Assessing the diversity of preferences of suburban smallholder sheep keepers for breeding rams in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Urbanisation in developing countries entails deep changes in the livestock sector and the management of animal genetic resources (AnGR). Sheep breeding around Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) illustrates these changes and the need to coordinate genetic improvement in general and the use of crossbreeding in particular. For this, it is important to understand breeders' choices and improvement strategy, to accompany them within a national plan for AnGR management. In a context of missing market for breeding rams, a stated choice experiment was conducted with 137 farmers, together with a characterisation of herd management practices. This survey analyses farmers' preferences for breeding rams, estimating their willingness to pay (WTP) for different traits (attributes). Their practices were characterised by a high reliance on natural pastures (82% of farmers) and a minority of crossbreeding (23%). The highest WTP was observed for disease resistance. However, the subgroup of farmers practicing crossbreeding showed a tolerance to high susceptibility. A strong preference for the white colour was revealed. Although significant, the influence of sheep body size on decision-making showed a lesser importance, again with a distinct behaviour in the subgroup practicing crossbreeding. These results illustrate the need to take account of the diversity of goals and preferences among smallholder sheep keepers to gain their adhesion to a coordinated genetic improvement framework.

Selection Decisions and Trait Preferences for Local and Imported Cattle and Sheep Breeds in Peri-/Urban Livestock Production Systems in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

“…Similarly, the lambs’ and ewe’s own body size/growth were among the most frequently stated reasons for the ranking of Mossi ewes. This suggests that these traits should be genetically improved in future breeding programs for this sheep breed, even though a study involving sheep breeders in Ouagadougou revealed that the body size had no influence on breeders’ selection decisions [45]. Genetic improvement of the body size and growth rate in the Mossi sheep while maintaining its adaptation and hardiness could reduce the threat of suburban sheep breeding around Ouagadougou through indiscriminant crossbreeding with Sahelian breed rams which are appreciated for their better growth performance, but which are less resistant to diseases [44].…”

Breeding practices and trait preferences of smallholder farmers for indigenous sheep in the northwest highlands of Ethiopia: Inputs to design a breeding program

“…Although libido attribute was not included in the choice experiment of the present study, it was ranked as the fifth ram selection criteria by the smallholder farmers (Table 5). Elsewhere in West Africa, Tindano et al [45] have reported a high preference for disease resistance in rams. Such preference heterogeneity for ram attributes could likely be due to differences in sheep breed, production system and sociocultural characteristics of smallholder farmers.…”

Characteristics of smallholders’ goat production systems and effect of Boer crossbreeding on body measurements of goats in Burundi

“…Note, however, crossbreeding is only appropriate when animals are housed and fed appropriately so they may express their genetic potential (Zonabend et al 2017). Whereas Boer crossbreds are advantageous in body size, indigenous animals are more disease resistant as was previously reported (Tindano et al 2017). This suggests that the best larger indigenous animals, which are more adapted to the prevailing conditions, would be selected as parents of new generations.…”

“…These high market characteristics were underlined as the main drivers of a breeding programme (Gobena and Tona 2017;Tadesse et al 2015). However, animals are often left without any supervision during the day in these communal pastures, making the mating control more difficult, as underlined by Tindano et al (2017).…”