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Livestock production in central Mali: Long-term studies on cattle and small ruminants in the agropastoral system
Abstract and Figures
ILCA has been conducting a long-term study on livestock production in central Mali since the beginning of 1976. This report presents results based on data collected over a 6-year period from 1978 to mid-1984. In Part I the livestock production systems in the zone, management practices and herd and flock demog raphy are described. Cattle and small ruminant productivity is discussed in detail in Parts II and III and recommendations based on the results of the studies are given in Part IV.
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... Were sex-specific mortality 159 profiles available, they could be combined with information on animal growth 160 trajectories, birth rates, and monthly milk and meat yields at different ages to estimate 161 herd growth rates and lifetime milk, meat, macronutrient and calorie yields. (Amanor, 1995;Ducrotoy et al., 2016;Pullan, 1979;Services, 1992;Trail et al., 1980;169 Wagenaar et al., 1986;Wilson, 1986) herds indicate sex asymmetries in slaughter 170 patterns, with male animals typically killed more frequently at younger ages. Such 171 strategies make sense since females are required for and continue reproduction and 172 milk production after they reach sexual maturity, whereas only a few males are 173 required for reproduction, and returns on their meat yields in terms of feed consumed 174 diminishes as they approach full adult weight. ...
... Supp. Table 1) well (Amanor, 1995;Ducrotoy et al., 2016;Pullan, 1979;Services, 185 1992;Trail et al., 1980;Wagenaar et al., 1986;Wilson, 1986). Based on this 186 assumption of sigmoidal decay in the sex ratio, we present a full Bayesian approach to 187 estimating sex-specific mortality profiles from unsexed cattle kill-off data. ...
... We fitted to data (see Supp. Table 1) obtained from modern unimproved cattle herd 218 (Amanor, 1995;Ducrotoy et al., 2016;Pullan, 1979;Services, 1992;Trail et al., 1980;219 Wagenaar et al., 1986;Wilson, 1986). 220 ...
Zooarchaeological age-at-death profiles for domesticated ruminants can be inferred from tooth eruption, replacement and wear. These profiles contain important information on slaughter management, and have been used informally to infer the goals of past husbandry strategies. In principle, sex-specific survival curves could inform on various productivity parameters, including herd growth rates and sustainability, milk and meat yields, macronutrient and calorie yields, and feed consumed. Knowledge of these parameter values would allow identification of differences in husbandry economics in different archaeological contexts. However, archaeological age-at-death profiles are rarely sex-specific and are typically derived from small sample sizes. As such, challenges remain in inferring sex-specific survival curves using explicit models that account for sampling uncertainty. We present a Bayesian method for inferring sex-specific survival curves from un-sexed cattle zooarchaeological age-at-death profiles that can accommodate data from any combination of age class boundaries. Our model relies on the assumption that asymmetric sex-specific slaughter leads to a sigmoidal change in sex ratio, which we show is broadly consistent with slaughter practices in modern unimproved cattle herds. By combining inferred sex-specific archaeological survival curves with ethnographic data from modern unimproved cattle, we generate estimates of herd growth rate, milk and meat yields, macronutrient and calorie yields, and feed consumed per animal. We use our framework to examine zooarchaeological age-at-death profiles previously proposed to be aimed at prioritizing milk or meat production, and a set of kill-off profiles from 10 Neolithic sites located across Europe. We infer that there is considerable scope for improvement in prehistoric slaughter management.
... Cows are only sold when they are old (often more than 9 yr) and are no more producing. (Ayantunde et al., 2007;Wilson, 1986). The average body weight of matured cattle in the Sahel varies but it generally ranges from 220 to 300 kg (Wilson, 1986). ...
... (Ayantunde et al., 2007;Wilson, 1986). The average body weight of matured cattle in the Sahel varies but it generally ranges from 220 to 300 kg (Wilson, 1986). It is difficult to estimate conception rate (conception at first service) or pregnancy rate (percentage pregnant per service) for smallholder production systems in the Sahel, as the systems are extensive, and mating is not often monitored. ...
