March1978
Productionof breedingstock
+800ha
Prefectureof
Ouaka
621STDamas
ofMarch1978
Productionof breedingstock
Stationde Bambari
■4
Servicede
1'Elevage
+300ha
RanchN'Dama
deBoali
Prefectureof
OmbellaMpoko
50kmfrom
Bangui,onr ad
toBouar■3 Servicede
1'Elevage
127NDamaas
ofFebruary1978
Productionof breedingstock
+800ha
Stationde
Redistribution
deDoumie
Prefectureof
Ombella
Mpoko■2 Servicede 1'Elevage
138Baoulesof
February1978
Gatheringanddistributingbree
stockf rmetayage
+400ha
Stationde
Redistribution deBossembgle Prefectureof
Ombella
Mpoko■1 Servicede
I'Elevage(c/o
Ministerede 1'Agriculture,
Bangui)
135Baouleasof
February1978
Location(and
referenceto
Figure1)
Organization
responsible
(address)
+400ha
Name
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
Size
262
Bertucat, P H (1965). 'L'elevage bovin en Republique Centrafricaine' . Maisons
Alfort, IEMVT, 102p.
Bille, J C (1967). Note sur les stations d'elevage de la Republique Centrafri
caine. Etude Agrostologique No. 22. Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 31p.
Central African Empire, Bureau d' Etudes et de Coordination (1977). 'Projet de
relance pour le developpement de l'elevage bovin Baoule en ECA' . Bangui
Central African Empire, Bureau d' Etudes et de Coordination (1978). Projet de
relance de la culture attelee dans le nord. Bangui.
Central African Empire, Direction de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales (1970).
Effectifs bovins 1969. Bangui, 4p.
Central African Empire, Ministere de 1' Agriculture, de l'Elevage, des Eaux et
Forets, de la Chasse, de la Peche et du Tourisme (1978). Programme quin-
quennal de developpement du secteur elevage. Bangui.
Central African Empire, Service de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales (1974a,
1977a). Rapport annuel du Service de l'Elevage, Secteur de Bossembeli.
Bossembele\
Central African Empire, Service de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales (1974b,
1977b). Rapport annuel du Service de l'Elevage, Secteur de Bambari.
Bambari.
Charray, J (1967). 'Production et commercialisation du betail et de la viande en
Republique Centrafricaine' . IEMVT. Maisons Alfort, 66p.
Desrotour, J, Finelle, P, Martin, P and Sinodinos E (1967). ' Les bovins trypano-
tolerants, leur elevage en RCA' . Rev. Elev. M&d. Ve~t. Pays Trop. 20
(4) pp. 589 - 594.
Desrotour, J, Finelle, P, Martin, P and Clair, M (1969). 'Lutte contre les try-
panosomes bovines en Republique Centrafricaine' . In IEMVT. Colloque
sur l'elevage. Fort Lamy, pp. 158-165.
Desrotour, J and Renard, R (1969). 'L'elevage centrafricain: Bilan des cinq
dernieres annees' . In IEMVT. Colloque sur l'elevage. Fort Lamy,
pp. 30-32.
FAO (1971). Mission Centrafrique : Rapport sur le secteur agricole en Rep-
blique Centrafricaine. DDA: DISC/71/3. Rome, 33p.
IBRD (World Bank) (1978). Projet de developpement de l 'elevage en zone
occidentale. Washington, D.C.
263
IEMVT (1967). ' Recherches et production' . In Region de recherches veterinaires
et zootechniques d'Afrique Centrale: Rapport annuel 1967. Volume 1.
Maisons Alfort, 479p. Farcha.
Lacrouts, M and Sarniguet, J (1964). 'Notes sur la commercialisation du betail et
de la viande en Republique Centrafricaine' . Bangui, 39p.
Lacrouts, M, Sarniguet, J and Tyc, J (1967). Le aheptel bovin de la Republique
Centrafricaine : Production, commercialisation, perspectives d'avenir.
Paris, Secretariat d'Etat aux Affaires Etrangeres Charge de la Cooperation,
321p.
Lemonnier, G (1966). 'Introduction du betail trypanotolerant en Republique
Centrafricaine'. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d' Alfort,
79p.
ORSTOM (1977) . Prospection entomologique sur les glossines dans la zone
d'elevage de la haute vallee de la Topia. Bangui.
Peyre de Fabregues, B and Capitaine, P (1977). Amenagements de paturages dans
l'ouest Centrafricain et orientation nouvelle de l'elevage bovin:
Rapport de la deuxieme mission. Maisons Alfort, IEMVT/ECA Service
de V Elevage.
UDEAC, ECA and^SEDES (1976). Etudes preliminaires a la creation d'une
communaute economique du betail et de la viande: Approvisionnement
en viandes: La Republique Centrafricaine. Bangui, 95p.
UDEAC, Ministere Francais de la Cooperation, United Nations (1976). Etudes
preliminaires a la creation d'une communaute economique du betail et
de la viande: Les problemes de la sante animale au Tchad, en
Republique Centrafricaine et au Cameroun.
264
265
CHAPTER 16
GABON
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Gabon on the west coast of Africa is bordered by Equatorial
Guinea and Cameroon to the north and Congo to the east and south. The country is
divided into nine administrative regions, with its capital at Libreville, as shown in
Figure 1.
The Direction de 1' Elevage et des Industries Animales comes under the
Ministere de I' Agriculture, de 1' Elevage et du Developpement Rural, with head
quarters at Libreville. It is composed of zootechnical, veterinary and animal in
dustry divisions, with responsibility for animal health controls, quality control of
livestock products and the 'diffusion and application of the means of production' in
the livestock sector. The Office Gabonais d' Amelioration et de Production de
Viande (OGAPROV) in the same ministry is responsible for the improvement and
development of cattle, sheep and goat production. At the local level, the country is
divided into seven livestock regions, with one or more offices in each.
Basic data for the country as a whole are given in Table 1 .
Table 1. Background data for Gabon.
Area
Latitude
Longitude
Population
number
density
Livestock numbers
cattle
sheep
goats
267 700 km
2° 45' N - 3° 50' S
8° 45' E - 14° 30' E
544 000 ,
2. 03Am'
3 200
47 000
52 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for cattle numbers, information from country
visit; for sheep and goats, Gabon, Direction de I' Elevage et des Industries
Animales, 1975.
266
Figure 1. Administrative divisions and location of multiplication herds.
 
CAMEROUN
CONGO
— National boundary
"_" Administrative boundaries
River
£ Capital
• Administrative centre
BHH Savanna
Multiplication herds
5 Government farm or ranch
with trypanotolerant livestock
267
Gabon has a Guinean forest climate, with annual rainfall varying from
1 600 mm in the south to 3 000 mm around Libreville. The country is almost en
tirely covered with humid tropical forest.
The OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977) shows that the entire country
is infested with G. palpalis, G. tabaniformis and G. haningtoni. A study car
ried out by IEMVT (1974) in the Okouma, Mounana and Yeye highlands northwest of
Franceville also found evidence of G. palpdlis infestation.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of cattle, sheep and goats in the nine administrative regions
is shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Livestock distribution, 1975.
Region Cattle Sheep Goats
Estuaire 53
Haut-Ogooue 1 700
Moyen-Ogooue
Ngounie 340
Nyanga 151
Ogooue-Ivindo 24
Ogooue-Lolo 21
Ogooue- Maritime
Wolou-Ntem 138
4 000 4 000
3 000 4 000
4 500 5 000
10 000 11 000
5 500 6 000
4 000 5 000
3 500 3 000
1 500 3 000
11 000 11 000
Total 2 427 47 000 52 000
Source : Gabon, Direction de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales, 1975.
Cattle were not kept in Gabon until 1945, when trypanotolerant animals began
to be imported on a small scale. The few non-trypanotolerant cattle in the country
were imported in the 1970s. Although the 1975 census showed only 2 427 cattle, this
number has probably risen to 3 000 or 3 500 due to the recent development of ranches
in Haut-Ogooue.
Sheep and goats are widely kept throughout the country, though sheep are
more numerous in the coastal areas . The populations shown in Table 2 must be re
garded as estimates due to the difficulties involved in making an accurate census.
268
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
Lagune cattle were imported into Gabon in 1945, 1948, 1957 and 1958,
mainly from Zaire, and smaller numbers of Baoule were imported from Ivory Coast,
beginning in 1956. Both these breeds have been introduced at the village level
through metayage operations. They are no longer distinguished in Gabon - both are
usually called Baoule. They are found mainly in the north and in Ngounie and
Nyanga Regions (see Figures 3.30 and 3.32, volume 1).
