Production and Health Parameters of N’Dama Village Cattle in Relation to Parasitism in the Guinea Savannah of Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

The central Guinea savannah of Côte d’Ivoire is a very suitable area for cattle breeding due to the abundance of forage throughout the year; the presence of tsetse flies favors farming of trypanotolerant livestock. Little is known on the productivity and overall health status of N’Dama cattle under traditional farming conditions in the humid savannah of Côte d’Ivoire. This study aimed at investigating productivity parameters (demography, live weight, overall health status) of local N’Dama cattle to generate baseline knowledge on production and health parameters including aspects of ecto- and endoparasitism under traditional farming conditions in this area. In a longitudinal study, three randomly selected village cattle herds were monitored during a period of 20 months. The annual calving rate was 52 ± 1% (mean and standard error) and the annual cumulative mortality rate of calves under one year of age was 19 ± 6%. Birth weights were 16.5 ± 0.9 kg for males and 15.7 ± 1.1 kg for females. Adult females achieved a mean weight of 198 ± 5 kg. The live weight of young N’Dama cattle showed no significant relationship with tick and gastrointestinal strongyle burdens. N’Dama cattle could be productive in this harsh environment, but the local production of milk and beef was still insufficient to meet consumers’ demand. Based on the assessed parameters the authors simulated the potential development of N’Dama cattle breeding in this area over a ten-year period, with the option of increased milk or meat production.