... The bull used for mating heifer or cow may be selected especially in pastoral herd to breed for certain desirable traits, but the actual mating is often not monitored (Ayantunde et al., 2007). For cattle breeds in the Sahel, the calving rate is about 60% and parturition rate for cow of 4 yr and older is between 0.54 and 0.71 (Wilson, 1986). ...
Limited supply of quality feed is the most important factor limiting livestock productivity in many sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries. Having a systematic inventory of available feed resources, identifying main challenges and potentials for improvement is the first step towards designing development strategies to improve feed quality and quantity. The objective of this study was to review the available feed resources and their quality in West African Sahel across different agro‐ecological zones and to identify the research gaps and strategies to improve feed resource availability. The West African Sahelian zone is home to 135 million people who herd 173 million head of ruminant livestock. The main feed resources for grazing ruminants are pastures and crop residues; commercially formulated feeds are increasingly being used in poultry and pig production, particularly in peri‐urban areas. Feed resources for livestock are diverse and vary markedly across agro‐ecological zones in the West African Sahel and across seasons in terms of type, quantity, and quality. Given that crop residues are among the most important feed resources, there is need to invest in promoting adoption of proven methods for improving their quality and preserving it. Given poorly developed feed markets in the Sahelian rural areas and cities, strengthening the feed value chain is critical for improving the feed resource base in West Africa. Additional critically important needs are to increase awareness about the importance of feed quality, to create quality‐based feed marketing systems, and to appreciate and enhance women's roles in feed production.
... In sub-Saharan Africa, where the deficit in protein of animal origin is remarkable, the breeding of small ruminants occupies an important place in the animal production system. It can be noted that everywhere in Africa, sheep and goats represent an important part of the national herd [4]. Therefore, they are important resources not only in terms of the economy of livestock products, but also for all of these countries. ...
... Subsistence is the primary objective of small ruminant keeping in Africa; meat and milk are consumed and surplus males are either sold to provide cash inflows or kept in the herds as broodstock [4]. ...
Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia is a bacterial infection of goats. It is caused by a bacterium belonging to the Mycoplasmataceae family and the Mycoplasma genus. Causative agent of the disease is Mycplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp). This disease causes significant economic losses in Asia and Africa. Because of the very high morbidity and mortality and its socio-economic impact, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia is on the OIE list of notifiable diseases. This disease affects mainly goats and occasionally sheep, but also wild ruminants. Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia is characterized by cough, dyspnoea and very high mortality and morbidity, fibrinous pleuropneumonia, unilateral lung hepatization and accumulation of pleural fluid in the thoracic cavity. Animals are infected by inhalation of dropes expelled by sick animals. Direct contact is essential for infection to occur. The porosity of borders shared with other countries and the lack of financial resources allocated to the national animal disease surveillance system make it difficult to control cross-border livestock movements. This exposes the national herd to various infectious diseases, including contagious caprine pleuropneumonia. Cross-border movements linked to the international trade in animals, to transhumance, as well as to insecurity due to existing hotbeds of tension in African countries, lead to massive movements of herders and animals in search of pastures and water. All of this constitutes risk factors for the introduction and spread of viral and bacterial infections in the countries. The objective of this manuscript is to summarize the epidemiology and risk factors of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in Chad based on bibliographical data.
... There are relatively few reliable year-round monitoring studies describing the extensive use of vegetation (grasses, trees and shrubs) by livestock in arid and semi-arid climates in sub-Saharan Africa (Ayantunde et al., 1999;Fernańdez-Rivera et al., 2005;Achard and Chanono, 2006;Schlecht et al., 2006;Hiernaux et al., 2009). Studies monitoring the weight and reproductive performance of cattle such as Wilson (1986), Wilson (1989), Colin de Verdière (1994), Lesnoff (1999), Ezanno et al. (2003); Chirat et al. (2014) and Assouma et al. (2018) all converge to highlight the strong seasonality of animal production and cattle in particular, which reflects the availability of resources and adapted animal feeding practices. ...