N' Dama were first introduced on the government farm at Tchibanga in 1962,
imported from Congo by the former Societe Gabonaise d'Elevage. More recently,
other animals have been imported from Zaire and Senegal, now totalling about
1 900. They are found mainly on the ranches at Franceville and Okouma in Haut-
Ogooue Region and on the Tchibanga farm in Nyanga Region. These animals are of
the Guinean or Senegalese type, depending on their area of origin.
3.2 DISEASE
Among cattle in village herds, the most important disease problem is gastro
intestinal helminthiasis. On the ranches, disease problems are not serious, except
for brucellosis on the ranch at Okouma, which is now coming under control. All the
cattle on this ranch are vaccinated against anthrax, blackleg, pasteurellosis,
vibriosis and clamidiosis . The ranches at Okouma and Franceville are located on
plateaux where tsetse infestation is very low, but animals in poor condition are
treated with trypanocidal, as well as anthelmintic, drugs. Trypanosomiasis is
caused by T. vivax and T. congotense .
3. 3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
3.3.1 Village Herds
Village cattle are exclusively of the Lagune-Baoule type. They are kept in
herds of 7 to 12, roaming freely during the day and penned at night. They are seldom
given mineral supplements and are not sprayed against ticks. The farmers also
rarely call upon the livestock service for veterinary care. Numbers have not in
creased due to excessive slaughtering. These cattle were originally given to
Gabonese farmers under the metayage system, but it seems that they are being sold
to immigrants from Cameroon who keep them under the same conditions for commer
cial purposes.
3.3.2 Extensive Ranching
Extensive ranching is practised on the presidential ranch at Franceville and
the Tchibanga farm with NDama cattle grazing on natural savanna at a stocking
269
rate of 5 haAead. The cattle originating from Zaire are kept on fenced pastures
and the cattle from Senegal are herded, often by Fulani herdsmen. The herds are
not divided by age or by sex, but the cattle are given mineral supplements and are
sprayed against ticks twice a month. The cow are sometimes milked by the Fulani
herdsmen.
3.3.3 Intensive Ranching
Intensive ranching is practised at Okouma on fenced artificial Stylosanthes
pasture. The herds are grazed on a rotational system, with water troughs in every
pasture. The cattle are N'Dama, Nguni imported recently from Swaziland and
crosses between the two. They are given mineral supplements and each one is
marked with an individual number, sprayed every week and weighed every month.
One bull is kept for every 15 heifers or 25 cows, with a mating season from
November to February. Heifers are mated first at two years, and bulls are first
put into service at four years. Calves are weaned between 6 and 8 months, and the
males are castrated at 15 months.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
4 . 1 BREED DESCRIPTION
The sheep and goats in Gabon are of the West African Dwarf type . Most of
the sheep are black-and-white, but up to 30 or 40% have a tan back and black belly,
particularly in the coastal areas. Goats are usually black or black-and-white, but
brown goats with a black line along the back are also common.
4.2 DISEASE
The most serious disease problem, both in village flocks and on the ranches,
is helminthiasis. On the Franceville and Okouma ranches, a vaccination programme
is planned against anthrax, blackleg, enterotoxaemia, clamidiosis, brucellosis and
Colynebacteridium ovis infestation.
4.3 FLOCK MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
Village flocks vary from 5 to 80, according to the size of the village. Man
agement practices are similar to those in other areas of tropical Africa. The sheep,
in particular, are kept for home consumption and for traditional ceremonies.
On the ranches, the sheep and goats are marked with individual numbers
and weighed monthly. During the day, the sheep at Franceville are grazed on
fenced natural savanna pastures and those at Okouma on fenced artificial pastures.
At night, they are kept in pens with solid walls.
to -a o
Table3.Multiplicationherds.
Name
RanchPresidentiel
deFranceville
Ranchd'Okouma
Bergeried Franceville
FermedeTchibangaStatioN our
Location(and referencei
Figure1)
Organization
responsible
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
Haut-OgooueRegi n
■1
Officeothe
President (Libreville)
500hanatural
savanna
100NDamacattle
asofFebruary1978
Productionofbeefand
breedinganimals
Haut-OgooueRegi n 20kmnorthwestf
Monda■2 O3PROV
(B.P.245,Moanda) 12000haavailable, 600haofartificial
pasturesinuse
AsofMarch1978,
850cattle,including
377NDama,163guni
and310N*Damax
Nguni;90Dorperx
Kirdiewes,20Do per ewes;60Boerxlocal
goats.
Developmentofthe
rancha dsettlementof 3abonesef rmerswith
crossbredattle.
Selectionandmul i
plicationofimproved
sheepandgoats.
Haut-OgooueRegi n Ministerede1'Agri culture,del'El vage etduD veloppement RuralandO3PROV
300hanatural
savanna
250crossbredD rper
xKirdiewesasof
March1978
Productionof
improvedanimals
NyangaRegion
■4
Directiond1'El vage
etdesIndus ries
Animales(B.P.136,
Libreville)
100ha
35N'Damacattleas
ofMarch1978
Beefproduction
EstuaireReg on50km
eastofLibreville
■5
MinisteredeI1Agriculture,
del'Elevageetu
DeveloppementRural
andFAO
53Lagunecattlesof
March1978
Manureprod ction
271
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
There are no research institutes or stations in Gabon working with the try-
panotolerant breeds. The multiplication herds in the country are described in
Table 3. The herds and flocks at the Okouma ranch are still being developed, and
a cattle herd of 10 000 head is envisaged. There are plans to develop a kind of
metayage system using N'Dama x Nguni crossbreds on artificial pastures.
The government also plans to establish two more extensive ranches in the
Nyanga valley and in the Ogooue valley north of Moanda: 25 000 N'Dama would be
kept at Nyanga and 12 000 at Ogooue. Preliminary studies have been completed
and financial support is now being sought.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gabon, Direction de 1'Elevage et des Industries Animales (1975). Rapport annuel:
Activites de l'annee 1975. Libreville.
IEMVT (1974). Enquete sur les glossines des plateaux d'0ukouma, Mounana et
Yeye: Republique du Gabon. Maisons Alfort.
Nguema-Ndong, A (1977). ' Possibilites d'elevage dans les savanes en zone
equatoriale au Gabon'. Paper presented at the Colloque Recherches sur
l 'Elevage Bovin en Zone Tropicale Humide, held in Bouake, 5p.
UDEAC/ECA/SEDES (1976). Etudes preliminaires a la creation d'une
Communaute Economique du Betail et de la Viande: Approvisionnement
en viandes: Le Gabon. 38p.
272
273
CHAPTER 17
CONGO
1. BACKGROUND
The People' s Republic of the Congo stretches northward from the west coast
of Africa, with Gabon to the west, Cameroon and Central African Republic to the
north, Zaire to the east and south and Angola to the south. The country is divided
into nine regions, plus the capital at Brazzaville.
The Service de la Production Animale et de Medecine Veterinaire (B.P. 83,
Brazzaville) is attached to the Direction Generate des Services Agricoles et Zoo-
techniques within the Ministere de l'Economie Rurale. The Service is responsible
for livestock development throughout the country through regional veterinary offices
and state farms and ranches. In addition, two ranches, at Louamba and Massangui,
are managed by the Societe Nationale d'Elevage (SONEL), a parastatal agency with
in the Mnistere de l'Economie Rurale.
Basic data for the country are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Congo.
2
Area 342 000 km
Latitude 3° 40' N - 5° S
Longitude 11 10' E - 18 40' E
Population
number 1 360 000
density 4/km
Livestock numbers
cattle 43 300
sheep 42 000
goats 84 000
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for cattle numbers, Congo, Service de la
Production Animale et de Medecine Veterinaire, 1977; for sheep and
goat numbers, UDEAC et al. , 1976.
274
Congo has a humid climate with two rainy seasons. Approximately 65% of
the country is covered with dense forests or mangrove swamps, including
Lekoumou, Sangha and Likouala Regions, the northern and eastern parts of Cuvette
Region, the northern part of Niari Region and the northeastern part of Kouilou
Region. The rest of the country consists of Guinean savanna. Annual rainfall
varies from 1 200 mm in the south to more than 1 800 mm in the north. More than
75% of the population lives in the southern area, between Brazzaville and Pointe-
Noire, mainly concentrated on the savannas. (See Figure 1).
According to Baco (1965) and the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977),
the entire country is infested with tsetse. Sangha, Likouala and Cuvette Regions in
the north and Plateau Region are infested mainly with G. fuscipes and the southern
area with G. palpalis. Another survey is now being undertaken by a medical
team sponsored by ORSTOM, to revise the information available on tsetse distri
bution and bring it up to date .
