Study of traditional cattle breeding in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). Surveys results

Abstract

Within the scope of a project to study the traditional cattle breeding in Guadeloupe, about 700 herds were investigated in the whole department. In a first period, the different parameters of Guadeloupe farming concern allowed to distinguish five breeding types. The current analysis of data gives information is concerning the herd’s demography and structure, the animal’s origin and race, as well as the production and reproduction parameters. The study of these parameters has been made for every predetermined type. The animals of Creole race constitute almost the whole cattle livestock and present very good aptitudes for reproduction, qualities not completely used in the traditional breeding systems (fertility 72 %, interval calving-calving of 16 to 17 months, age at the first fertilizing covering: 30 months).