Similarly to other tropical, arid and semi-arid regions of the World, livestock production in the Sahel is based on extensive grazing in rangelands where managing herd mobility (transhumance and nomadism) is key to productivity and sustainability. However, in this region, government planning, impact assessments and climate change adaptation solutions face several methodological limitations and lack of data availability particularly about the feed and forage resources and how there are used by livestock. Existing feed balances at national or regional level in Sub-Saharan Africa are still largely perfectible. To address these limitations, FAO and CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) have developed a tool called Feed Balance Sheet (FBS) adapted to the Sahelian livestock systems to help countries carry out improved feed balances. This new FBS tool provides the following improvements to existing feed balances in countries: (i) it considers the seasonality of feed availability and quality as well as the seasonality of animal requirements; (ii) it includes protein and energy in addition to dry matter; (iii) it takes into account a wide range of resources, including browsing of woody biomass. This article describes the methodological development and the assumptions underlying this tool, which has already been piloted in 6 countries in Western and Central Africa. It also presents the results from 2 countries (Mali and Chad) and draws conclusions on the tool's relevance and guidance for its application. It can be used to improve the resilience of pastoral communities in the Sahel and better plan responses to droughts and other types of crises. Its use requires dedicated training and partnerships between governments and science organizations for accessing the appropriate input data. Based on the tool's experience in six countries (including 2 for which results are presented in this paper), we have confirmed the key role that CIRAD, FAO and their partners must play during the first few years in coaching the different teams at the country level. Mottet A and Assouma MH (2024) The feed balances sheet: a tool for planning the use of resources and enhancing resilience in tropical grazing livestock.
... • Recommendations #4 and #6 argued for more work on pastoralism without examining past results. The 2007/08 EPMR said nothing about the landmark books of Coppock (1994) on the Borana plateau of Ethiopia; or the monographs on Mali (Wagenaar, Diallo and Sayers, 1986;Wilson (1986) about what they imply for the EPMR' s recommendations. ...
Executive Summary The CGIAR began as an informal international collaboration of agricultural scientists to increase food production. In its first 30 years, the success of the CGIAR was concentrated among the founding four Centers-IRRI, CIMMYT, IITA and CIAT-first in wheat and rice and later in maize. Additional productivity gains were later made in cassava, potato, sweet potato, common beans, cowpea, and pigeonpea. The environmental centers-IWMI, ICRAF, CIFOR, Bioversity-and those in marginal production subregions-ILRI, ICRISAT, ICARDA-have been less successful in economic terms though their scientific contributions have been strong in some domains. The contexts of science and rural development have changed radically since the CGIAR was organized in 1971. The national and regional programs have become stronger, the global rate of information exchange has accelerated dramatically, and the rates of growth in irrigation and fertilizer use have slowed. The production environment has changed under the influence of climate change, notably through the effects of higher temperatures on crop yields. While scientific and development progress continues in the three major cereals and have been complemented by progress in the minor cereals, roots and tubers and the grain legumes, the system's efforts have become too diffuse and are less largely effective than in the past century. Efforts to revive the system's impact through various reorganizations have failed. The long crisis of the CGIAR A comprehensive review of the CGIAR (Lele, 2003) made major recommendations to increase the Centers' impacts. The major 2003 recommendations were to: (i) reverse the trend to restricted funding; this has not succeeded; (ii) increase funding for germplasm plant breeding and animal breeding; this was not done; and (iii) devolve some of the system's natural resources work to the national programs; this was not done. Beginning in 2009, a wide-ranging reform to improve the level and sustainability of funding, improve collaboration among scientists, and raise system effectiveness and efficiency was launched, under the heading of CGIAR research programs (CRPs). The CRP reform has generally failed. The CRP effort, and other reviews and evaluations over 30 years, have not improved the system's productivity and have not diversified its successes among commodities, regions, and production systems.
... Based on the results of zootechnical and health monitoring undertaken in Mali, pneumopathies are considered responsible for 40 to 60% of deaths observed in goats and 10 to 40% in sheep [6][7][8]. ...
... (Das, 1993) revealed that the litter size increases from 1 st parity to 5 th parity and decreased in successive parity in goat. (Wilson, 1986) and (Awemu et al., 2002) also found the highest litter size at 5 th parity on Red Sakota goat. Least litter size during early parity is due to not fully maturity of the reproductive organs at the young age of goat. ...