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of cattle throughout the nine regions is shown in Table 2.
These are all trypanotolerant cattle, originally imported in the 1950s.
Table 2. Distribution of cattle.
Region
Government
Farms or Ranches
Private
Farms or Ranches
Total
Kouilou -
Niari -
Lekoumou -
Bouenza 18 274
Pool- Brazzaville 4 165
Plateaux 23
Cuvette -
Sangha 142
Likouala 22
Total 22 626
5 341 5 341
3 430 3 430
10 316 28 590
1 262 5 427
49 72
172 172
80 222
- 22
20 650 43 276
Source : Congo, Service de la Production Animale et de Medecine Veterinaire, 1977.
Given the difficulties of enumerating cattle on private holdings, it is possible
that the figures obtained by the regional veterinary offices for private farms and
275
Figure 1. Administrative divisions, location of research centre and
multiplication herds.
 REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE /
National boundary
Administrative boundaries
River
Capital
Administrative centre
Research centre
^ Laboratory working on trypanotolerance and/or trypanosomiasis
Multiplication herds
5 Governmental farm or ranch with trypanotolerant livestock
276
ranches are underestimates. For example, some estimate that the number of cattle
on private holdings in the Pool-Brazzaville Region is closer to 4 500.
Of the national total, 98% are found in the savanna areas, including the
valleys of the Bouenza and Loudima Rivers as well as the Niari River and its tribu
taries, and the forest area around Sibiti in the southern part of Lekoumou Region.
It is estimated that 75% of these cattle are N'Dama, with the rest mainly Lagune.
About 450 Zebu and Zebu x N'Dama were imported from 1945 to 1950, but these
have all disappeared or were absorbed by the N'Dama.
The 1977 report of the Service de la Production Animale et de Meclecine
Veterinaire included a census of the sheep and goat population, giving totals of 8 800
sheep and 4 600 goats. Again, these figures are underestimates. UDEAC et al.
(1978) reported that there were 42 000 sheep and 84 000 goats in 1973, which is
more accurate. Sheep and goats are found in every village throughout the country.
The goat population is larger in general, but sheep are more numerous in the coastal
area.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
3.1.1 N'Dama
A few N'Dama were imported before 1949, and then between 1949 and 1955
about 2 520 were imported from Guinea. Again between 1967 and 1976, about 210
N'Dama were imported from Guinea, 1 650 from Senegal and 1 100 from Zaire.
Most of these animals are of the classical Guinean type, with fawn to brown coats,
sometimes spotted on the belly, and lyre-shaped horns (see Figure 3.23, volume 1).
N'Dama of the Senegalese type, with slender bodies and lighter coats, are also found.
About 65% of the N'Dama in Congo are kept on government ranches, and the
others by small farmers. They are concentrated in the savanna areas, in the
southern parts of Niari, Bouenza and Pool- Brazzaville Regions, and in the forests
of Lekoumou Region.
3.1.2 Lagune
Between 1949 and 1959, about 930 Lagune cattle were imported from Benin.
During the same period, a few Baoule. were imported from Ivory Coast, but these
have been absorbed by the Lagune. The Lagune cattle in Congo are kept exclusively
in village herds, distributed throughout the same savanna and forest areas as the
N'Dama. They are similar to the Lagune cattle of Benin. There has also been some
crossbreeding for several years with N'Dama.
277
3 . 2 DISEASE
The main disease problems are rickettsiosis, piroplasmosis and gastro
intestinal helminthiasis, and mineral deficiencies are also found, especially in
village herds. Brucellosis was recently identified at the Dihesse. Ranch, where it
affected 37% of the females in the herd. Trypanosomiasis is caused by T. vivax and
T. congolense. No systematic treatment is carried out, but disease incidence is
low, mortality is relatively rare and birth rates are at an acceptable level.
3.3 HERD MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSITION
3.3.1 Village Herds
Cattle have been introduced at the village level through metayage operations
initiated during the 1950s. Herds are generally from 10 to 20 head. The cattle
usually roam freely during the day, but are sometimes penned at night. They are
not given supplements and seldom receive veterinary attention. Animals are slaugh
tered for traditional ceremonies, but there is no commercial offtake.
In addition to these village herds, a number of individuals, such as shop
keepers and civil servants, have begun investing in cattle herds as a commercial
undertaking in response to high meat prices. These herds generally consist of 50 to
100 head. They are herded on fenced pastures and receive some mineral supple
ments, but the general level of management is poor: weaning is not controlled,
males are not castrated and the animals receive little veterinary attention.
3.3.2 Government Ranches
Government ranches for N'Dama cattle were first established in 1950, based
on the ranching system practised in Zaire.
Herd management problems have occurred, and at present these ranches are
being reorganized. The cattle are watered at the rivers and are kept on fenced
natural savanna pastures, which are now being subdivided in order to separate the
herds according to age and sex. Firebreaks are constructed at the beginning of the
dry season to prevent accidental fires. The animals are given supplementary pot
assium salt and are generally dipped every two weeks. They are weaned at six
months, and castration is being introduced, along with dehorning, at one year.
Slaughter cattle are sold when they reach 200 kg and breeding stock is culled at about
12 years. The cattle are branded with individual numbers.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
All the sheep and goats in the country are of the West African Dwarf type.
Most of the sheep are black-and-white, but sheep with tan backs and black bellies
278
are also common, especially in the coastal areas (see Figure 3.70,
volume 1). Goats are usually black or black-and-white, but animals with brown
coats and a black line along the back are common.
No information is available on the performance of sheep and goats under
village conditions. Birth rates among sheep at Odkiba farm,where difficult health
problems have been encountered, averaged 110% in 1977, and the mortality rate
averaged 32%.
Sheep and goats are affected by helminthiasis, mineral deficiencies,
mastitis and heartwater, but no information is available on the relative importance
of these problems .
Village sheep and goats receive very little attention. They are allowed to
roam freely during the day and are not provided with shelter, mineral supplemen
tation or veterinary care. They are slaughtered during traditional ceremonies or
are occasionally sold.
Two government farms have also started keeping sheep. At Odziba, the
sheep are kept on fenced savanna pasture, lambs are weaned at four months and the
males are castrated at one month. At the army farm at Kibelemoussia, the weaning
and castration policy has not yet been defined. However, experience on this farm
has indicated the importance of providing shelter. Since a clean, well-aerated
wooden shelter was built for the flock, the annual mortality rate has dropped from
30 to less than 10%.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
The Laboratoire Veterinaire de Brazzaville (shown by +1 in Figure 1) was estab
lished in 1977 with technical assistance from the USSR. The staff are currently
identifying the animal diseases observed on the government ranches and making
estimates of their importance.
The most important multiplication herds in the country are listed in Table 3.
In addition to these, there are smaller government breeding centres at Etoro in
Plateaux Region, at Mokeko near Ouesso in Sangha Region, at Mankoussou farm in
Pool Region and at the farm of the SociSte Cotonniere du Congo in Bouenza Region.
There are a few private commercial cattle ranches in Bouenza Region, but
these are decreasing. The Socama ranch at Madingou has approximately 500 NT)ama
and the ranch of the Bouenza monastery keeps approximately 300 N'Dama. The
ranch of M. Joffre has approximately 30 N'Dama and that of M. Merle des Isles 120:
the rest of their herds were sold to the government ranch at Dihesse.
3Table5.Multip icationherds.
APNFarm
LouilaRanch
LouboulouRanch
OfficeduRan h
delaDih sse
LouambaRanch
MassanguiR nch
FermeOvind'Odziba
Location( nd20kmfromMinduli5Kibelemoussia,3Minduli.NearLoud ma,rLo m20kfrK y e.
referenceiPoolR gionkmfr mKinda ba,PoolRegionBou nzauenzB uenzaR gion
Figure6)52PoolRegion75
53
NearMouyoundri,
BouenzaRegion
NorthofBrazzaville.
PoolRegion
59
300ha
63000haavailable,5a lable,5va ,20fenc d90
5200hainuse906seu .
6000ha
Externalaid
FinancialsupportfromEDF;techn cal
assistanceJ.vaLanckerCo.
Financialsupport fromWorldBank
andFrance;
technicalass st
ancefromIEMVT
Name
MpassaFarm
Organization
responsible
(address)
Ministerede
1'EconomicRurale
ArmeePopulaire
Nationale
MinisteredeVEconomicRural 5M n
stereduPlan
Ministerede5'Eco-SONEL(SocieteNationale"Elev g )
nomieRurale(B.P.915L tet )
Ministeredel'Economi
Rurale
Size
66000hafenced, 2900hainuse
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
Remarks
700N'Dama
250N'Dama.,
650localsheep
2700N1Dama
2750N'Dama
3530N1Dama
6000N'Dama
7000N"Dama
HerddevelopmentM atproduc ion
Since69795animals aremarkedwithn
individualnumber.
