Cattle breeding practices in lake environments: the case of Benin in West Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19182/remvt.37162Keywords
Cattle, livestock management, feeding systems, lake environment, BeninAbstract
Background: Cattle are reared in the lake environment of Benin despite the presence of water. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of information available on breeding practices in this particular environment, impeding efforts to enhance productivity. It is therefore essential to describe the breeding practices used in the lake environment to identify the ones that are the most suitable. Aim: The study aimed to identify the most appropriate cattle rearing practices in the lake environment of Benin. Methods: Data were collected through interviews with 110 cattle farmers in the communes of Sô-Ava and Aguégué. The multiple correspondence analysis was used to identify groups of cattle farmers. These groups were then described and compared using analysis of variance and Fischer test. Results: The data analysis identified three groups of cattle farmers that differed in terms of the type of housing used for livestock, feeding practices, health monitoring methods, difficulties encountered, and ethnic backgrounds. Group 1 consisted of herders using housing on stilts for animals. These herders practice free-range housing with confinement during periods of heavy rain. Animal health is very important to them. Group 2 consisted of herders who have overnight pens marked off on the ground to keep their animals, and who sometimes take care of sick animals. Group 3 consisted of herders who neither provide housing nor treat their animals when they are sick, leading to high livestock mortality rates. The feeding practices are similar in all three groups; however, the confinement of the animals in Group 1 during high water conditions obliges the farmers to distribute fodder and supplements to them. The lack of vaccination of the animals in all three groups leads to diseases on the farms. Conclusions: To improve cattle production in a lake environment, the adoption of the husbandry system used by Group 1 is recommended, along with improving the availability of feed and the systematic vaccination of animals against endemic diseases.
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