Goat rearing is one of the popular professions of people in the world. Maintenance of productive herds for overall productivity is important from an economic point of view for farmers. Along with the improvement of reproductive and productive performance, improvement of litter traits is also important for generating more profits from goat farming. This is the review paper prepared with the help of many collected scientific papers from journals, research papers, proceedings, annual reports, master, and Postgraduate thesis. This review paper illustrates the effect of parity as a non-genetic/environmental factor on litter traits of goat-like litter size at birth and weaning, litter weight at birth and weaning, and Pre-weaning Kids survivability based upon the finding of the previous papers. The finding of this paper focuses on the improvement of litter traits of goat that is possible with proper breeding programs, selection, and culling of an unproductive doe from the herd.
... The variation in conceptus mass as a result of in utero litter size is established effective of the first month of pregnancy (Dingwal et al., 1981). Underweight at birth is the probable reason for reduced offspring viability (Wilson, 1986) in small ruminants. ...
Increasing kid/lamb production is of paramount importance to
goat and sheep producers. As a matter of one choice enhancing litter
size becomes inevitable, because apart from litter size impacting on
flock productivity, it is also implored as a major determinant of
profitability due to its influence on kid/lamb survivability. There is a
positive correlation between litter size and lifelong dam contribution
and overall flock productivity. Increasing litter size to an optimal level
might be crucial especially for the intensive goat and sheep
production systems. A number of studies have proved that litter size
is under the influence of both genetic and non-genetic factors.
Currently, genome wide selection targeting established genetic
markers is being employed to increase the efficiency of goat and
sheep selection for reproductive traits, such as prolificity. This is on
the background that litter size is lowly heritable, but on the other
hand, immense genetic variability between and within breeds exist
that could be exploited in breeding schemes by collaborating additive
polygenic differences, breed complementarities, heterosis effects
and major gene inheritance. Among the non-genetic factors that
influence litter size in goats and sheep, parity order, age of dam and
seasonal variation have been rated highly. Litter size tend to improve
with age and parity order as a result it is highly likely that dams with
large previous litter size may have high chances of producing
multiple births in consecutive kidding/lambing. Environmental
conditions are also an important source of variation on litter size, Seasonal influence might be confounded by other factors such as
flock nutritional management and genetic improvement strategies.
The adverse effect of increase in litter size has been associated with
an increase in number of underweight kids/lambs which in turn
lower their survival rates. Underweight at birth is the probable
explanation for reduced kid/lamb viability in goats and sheep. This
entails a balance should be strike on optimal litter size, where too
large and/or too small litter size may be impracticable desired and/or
uneconomical, respectively. Proffered suggestion is that litter size of
two is economically feasible for an intensive goat and sheep
enterprise. The present review gives an insight on the influence of
litter on flock performance and discuss the factors that are the major
determinants of litter size in goat and sheep meat production.
Domesticated sheep have adapted to contrasting and extreme environments and continue to play important roles in local community‐based economies throughout Africa. Here we review the Neolithic migrations of thin‐tailed sheep and the later introductions of fat‐tailed sheep into eastern Africa. According to contemporary pictorial evidence, the latter occurred in Egypt not before the Ptolemaic period (305–25 BCE). We further describe the more recent history of sheep in Egypt, the Maghreb, west and central Africa, central‐east Africa, and southern Africa. We also present a comprehensive molecular survey based on the analysis of 50 K SNP genotypes for 59 African breeds contributed by several laboratories. We propose that gene flow and import of fat‐tailed sheep have partially overwritten the diversity profile created by the initial migration. We found a genetic contrast between sheep north and south of the Sahara and a west–east contrast of thin‐ and fat‐tailed sheep. There is no close relationship between African and central and east Asian fat‐tailed breeds, whereas we observe within Africa only a modest effect of tail types on breed relationships.