Monthlyweighingis
planned.
Herddevelopmentt5000h ad.
Productionofbeefandedinestock.
ChangesIherdsrr co dedby categoryofanimalndegroups.
HerddevelopmentProductionofb efanre i gstock5
to5000head.Pro ductionofbeefand
breedingstock.
8ndividualrepro-Recordingofchangesw thinher s.
ductionre ordsa eAnimalbrand dw thindivi ual
kept.numbers
360localsheep( 95ew s),
30Karakul
Flockdevelopmentt
3000head.Production
ofmeatandbr edingstock.
Period
March5979-82
Endingin6979
280
Besides managing the government ranches and farms, the Service de la Pro-
duction Animale et de Medecine Veterinaire has recently initiated two development
activities. First, in order to extend metayage operations in the country, the animals
already allocated under the metayage system are being identified and where appro
priate recovered. This operation has met with difficulties due to the lack of trans
port in the rural areas and the negative reactions of the villagers. The cattle
involved are mainly Lagune plus some JNT Dama. Second, extension work is being
undertaken at the village level in order to introduce tick control measures.
Neither of these projects requires external funding.
A UNDP/Congolese Government project 68/507, entitled 'Rural Development
of the Pool and Koukouya Plateau Region' is financed also by Switzerland and FAC
(France). During the second phase of this project, from 1974 to 1978, it was
planned to count and mark all the cattle kept on the Mpassa farm and the cattle,
sheep and goats in the villages of the area, but this effort met with substantial prac
tical difficulties and now seems to have been abandoned. Preliminary tests have
been carried out for trypanosomiasis which suggest that the infection rate is sub
stantial. Tests for tuberculosis have also been carried out, but none of the test
results are yet available.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Baco, C (1965). 'Contribution a l'etude de l'elevage bovin dans la Republique du
Congo- Brazzaville. Dr. Vet. Med. thesis, University of Lyon.
Congo, Service de la Production Animale et de Medecine Veterinaire (1976, 1977).
Rapport annuel. Brazzaville, Ministere de 1' Economie Rurale,
Direction Generate des Services Agricoles et Zootechniques .
Mongodin, B (1975). Projet de station laitiere experimentale a Brazzaville
Rep. Pop. du Congo). Maisons Alfort, IEMVT, 53p.
Serres, H (1975). Rapport de mission au ranch de Dihesse. Maisons Alfort,
IEMVT, 27p. plus annexes.
Serres, H (1976) • Rapport de deuxieme mission au ranch Dihesse. Maisons
Alfort, IEMVT, 31p. plus annexes.
UDEAC, ECA and SEDES (1976). Etudes preliminaires a la creation d'une
Communaute Economique du Detail et de la Viande: Approvisionnement
en viandes: Le Congo. 70p. plus annexes.
281
CHAPTER 1 8
ZAIRE
1. BACKGROUND
The Republic of Zaire lies in central Africa with a narrow outlet on the west
coast. The country is bordered by Cabinda and Congo to the west, Central African
Republic and Sudan to the north, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east,
Zambia to the southeast and Angola to the south. It is divided into 9 regions, in
cluding the capital at Kinshasa, with 23 subregions.
The Service de Sante et Production Animales, under the Commissariat a
1' Agriculture, operates through regional and subregional offices with responsibility
for animal health and technical assistance to livestock raisers . The Office National
de Developpement de l'Elevage (ONDE), also under the Commissariat a 1' Agriculture,
is responsible for the management of government ranches and farms, veterinary
laboratories and livestock development projects.
The study area includes the Bas- Zaire, Bandundu and Equateur Regions.
Basic data for the country as a whole and for the study area are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Background data for Zaire.
Whole Country Study Area
Area
Latitude
Longitude
Population
number
density
Livestock numbers
cattle
sheep
goats
Sources : For population, OAU, 1978; for livestock numbers, Zaire, Division
de la Statistique, 1977b.
2 345 000 763 000
0 0 O 0
5 N - 13 15' S 5 N- 8 S
12 16' E - 31 15' E 12° 16' E - 21 E
25 389 000
10. 8Am
9 500 OOi)
12.4/km
1 079 000 281 000
762 000 171 000
2 216 000 818 000
282
Figure 1. Administrative divisions, boundary of study zone, location of research
centres, multiplication herds and development projects.
REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE SUDAN
CONGO
 
ANGOLA
——— National boundary
™" Administrative boundaries
£ Capital
• Administrative centre
JMMJ Study zone to the west
Research centres
+ Laboratory working on trypanotolerance and/or trypanosomiasis
(•) Centre with trypanotolerant livestock as subsidiary activity
Multiplication herds
H Governmental farm or ranch with trypanotolerant livestock
□ Private farm or ranch with trypanotolerant livestock
Development projects
A Agricultural project with trypanotolerant livestock component
ZAMBIA
283
The central basin and the Bas-Fleuve Subregion of the Bas- Zaire Region,
together comprising 48% of the country, are covered with forest. The rest of Bas-
Zaire Region, Bandundu Region except for the area north of the Kasai River, and
the northern part of Equateur Region are composed of Guinean savannas. Annual
rainfall in the study zone varies from 1 400 mm in the south up to 2 000 mm near
the Equator and back down to 1 600 mm in the north. There are two rainy seasons,
but in the north and especially in the centre of the study zone the seasons are not
well marked and rain frequently occurs in the dry seasons.
According to the OAU/STRC tsetse distribution map (1977) and the ECA/FAO/
OAU livestock development study (1973), the entire country is infested with tsetse
except for the southern part of Shaba Region and a narrow strip on the eastern bor
der of Kivu Region. Evans and Niemegeers (1955) also found that an area along Lake
Tanganyika and another along Kwango River in the southern part of Bandundu Region
were free of tsetse. This second area, located in the study zone, still seems to be
tsetse free.
G. palpalis is found in all the infested area, G. fusca in the central
basin and the north, G. tabaniformis in the central basin and G. morsitans
in the southeast. However, the tsetse infestation on the southeastern plateaux is
considered very light. A new study of tsetse infestation by medical teams is now
underway, covering the most heavily infested regions - Bas-Zaire, Bandundu,
Equateur, the western part of Haut- Zaire and the northern parts of Kasai Occidental
and Kasai Oriental.
2. LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of cattle, sheep and goats among the nine regions is shown
in Table 2. The livestock population is concentrated in the eastern and southeastern
highlands, with 70% of the cattle, 75% of the sheep and 57% of the goats in Haut-
Zaire, Kivu and Shaba Regions.
In the study zone, more than 85% of the cattle population are trypanotolerant.
It is generally estimated that there are only 10 000 to 15 000 trypanotolerant cattle
outside these three regions, or even less according to SEDES (1975). As of 1976,
the three regions accounted for 281 000 cattle, or 26% of the national total, 171 500
sheep, 22% of the national total, and 818 000 goats, 37% of the national total, as
shown in Table 2.
The entire cattle population of the study area was originally imported. The
first cattle brought in were Barotse from Angola, beginning in 1889, but these have
disappeared, at least as a pure breed. Some Barotse influence can be seen in the
Mateba (see Figure 3.59, volume 1) and in the so-called Kisantu (see Figure 3.60,
volume 1), an N'Daraa x Angola crossbred which is now disappearing.
284
Figure 2. Cattle numbers.
SUDAN
CONGO
 
ANGOLA
 
REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE
ZAMBIA
1. Dwarf West African Shorthorn
2. Savanna West African Shorthorn
3. Shorthorn x Zebu
4. N'Dama
5. N'Dama x Zebu
6. Zebu
285
Table 2. Livestock distribution by regions.
2Area (km ) Cattle ('000) Sheep fOOO) QQata (i000)
Kinshasa 9 965 13.3 0.7 20.0
Bas- Zaire 53 920 110.9 56.1 109.7
Bandundu 295 658 99.8 104.2 581.0
Equateur 403 293 57.2 10.5 99.4
Haut- Zaire 503 239 305.9 107.9 483.7
Kivu 256 662 171.7 249.0 502.0
Shaba 496 965 230.8 173.9 168.1
Kasai Oriental 168 216 32.8 37.7 123.6
Kasai Occidental 156 967 56.2 22.0 128.5
Total 2 344 885 1 078.6 762.0 2 216.0
Source : Zaire, Division de la Statistique, 1977b.
