A survey on smallholder livestock production with emphasis on monogastric animals was conducted in 20 villages of seven so-called ‘groupements’ of South Kivu province in DR Congo, situated along a north to south-west axis with the town of Bukavu in the center. This land adjacent to Lake Kivu is located at elevations ranging around 900–1900 m asl, experiencing tropical highland climate. A diagnostic survey helped to rapidly obtain in-depth knowledge of constraints and opportunities in this environment. Correspondence analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to investigate the association of production constraints with particular livestock species and to understand the factors that govern the number of livestock that people owned (converted to tropical livestock units [TLU]), respectively. Responses of 112 informants demonstrated that livestock is an integral part of the region’s mixed farming systems. Low livestock numbers per household at present reflect the poverty as a consequence of recent violent conflicts. Currently, farmers focus on small livestock, like poultry, swine, cavies (i.e., Guinea pigs) and rabbits. Families keep livestock to accumulate household reserves that are strongly invested in children’s education. Major issues of animal husbandry were related to animal diseases and lack of feed resources, particularly in the dry season. Lack of feed or forages were unrelated to a particular livestock species. Livestock holdings depended on animal diversity, location, land size available and respondents’ education level. The potential introduction of improved forages is challenged by their dry-season tolerance, compatibility with cropping on small farms; and people’s readiness to cultivate forages.

1 RESUME Objectif : La présente étude a été menée pour identifier les différentes contraintes et opportunités relatives à cette intégration, une étude a été faite à Mushinga et propose des orientations pour une efficacité et durabilité du système. Méthodologie et résultats : Une enquête collectant des données sur les caractéristiques de l’exploitation, de la production végétale et animale ont été recueillies dans 100 exploitations choisies aléatoirement. Les principales contraintes identifiées pour l’intensification de l’agriculture-élevage dans les exploitations de Mushinga sont la faible fertilité des sols (45%), les maladies et ravageurs des cultures (17%), le prix élevé d’intrants (14%), la rareté des pâturages conduisant à la faible production animale (13%) et les pathologies animales (8%). Les exploitations qui couplent l’agriculture à l’élevage produisent du fumier pour la fertilisation organique des cultures et nourrissent leurs troupeaux des résidus des cultures. Le fumier génère des revenus et les résidus des cultures sont utilisés pour le paillage. Conclusion et application des résultats : La prise en compte des contraintes identifiées serait l’une des voies majeures qui permettraient d’améliorer efficacement et durablement le système d’intégration agriculture-élevage au sein des exploitations rurales de Mushinga en particulier et du Sud-Kivu en général. ABSTRACT Constraints and opportunities of Crop – livestock integration system at Mushinga in the Eastern DR Congo Objective: This study was carried out in Mushinga for assessing the various constraints and opportunities related to this integration and proposes guidelines for the system efficiency and sustainability. Farm, crop and animal production characteristics were collected in 100 farms randomly selected. Methodology and results: A survey collecting data on farm characteristics, crop and animal production into 100 farms was done. The main constraints identified for intensification of crop-livestock in Mushinga farms were low soil fertility (45%), crop diseases and pests (17%), high input prices (14%), the scarcity of pastures leading to low livestock production (13%) and animal diseases (8%). Farmers applying crop-livestock integration, produce manure for organic fertilization of crops and feed their flocks with crop residues. Manure generates income and crop residues are used for mulching. Conclusion and results application: Addressing the identified constraints would be one of the major ways of improving the efficiency and durability of the crop-livestock integration system in rural farms in Mushinga as well as in South –Kivu.

Insufficient grazing land and lack of fodder is a situation that makes animals vulnerable, pushing them to ingest inedible substances. The environment of Bukavu and its outskirts is threatened by pollution whose plastic and other waste are sources of diseases of ruminants or imported and local cattle and goats contract diseases due to the consumption of certain waste. The latter are found scattered almost everywhere (tracks, trails, fields, pastures) and their scale is taking on a pace that worries domestic ruminant breeders. In a coupled observation survey, we worked on a sample of 1270 cases of slaughter in a slaughterhouse and restaurants in urban areas, and also two killings in rural areas to assess the frequency of foreign bodies in ruminants after slaughter and classify them according to their nature. Then, we had to identify the stimuli that lead animals to ingest indigestible non-food substances and that are a cause of morbidity and mortality. By the method of transect we appreciated the presence of this waste that ruminants consume by mania. The results are as follows: Out of 1,270 cases of slaughter, we found 179 cases of the presence of foreign bodies, i.e. 35% in Mugogo, 31% in Mudaka, 19% at the Ruzizi II slaughterhouse and 15% for restaurants in the city of Bukavu. According to the nature of the foreign bodies found after slaughter, it appears that the black bag component is in large quantity (24.25±7.676) followed by mosquito net (18.5±7.416), then other bag (13.25±7.847) and finally fabric (10±4.397). In vitro, the coca cola drink has little effect on foreign bodies soaked in rumen juice. The transect shows a high load of plastic waste and linen along the tracks and around markets and grazing places both in the city of Bukavu and in the peripheral territories shows a preponderant presence of bags (0.738±0.425) followed by linen (0.362±0.119). For an average weight of 960 grams per waste collected.