Characterization of indigenous sheep breeds using morphological traits is essential for designing rational conservation and improvement strategies. This study was conducted to check the morphological diversity of three fat-tailed and three thin-tailed indigenous sheep breeds of Ethiopia. The phenotypic traits such as live body weight and linear body measurements (body length, wither height, chest girth, chest depth, rump height, rump length, ear length, tail length, and pelvic width) were measured and used for analysis. The statistical analysis was done using different procedures of SAS 9.4. Analysis of variance showed significant variation between breeds. Multivariate analyses clearly assigned the studied sheep breeds into distinct populations. Mahalanobis distance showed significant (p<0.01) difference between breeds. The present morphometric information obtained could support future decision-making on the management, conservation, and improvement of the studied sheep genetic resources.
Two trials were conducted to study the seasonal variation in oestrous activity over the year in Suffolk (S) or mutton Merino (M) temperate breeds, and their crosses with the local Ossimi (O) sheep under the prevailing subtropical conditions. In the first trial, groups of S, 75% S, 50% S, and O were used and the second trial involved groups of M, ¾M, ½M, ½M and O. The incidence of oestrus was measured by teasing with vasectomized rams. Suffolk ewes had a restricted period of oestrous activity (August–January) whereas M had a longer breeding season (August–March) with high incidence of long and double cycles. Local O showed irregular oestrous activity almost around the year, with particular decline in April. In both trials, all crosses had better oestrous activity than the pure parents, with the 50% S and the ½M having the best performance in the two trials, respectively. The period from September to February seemed to be the period of normal cycling activity in all breed groups, whereas the period from March to May was associated with marked breed-group variation in oestrous activity. Normal cycle length of the S was significantly (P < 0·01) shorter than the local O (16·0 v.17·7 days) and was more consistent than other breed groups. In the two trials, normal cycle length of the cross-breds was ranked between the two purebred parents.
Typescript. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, 1978. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 416-426). Photocopy.
A study was initiated to evaluate two trypanocidal drugs, the prophylactic isometamidium chloride (Trypamidium) and the curative diminazene aceturate (Berenil) as to their potential for long-term maintenance of zebu cattle in a tsetse infested area of Mali. Trypamidium was administered quarterly and Berenil was administered only as animals were found to be positive for trypanosomes. During the 21-month study trypanosomiasis was the most frequently encountered disease in the cattle in the Berenil treatment group with an average of 5.5 reinfections. The predominant trypanosome species encountered was Trypanosoma vivax and the most important vector was Glossina palpalis gambiensis. The results indicate that, even though the direct costs for drugs under the two maintenance regimens were almost identical, the use of Trypamidium resulted in a significantly greater annual weight gain, prevented death loss due to trypanosomiasis and resulted in a herd with a greater market value.
AN exact knowledge of the duration of the breeding season of improved breeds of sheep in relation to daylight changes has an important bearing on the export of such breeds overseas, determining the areas in which different breeds can be used. Transferring sheep from one latitude to another even within the same hemisphere has been shown to have an effect on the ovarian rhythm through the change of light environment1,2. J. Hammond, jun.3, states that the breeding season of Suffolks is evenly spaced around the shortest day over a period when the length of daylight is 11½ hours or less. J. Hammond, sen.4, relates breed differences in the duration of the breeding season to the geographical origin of breed. Yeates5 reports that the onset and end of the breeding season occurs 10-14 weeks after the seasonal daylight curve changes over to shorter or longer daylight hours, respectively.
The ‘Mouton de Case’ is a small-scale stall-fed system of sheep fattening current in West Africa. Most fattened animals are males, kept for slaughter at the annual Moslem Feast of the Sacrifice (tabaski). More than 25% of total annual offtake in local sheep flocks occurs in relation to this feast. In two local agropastoral sub-systems more farmers kept stall-fed sheep in an irrigated rice sub-system (39%) than in a rainfed millet sub-system (24%). Farmers in both systems fed approximately two animals. Supplementary feed is mainly cut grass and tree leaves and some agricultural by-products. Average daily gains of Mouton de Case were, at 117 g, almost twice those of extensively reared animals (60 g) of the same type.
Etude des troupeax bovins ae laconioune de Mopti. N6moirc de fin ',dtudes
- A Ballo
Ballo A. 1980. Etude des troupeax bovins ae laconioune de Mopti. N6moirc de fin ',dtudes. Institut
polytechnique rural, Katibougou, Mali.