Lagune cattle, called Dahomey in Zaire, were first imported from Benin in
1904 (Mortelmans and Kageruka, 1976). There are now about 13 000 to 15 000,
found mainly under village conditions in the forest areas in Mayumbe in Bas- Zaire
Region, in Kwilu in Bandundu Region and around Lisala and Bumba in Equateur
Region. Many farmers are trying to increase the size of their animals by cross
breeding their Lagune herds with N' Dama, and for this reason the Lagune is slowly
disappearing as a pure breed.
N'Dama were first imported into Zaire from Guinea in 1920. They were kept
on commercial farms and ranches in Bas- Zaire and then distributed in Bandundu and
Equateur Regions. N'Dama are very popular in Zaire, and their numbers are in
creasing, both on commercial ranches and in the villages . There are now between
235 000 and 245 000 in the country as a whole.
Table 3 gives the distribution of the main cattle breeds in the three regions
of the study area. Figure 2 shows the distribution of the main breeds throughout
the country, while Figure 3 shows the distribution of the trypanotolerant breeds
within the study area and the effective boundary between Zebu and trypanotolerant
types.
The boundaries of the study area are based on the distribution of trypanotolerant
cattle breeds, and are less relevant for trypanotolerant sheep and goats. In fact,
large numbers of Djallonke sheep and goats are found outside the study area. As
Table 1 indicates, there are about 171 000 sheep and 818 000 goats in the study area.
However, there are about 610 000 trypanotolerant sheep and 1 773 000 trypanotolerant
goats in the country as a whole.
286
Figure 3. Cattle breed distribution and forest areas.
 REPUBLIQUECENTRAFRICAINE '<-. SUDAN
SMM Forest
'.'.'.'.'.'. Zones where Dwarf West African Shorthorn Predominate
! M i 1 1 Zones where N' Dama predominate
^y^ Boundary of zone where Zebu predominate
ZAMBIA
287
Table 3. Distribution of trypanotolerant cattle breeds by region, 1976 estimates.
Bas- Zaire plus
Kinshasa
Bandundu Equateur
Lagune 2 000
N' Dama + crossbreds 95 000
Mateba + crossbreds 26 000
Others
3 000
92 000
4 000;
a
8 000 - 10 000
40 000
7 000b
a. Mainly crossbred N'Dama x Angola and some Africander.
b. Mainly Ituri (Small Eastern African Zebu) kept on ranches under intensive
chemoprophylaxis or curative treatment.
Source : Information from country visit.
3. CATTLE
3.1 BREED DESCRIPTION
3.1.1 Lagune or Dahomey
The Lagune cattle in Zaire were originally imported from Benin, and re
semble the Lagune type described in chapter 3 of volume 1. Little information is
available about this breed in Zaire. Mortelmans and Kageruka (1976) report average
heights of 95 to 105 cm at withers (see Figure 3.28, volume 1). Adult cows in good
condition weigh between 150 and 200 kg and adult bulls from 200 to 300 kg and some
times more. There is general agreement on the hardiness and fertility of the breed.
Table 4 summarizes estimates of the main production traits required to
build up a productivity index covering the total weight of one-year-old calf produced
per 100 kg of cow maintained per year. This productivity index has been derived
for meat production under village conditions in a medium tsetse challenge area.
3.1.2 N'Dama
The N'Dama in Zaire are found mainly in Bas- Zaire Region. They were
originally imported from the Fouta Djallon area of Guinea, and have been kept as a
pure breed and also crossed with Lagune, Barotse, Angola and Africander cattle
imported earlier. Back crossing to N'Dama was initiated as early as 1930. Since
World War n, purebred N'Dama have been raised on large commercial ranches,
subject to uniquely stringent selection criteria.
288
Table 4. Lagune productivity estimates.
Production Environment
Parameter
Village/medium
challenge/meat
Cow viability (%) 98a
Calving percentage 40
Calf viability to one year (%) 85a
Calf weight at one year (kg) 80
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) 27.2
Cow weight (kg) . 160
Productivity index per 100 kg cow maintained per year (kg) 17. 0
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of one-year-old calf produced.
Sources : Estimates from Gimbi Research Station and Mortelmans and Kageruka,
1976.
The NDama in Zaire are basically of the Guinean type, though a little
heavier and with better characteristics for meat production (see Figures 3.24, 3.25
and 3.26, volume 1). Their coats are generally fawn, sometimes with white spots
on the belly. The males have red heads and necks. They graze during the hottest
hours of the day without seeking shade. Animals kept under extensive ranching
conditions in fenced pastures tend to have a nervous disposition.
3.1.2.1 Performance Traits. On the ranches, the age of bulls at first service
is three years and heifers are first mated between 18 and 30 months. The calving
rate under extensive ranching conditions is 75 to 80%, including only calves alive
two weeks after birth when they are recorded. Under more intensive conditions,
the calving rate is as high as 100%, for instance on the Diocese da Kikwit ranch with
1 300 head.
Mortality rates are generally very low. For example, on Kolo Ranch over
all mortality is 1. 0 to 1.5%, including animals missing and accidental deaths but
not deaths of calves under two weeks old.
Milk production is estimated at 700 to 800 kg per lactation (ECA/FAO/OAU,
1973). Body weights of animals kept under grazing conditions on natural savanna
without supplementary feed are given in Table 5. Weights were recorded at Kolo
Ranch at the end of the dry season; the 3- and 4-year-old animals are generally 25
kg heavier during the rains.
Average adult weights of N' Dama at three different locations are given in
Table 6.
289
Table 5. Body weights of N'Dama at various ages (kg).
7
Age in months Birth , . , 12 18 24 36 48
(weaning)
Females - Mvuazi 19 120 127 156 203 241
Station
Steers - Kolo ranch 29(2 weeks)116 139 176 207 280 331
Sources : Mortelmans and Kageruka, 1976; Risopoulos, 1966; and for Kolo,
information from country visit.
Table 6. Body weights of adult N'Dama (kg).
Mvuazi Station Gimbi Station Kolo Ranch
Females 290 300 - 325 290 - 300
Males 456 400 430 - 450
Sources : For Mvuazi, Risopoulos, 1966; for Gimbi, Mortelmans and Kageruka,
1976; for Kolo, information from country visit.
On ranches with meat production operations, oxen are slaughtered between
three and four years at a liveweight varying from 320 to 360 kg. No special fat
tening programme is carried out. The dressing out percentage for animals on
natural savanna varies from 50 to 55%.
3.1.2.2 Index of Productivity. Table 7 summarizes estimates of the main pro
duction traits required to build up a productivity index covering the total weight of
one-year-old calf produced per 100 kg of cow maintained per year. This pro
ductivity index has been derived for four production environments : meat production
under village conditions in a high tsetse challenge area at Idiofa in Bandundu Region,
meat production under ranch conditions in a high challenge area at N Djokele in
Bandundu Region, and meat production under ranch conditions in two low challenge
areas at Kikwit in Bandundu Region and Kolo in Bas- Zaire Region.
3.1.3 Mateba
Angola cattle were first introduced on Mateba Island in the mouth of the
Zaire River, near Boma, in 1889 as a food supply for the workers on the Matadi-
Kinshasa railway line. At the turn of the century, crossbreeding was introduced
with imported Devon, Hereford and Africander cattle, and Devon were reintroduced
290
Table 7. N'Dama productivity estimates.
Productivity Environment
Parameter Village/high Ranch/high Ranch/low RanchAow
challenge/meat challenge/meat challenge/meat challenge/
meat
Cow viability (%) 98 99 99 99
Calving percentage 60 65 80 100
Calf viability to one year (kg) 70 90 98 95
Calf weight at one year (kg) 110
Productivity index per cow
130 140 140
per year (kg) 46*2n 76.1 110.3 133.5
Cow weight (kg) 220 250 270 270
Production index per 100
kg cow maintained per
per year (kg) 21 . 0 30.4 40.9 49.5
a. Estimate.
b. Total weight of one-year-old calf produced.
Source ; Information from country visit.
in 1948. By now, the Mateba breed has stabilized, and is very homogeneous in
appearance (see Figure 3.60, volume 1).
Today, about 9 000 pure Mateba are kept by the Grands Elevages Company
on Mateba Island and the adjoining river banks in an area which is apparently free of
trypanosomiasis. They have adapted remarkably well to an unusual environment,
wading in pastures covered with river water enriched by alluvium and grazing on
so-called 'floating1 grass which is rich in all the necessary mineral elements.
Adult cows weigh more than 400 kg, adult bulls 600 kg and 4-year-old oxen 500 kg.
The Mateba are not considered as trypanotolerant as the N' Dama or the Lagune .
Mateba have been introduced in the savanna areas of Bas- Zaire, where they
have adapted less successfully, affected by trypanosomiasis, the drier conditions
and less abundant food supply. They have been crossbred to produce animals which
are half and three-quarters N' Dama, but the crossbreds suffer with different inten
sities from the same health problems and also seem to develop skin diseases in the
savanna environment. The company now plans to increase all crossbreds to three-
quarters N Dama in an effort to produce animals which will be more successful out
side their original environment. There are about 18 000 crossbreds in the Catarac-
tes Subregion of Bas- Zaire and another 3 400 on a ranch of the Kasai Company at
Pinanga in Kasai Occidental.
3.2 DISEASE
The health situation among trypanotolerant cattle in the study area is gene
rally good, except for mineral deficiencies which are very important in certain
291
locations. Trypanosomiasis is caused chiefly by T. vivax and T. congolense.
N'Dama and Lagune cattle are not treated systematically for trypanosomiasis, but
animals showing a rapid weight loss are dosed with Berenil and some ranches in
heavily infested areas plan to give preventive treatment to week-old calves. Non-
trypanotolerant cattle are subject to regular blood tests and veterinary treatment.
The incidence of several common diseases is lower in Zaire than in other
comparable areas in Africa. Relatively important diseases include salmonellosis
and necrobacillosis among the infectious diseases, as well as tick fevers, particu
larly piroplasmosis . Parasitic diseases are also relatively important, particu
larly helminthiasis, especially among herds which are kept enclosed at night and
those fed Stylosanthes, which tends to carry parasites because it cannot be burnt.
The non-trypanotolerant cattle and their crossbreds, on the other hand, are very
susceptible to skin diseases, particularly to streptothricosis.
3.3 MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Cattle in the study zone are kept under two management systems : extensive
commercial ranching (see Figure 3.24, volume 1) and village production under the
metayage system (see Figure 3.21, volume 1).
3.3.1 Village Cattle Production Under Metayage
Cattle rearing is not traditional in Zaire, but was introduced at the village
level at the beginning of the century through the metayage system (see chapter 3 of
volume 1). Metayage operations have been developed on a large scale by the
government, as well as by religious and commercial organizations. Originally,
only Lagune cattle were raised under the metayage system, but since the 1950s
N'Dama and N'Dama x Lagune crosses (see Figure 3.21, volume 1) have been used.
Herds under metayage are grazed on fenced pastures and penned at night.
They receive mineral salts and health measures are carried out,such as spraying. The
number of applicants to participate in metayage systems is much greater than the
capacity of the existing centres to supply the basic breeding herds.
The original metayage herds, composed chiefly of Lagune cattle in Equateur
Region and the Bas-Fleuve Subregion of Bandundu, tend to receive much less atten
tion. They roam freely during the day and are only slaughtered for traditional
ceremonies or sold when there is a special financial need.
3.3.2 Ranching
Originally, all N'Dama cattle introduced into the study area were kept on
ranches, and 66% of the cattle in the area were still on ranches as of 1970. Since
that time, an increasing proportion has been introduced into villages through
metayage operations and onto small farms . This trend has been most pronounced in
Bandundu Region, where, by 1976, less than 45% of the cattle were still on commer
cial ranches.
292
Herds of N'Dama, Mateba, Ituri Zebu and Angolan crossbreds are kept on
ranches. The ranching system, as described in chapter 3 of volume 1, is based on
natural savanna grazing, except at Mpaka in Ubangi Subregion. Cattle are generally
herded in Bandundu and Equateur Regions, while in Bas- Zaire they are often kept on
fenced pastures. Ranches keep from 1 000 to 25 000 head, with carrying capacities
ranging from 2 to 5 ha per head. Where pastures are fenced, the cattle graze day
and night; where herdsmen are used, the animals are kept in night paddocks or pens.
The animals are separated by sex, and by age as well if the size of the
ranch permits. Breeding herds of mature cows generally include 4 to 5% bulls,
while breeding herds of heifers include 7% bulls. The young, are usually
branded and dehorned before three months but animals are only marked
individually in selection herds and on the smaller ranches. They are castrated at
seven months and weaned at eight months. They usually receive mineral supplements
with anthelmintics in the form of salt licks. Both the animals which are herded and
those on fenced pastures are generally watered once a day around noon at rivers,
ponds or reservoirs. They are dipped or sprayed two to four times a month, at these
times they receive some veterinary attention. For those animals on fenced pastures,
these occasions are generally the only contact with people.
The offtake rate on the large ranches varies from 18 to 24%. Steers are
usually slaughtered between three and four years and extra heifers are sold at two
years. Breeding stock are culled at 10 or 11 years.
The pastures consist mainly of Hyparrhenia diplandra or H. gracilis,
quickly becomes woody when it flowers and loses its nutritive value. Firebreaks are
constructed and pastures are burnt off once a year to stimulate regrowth of new
grass. Burning of dry-season pastures takes place at the beginning of the dry
season or as soon as possible towards the end of the wet season, depending on
whether the soils are light or heavy. Wet-season pastures are burnt during the
rains .
%
Seasonal pasture burning has a number of advantages. The costs are low
and, in addition to stimulating regrowth of the Hyparrhenia, burning reduces the
population of tsetse flies, ticks and other insects and larvae, controls the growth
of shrubs and disperses wild animals. Production based on artificial pastures, on
the other hand, has never been economically feasible due to low meat prices, which
were only 24 Makuta (US $ 0.22) per kg liveweight in 1975 for first quality.
This type of ranching system is being extended with modifications to small
commercial farms owned by individuals such as shopkeepers and civil servants.
Generally, herds of 50 to 150 are kept.
4. SHEEP AND GOATS
Most of the sheep and goats in Zaire are of the West African Dwarf breeds,
though there is some crossbreeding with the East African breeds in the eastern part
293
of the country. The sheep are usually black-and-white. The goats are black or
black-and-white, though brown goats with a black line down the back are also
common.
There is little information available on diseases, though parasitic diseases
seem to be important, as well as mineral deficiencies, especially among sheep.
Management is similar to that observed in other comparable regions of
Africa. The flocks roam freely during the day and no shelter is provided at night.
They receive no mineral supplementation or veterinary attention.
5- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
The headquarters of the Institut National pour 1' Etude et le Recherche
Agronomique (INERA, B.P. 2037, Kinshasa I) is at Yangambi in Haut- Zaire Region
(Ref (•) 1 in Figure 1), and most of the research carried out is on crop farming.
However, the Institute maintains several stations in the study area with herds of
N'Dama and Lagune cattle which are used in metayage operations.
The Laboratoire Veterinaire de Kinshasa (B.P. 8842, Kinshasa, ref +2 in
Figure 1) is responsible for vaccine and antigen production and is well equipped to
carry out research on trypanosomiasis. In addition, the Universite Nationale du
Zaire (UNAZA) carries out research on methods for detecting and diagnosing try
panosomiasis, mainly in cattle, with assistance from Belgium.
Metayage centres are described in Table 6 and government and commercial
ranches in Table 9.
Four development projects are being carried out or planned in the study area.
The Progres Populaire d'Idiofa was initiated in 1960 by the Diocese of Idiofa in Kwilu
Subregion of Bandundu Region (B.P. 8251, Kinshasa I, a 21 in Figure 1). This
integrated rural development project included in its 1974-79 development plan exten
sion operations for small-scale and large-scale farms, construction of a veterinary
laboratory, the development of a rural handicrafts industry and other types of train
ing. The project also includes a metayage operation with 4 500 N'Dama cattle dis
tributed among 260 villages and another 2 000 N'Dama in 8 breeding herds. The pro
ject is financed by the Diocese of Idiofa, the Belgian government and a German
Christian organization, Misereor.
Another agricultural programme, sponsored by the protestant church, is
also being carried out in Kwilu Subregion (a 22 in Figure 1). This programme was
launched in 1964 and includes a metayage operation with about 500 N'Dama cattle,
along with technical and veterinary assistance for farmers. Sheep and goat pro
duction is also encouraged.
At the end of 1977, the Societe Financiere de Developpement (SOFIDE)
allocated funds for the establishment of a private goat farm. This will be located in
Bas- Zaire Region.
to
Table8.Metayagecen res.
Name
Location(and referencein
Figure1)
Organization
responsible andddress
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives
Groupementd'EconomiStationeMvuaz
Rurale(GER)
StationdeGimbi
MetayageduBureau
DiocesaindDeveloppement
B.P.18,MbanzaNgu gu,CataractesB s-5aire
Cataractes,B s-5 i eRegion
Region■34
CommissariataPAgr -INERA
culture
(B.P.8_,Kinshasa)
1000ha
BasFl3ve,s-5air
Region
■5
INERA
(B.P.,76,Matadi)
1000ha
180NDamain5repro
ductionherdsan340i
18metayageop rations
asofAugust1278
100fNDamax\Red8Lagune,5NDama,
Sindicrosses,350NDama8crossbredsatth
inthestationreproductionstatio ,50Lagune4
herd3300in2metayageNDmm e
operations,asfop
November1278;00
Djallonkesheepatt
station
B.P.144,Kikwit,witu
BandunduRegion □6
DiocesedK kwit
150NDamaxLagune
crossesinreproduction
herd,200inmetayage
operations
Expansionofmet yage
system.
Developmentofmetayage operationswithsheepand
cattle.
Developmentofmetayage operations.withareproductionhe d
of400.
Note:Thesecen resk epmo hlyrec rdsofanimalnuca sbycategory.
3 Ol
Table2.Governmentandcomm cialranches.
KoloRanch
PEKRanches
MatebaR nches,
SecteurdMateba
Kanga
MatebaRanches,
SecteurdKiasund a
MatebaR nches,
SecteurdYuk ,km110
KoloFuma,
Cataractes,Bas- ZaireRegionD8
Kitobola,Lov ,
Cataractes,B s-
ZaireRegionD10
J.vanLanckerCo.ncker
(B.P.89,Kinshasa)
50000ha
20000ha
Matebaislandanda ang ,C tar ctes
ZaireriverbanksneaB s-Region
Boma,asFleuve□52
Bas-Z ireRegionD51
CulturesetElevagesELZA
auZ ire(CELZA)
Island:8000h35
Banks:20000ha
Yuku,Cataractes, Bas-Z ireRegion
□53
CELZA
20000ha
22500N'Dama
8000N'Dama
8000Mateba,
4000N'Damax Matebacrosses
8000N>Damax
Matebacrosses
4000N1DamaxMateba
crosses
Objectives
Externalaid
Developingranch
aimstoreach20000
headon50000 andprovidecattle
formeatproduction
andbreedingstock.
Rumania
Productionofbeef andbreedingstock.
Developingranch
aimstoreach20000
cattle,plussheep andpigproduction.
Belgiangovernment
883-83
Commercialran hforproductionfbe fa d
breedingstock.
AbsorptionofMatebaycro sbreedingwith
N'Dama.
Name
InkisiRanch
LolaRanch
Location(and referencein
Figure1)
Organization
responsible andddress
Size
Cataractes,B s-
ZaireRegion
■8
Commissariata
1'Agriculture
(B.P.8538,
Kinshasa)
NorthofGemena, Ubangi,Equateur
Region■8
Commissariata
1'Agriculture
60000ha
Breedsan
numbers
1000N.Dama
8000N'Dam
Comments
Recordskeptonindividuala mals400-h selectedbreedingh r s.He dr cory
categoryandegroup.
TlieMatebar nch swerinthproc sofevertingG nds
ElevageCompany.
Table2,cont.
Name
DongaZ laRanch
GunguRanch
(B.P.32,Kikwit)
N'Djok£l6Ranch
ElevagedlaKalombiuDiocese
(B.P.69,Kikwit)det
LomboRanch
(B.P.68,Kikwit)
MpakaRanch
Location( nd referencein
Figure1)
Organization
responsible andddress
Size
Breedsan
numbers
Objectives Comments
Moanda,B sFleuve
Bas-Z ireRegion
D14
private
2500ha
5600N'Damax
Lagunecrossbreds Commer'ualranch
Kwilu,Bas-Z re
Region
■15
OfficeNationalede
Dfeveloppementd
1'Elevage(ONDE)
2500ha
NearMushie,ai- Ndombe,Bandundu
Region□56
J.vanLanckerCo.
(B.P.88,
Kinshasa)
5000haavailable
30000hagrazed
400N'Dama,5Zebu,12000N'Dam
AfricanderanN'Dama
crossbreds
Commercialran h
Commercialran h
Recordskeptofchangesih rdsbycategoryanimalng oup
Absorptionycross
breedingtowards
N'Dama
Individualrecords
startedrecentlyfor
selectionh rds.
Ranchtobedeveloped
to30000headby
884
NearF shi,Kwango,
BandunduRegion
n58 private
5000ha
5400crossbreds,
N1Damadominantwith AngolaandZebubloo
Commercialran h Individualrecords
kept
Ranchtobedeveloped
to5000headby882
Kwilu,Bandundu
Region
□3
DiocesedK kwit (B.P.544,Kikwit)
4000ha
5300crossbreds-
N'Damadominantwith
tracesofLagune,
Africanderanngola
Productionofbeef andbree ingstock Reproductiondata, individualrecords
kept
NorthofGemena, EquateurRegion
D8
PlantationsLeveru
Zaire(PLZ,B.P
8615,Kinshasa)
85000haavailable
22000hagrazed
8000N'Dama,2
IturiZebuand
xN'Damacrossbreds
Mainlymeatsupp
Recordingofchanges
inherdbycategoryof
animalsndage
groups
Ranchtobedeveloped
to55000head
Ubangi,EquateurRegion
■20
CELZA
85000haavailable
25000hagrazed
5200N'DamaxIturiZebu
xAfricandercrossbreds
Mainlymeatsupp
Recordingofhe
development
Ranchtobedeveloped
to20000head
297
Finally, the 11-year Integrated Agricultural Development Project of Kwango-
Kwilu has been proposed by the Office Nationale de Developpement de 1' Elevage
(ONDE, B.P. 8839, Kinshasa) for the southern part of Bandundu Region. The study
for this project was completed in 1977. It is planned to encourage the production of
poultry, cattle, sheep and goats and to develop a meat marketing system. The pro
ject is to include three components : the Service de Sante et Production Animales will
be reorganized with a professional training and extension component, five medium-
sized ranches will be established with herds of 3 000 to 4 000 each, and an abattoir
will be constructed at Kikwit. Financing is now being sought.
6. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Berlin Consult (1969). Recherches des possibilites de creation d'un elevage
pour la production de viande bovine sur les plateaux Bat'eke (Rep.
Dern, du Congo). Berlin, 134p.
Bureau Diocesain de Developpement, Evangelisation et Developpement (1976).
Rapport du seminaire. Kikwit.
Evans, F and Niemegeers, K (1955). 'Congo: Dispersion des tsetses' .
Map.
FAO (1976). Rapport de la mission de programmation. Volume 2: Annexes.
Rome.
IBRD (1973). Appraisal of the livestock development project: Rep. of Zaire.
Nairobi, Agricultural Projects Department, Eastern Africa Regional Office.
INERA (1975). Rapport pour I'exercice. Yangambi.
INERA (1976). Programme pour l'exercice. Yangambi.
Lenzen, M (1973). Progres Populaire d'Idiofa (Projet d 'integration agricul-
ture-elevage). Volume 1. Idiofa, 235p.
Marches Tropicaux et Mediterraneens (1978). No. 1687.
Mortelmans, J and Kageruka, P (1976). ' Trypanotolerant cattle breeds in Zaire' .
World Anim. Re. pp 14-17.
ONDE (1977). Projet de mise en valeur des savanes du Kuango-Kwilu.
Kinshasa.
Risopoulos, S R (1966). Management and use of grasslands : Democratic Republic
of Congo. Pasture and Fodder Crops Studies No.l. Rome, FAO.
298
Zaire, Departement de 1' Agriculture, Division des Services Generaux et Etudes
Statistiques (1976). Recensement de I 'agriculture 1970: Resultats
definitifs. Kinshasa.
Zaire, Division de la Statistique (1977a). Statistiques agricoles. Annuaire
retrospectif 1970-74. Kinshasa.
Zaire, Division de la Statistique (1977b). Annuaire des statistiques agricoles
1975-76. Kinshasa.
Zaire, Service National de la Production et Sante Animales (1975). Region de
Bandundu. Rapport Annuel 1975. 40p.
299
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Casse, Dumas, R and Garin, (1965). Bilan des experiences de culture attel&e
en Afrique occidentale d'expression francaise. Guinee exceptee.
Paris, B.D.P.A./Maisons Alfort,IEMVT. 3 volumes. 619p.
Choquel, P (1969).'Inter£t et utilisation des bovins trypanotolerants' . Dr. Vet. Sc.
thesis, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort.
Coulomb, J (1976). 'La race N'Dama: Quelques caracteristiques zootechniques' .
Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 29 (4), p. 367-380.
Diallo, A (1960). 'Considerations sur l'elevage des bovins dans la zone soudano-
guineenne'. Dr. Vet. Sc. Thesis, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Toulouse.
88p.
Doutressoulle, G (1947). L'elevage en Afrique Occidentale Francaise. Paris,
Larose. 298p.
ECA/FAO/OAU (1973). 'African livestock development study. Southern and
Central Africa' . 2 volumes. Addis Ababa.
EDIAFRIC (1975). Les plans de developpement des pays d'Afrique noire: Togo,
Haute-Volta, S&n'egal, Mali, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire. Paris, EDIAFRIC -
la Documentation Africaine.
Epstein, H (1971). The origin of the domestic animals of Africa. Volumes 1
and 2. New York, Africana. I292p.
FAO (1978a). FAO production yearbook, 1977. Volume 31. Rome.
FAO (1978b). Agricultural research in developing countries. Volumes 1 and 2.
Rome.
Faulkner, D E and Epstein, H (1957). The indigenous cattle of. the British
dependent territories in Africa. Colonial Advisory Council .on Agricul
ture, Animal Health and Forestry Publication No. 5. London, HMSO. 261p.
IBAR (1978). Rapport annuel sur la distribution de l 'incidence des maladies
animales en Afrique. Nairobi.
Joshi, N R, McLaughlin E A and Phillips R W (1957). Les bovins d''Afrique:
types et races. Agricultural Studies No. 37. Rome, FAO. 317p.
300
Mason, I L (1951). The classification of West African Livestock. Technical
Communication No. 7. Edinburgh, Bureau of Animal Breeding and Genetics.
OAU (1978). Fifteenth OAU Summit Handbook. Khartoum, Ministry of Culture
and Information.
OAU/STRC (1977). The distribution of tsetse flies (Glossina) in Africa.
Compiled by J Ford and K M Katondo. Nairobi, IBAR.
Pagot, J (1974). 'Les races trypanotoierantes'. In Colloque sur les moyens de
lutte contre les trypanosomes et leurs vecteurs. Paris, pp. 235-248.
Pagot, J, Coulomb, J, Petit, P (1972). 'Revue et situation actuelle de l'emploi des
races trypanotoierantes' . Paper presented at the Seminaire Interregional
FAO/OMS sur la Trypanosomiase africaine, held at Kinshasa. 45p.
Putman, W C (1969). Livestock survey of West Africa. New York, Rockefeller
Foundation. 35p.
SEDES (1969). 'Analyse de la situation actuelle et projections'. In Approvision
nement en viandes de l'Afrique Centre-Ouest. Volume 1. Paris. 348p.
SEDES (1971). Approvisionnement en viandes de l'Afrique Centrale. Paris. 419p.
SEDES (1975a). Approvisionnement en viandes de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Paris.
SEDES (1975b). Recueil statistique de la production animale. Paris,
Ministère de la Coopération. 1201p.
Thompson, B A B (1975). 'Studies of dairy development in selected countries in
West Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Senegal, Mali'. Joint Agricultural
Division, Inter-Office Memorandum. Addis Ababa, ECA/FAO.
301
LIST OF ACRONYMS
AGCD
AHPD
ARC
AVB
AW
BDPA
BEC
BOAD
CAES
CARDER
CBPP
CELZA
CERTT
CFDT
CDDR
CIDT
CNRA
CNRZ
CRTA
CRZ
DANIDA
DGRST
ECA
EDF
EEC
ELAT
ENSA
Agence Generale de Cooperation au Developpement (Belgium)
Animal Health and Production Department (The Gambia)
Agricultural Research Council (United Kingdom)
Societe pour l'Amenagement de la Valee du Bandama (Ivory Coast)
Amenagement des Vallees des Voltas (Upper Volta)
Bureau pour le Developpement de la Production Agricole (France)
Bureau d' Etudes et de Coordination (Central African Republic)
Banque Ouest Africaine de Developpement
Central Agricultural Experimental Station (Liberia)
Centre d' Action Regionale pour le Developpement Rural (Benin)
contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
Cultures et Elevages au Zaire (Zaire)
Centre d'Elevage et de Recherche sur la Trypanosomiase et la
Trypanotolerance (Togo)
Compagnie Francaise pour le Developpement des Fibres Textiles
(France)
Comite International pour la Developpement Rural (Upper Volta)
Compagnie Ivoirienne des Textiles (Ivory Coast)
Comite National de la Recherche Agronomique (Mali)
Centre National de Recherches Zootechniques (Mali)
Centre de Recherches sur les Trypanosomiases Animates (Upper
Volta)
Centre de Recherches Zootechniques (Ivory Coast)
Danish International Development Authority (Denmark)
Direction Generale de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique
(Senegal)
Economic Commission for Africa (United Nations)
European Development Fund
European Economic Community
Ecole de Lutte Anti-Tsetse (Upper Volta)
Ecole Nationale Superieure d' Agriculture (Yaounde University)
(Cameroon)
302
FAC Fonds d'Aide et de Cooperation (France)
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations)
GER Groupement d'Economie Rurale (Zaire)
GTZ Geselleschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (German Fed. Rep.)
IBAR Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources
IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)
IDESSA Institut des Savanes (Ivory Coast)
IEMVT Institut d'Elevage et de Medecine Veterinaire des Pays Tropicaux
(France)
IER Institut d'Economie Rurale (Mali)
ETA International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
LLCA International Livestock Centre for Africa
LLRAD International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases
INERA Institut National pour 1' Etude et le Recherche Agronomique (Zaire)
INRAF Institut National de Recherches Agronomiques de Foulaya (Guinea)
LRAT Institut de Recherches Agronomiques Tropicales et des Cultures
Vivie*res (Upper Volta)
IRHO Institut de Recherches pour les Huiles et Oleagineux (France)
LRZ Institut de Recherche Zootechnique (Cameroon)
ISRA Institut Sen^galais de Recherches Agronomiques (Senegal)
LAC Liberian Agricultural Company (Liberia)
MAPE MinistSre des Amenagements, P§che et Elevage (Guinea)
MDR Ministere du Developpement Rural (Guinea)
NAPRI National Animal Production Research Institute (Nigeria)
NIADP Northern Integrated Agricultural Development Project (Sierra Leone)
NITR Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research (Nigeria)
OAU Organization of African Unity
OCCGE Organisation Commune de Controle des Grandes Endemies (Upper
Volta)
OGAPROV Office Gabonais d' Amelioration et de Production de Viande (Gabon)
OMBEVI Office Malien du Betail et de la Viande (Mali)
ONAREST Office National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (Cameroon)
ONDE Office National de Developpement de 1' Elevage (Zaire)
ONDY Operation NDama Yanfolila (Mali)
303
ONERA
ORD
ORSTOM
PEOV
PPR
PRO-DE-BO
SATEC
SCET
SEDES
SOBEPALH
SOCAPALM
SODEFITEX
SODEPA
SODEPALM
SODEPRA
SODERA
SODEVA
SOFIDE
SOMTVAC
SONEL
SORAD
STRC
UDEAC
UNAZA
UNDP
USAID
USSR
WAS
WHO
WIP
Office National de 1' Exploitation des Ressources Animales (Upper
Volta)
Office Regional de Développement (Upper Volta)
Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique d' Outer-Mer (France)
Projet Elevage Ouest-Volta (Upper Volta)
peste des petits ruminants
Développement de l' Elevage Bovin pour la Culture Attelée (Togo)
Société d'Assistance Technique et de Conseil (France)
Société Centrale pour 1' Equipment du Territoire (France)
Société d'Etudes et de Développement Economique et Sociale (France)
Société Béninoise de Palmeraies à Huile (Benin)
Société Camerounaise de Palmeraies (Cameroon)
Société de Developpement des Fibres Textiles (Senegal)
Société de Developpement des Productions Animales (Cameroon)
Société pour le Développement du Palmier aN Huile (Ivory Coast)
Société de Développement des Productions Animales (Ivory Coast)
Société de Développement des Ressources Animales (Benin)
Société de Développement et de Vulgarisation Agricole (Senegal)
Société Financière de Developpement (Zaire)
Société de Mise en Valeur de la Casamance (Senegal)
Société National d'Elevage (Congo)
Société Régionale d'Aménagement et de Développement (Togo)
Scientific and Technical Research Commission (Organization of
African Unity)
Union Douanière des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
Université Nationale du Zaire (Zaire)
United Nations Development Programme
United States Agency for International Development (United States)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
West African Shorthorn
World Health Organization (United Nations)
Wirtschafts- und Infrastructur Plannungsgesellschaft (German Fed.
Rep.)


JPrinted by Bird's ■ Nairobi