Challenges and Opportunities of the Mediterranean Indigenous Bovine Populations: Analysis of the Different Production Systems in Algeria, Greece, and Tunisia

Abstract

The indigenous cattle populations are threatened by extinction in many countries of the Mediterranean area. The objective of this study is the analysis of local cattle breeds’ production systems in Algeria, Greece, and Tunisia and the identification of their future challenges and opportunities. A total of 385 surveys were conducted in these study areas: central and northern Greece (43); northern and northwestern Tunisia (167), and northeastern Algeria (175). Data collected concerned socio-economic parameters as well as the production system’s functionality, constraints, and opportunities. Results revealed an average farmers’ age of 52.6 years old. The illiteracy rate is high, especially in Algeria (39%) and Tunisia (44%), where the farm size is relatively small with an average of 14 and four animals per farm, respectively. In Greece, much higher numbers were recorded (89 animals/farm). The average cultivated feedstuffs’ area is larger in Greece (12.07 ha) and smaller in Algeria and Tunisia (6.11 and 2.88 ha, respectively). Feeding resources are based on rangelands. Farming systems are traditional extensive and complemented when needed. Milk and meat marketing vary throughout countries and are not well valorized. The main constraints are high feeding costs, low milk and meat prices, and absence of labeling. Local and local-crossbred bovine populations could be valorized based on their good adaptation criteria when applying convenient genetic and development strategies.

2023 Annual Trends & Outlook Report (ATOR)

“…The intent is to make livestock production as sustainable as possible to achieve bidirectional benefits in improving food and nutrition security and enhancing planetary health. Strategies such as seasonal migration of livestock into areas with natural forage and water abundance (pastoralism) (Koura et al 2015), forage preservation for utilization in off-seasons (Jimoh et al 2021), feed formulation from alternative feedstocks to minimize overexploitation of pasturelands and forestlands, livestock breeding programs to improve livestock resistance and productivity (Wilson 2018;Mohamed-Brahmi et al 2022), and increased livestock health strategies such as live vaccination (Ezihe, Ochima, and Iorlamen 2020;Koura et al 2015) are prominent bioeconomy strategies for improving sustainable livestock production in African regions. For instance, Benin, Nigeria, and Senegal are facilitating robust livestock vaccination campaigns to improve animal health and enhance production yield and quality.…”

Climate-Smart Agriculture in African Countries: A Review of Strategies and Impacts on Smallholder Farmers

“…In northeastern Algeria, local breeds were identified and tracked [11,14]. Products (such as milk and traditional cheese) were researched because consuming milk and its derivatives from these breeds is historically a very old eating practice [59].…”

“…Moreover, globalization, urbanization, mechanization and population growth will accentuate and accelerate these effects. To deal with these effects, several research studies and technical reports have recommended the transformation of agriculture, food systems and generally our consumption models to more sustainable systems (decreasing the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas fluxes, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, genetic conservation and preservation of local breeds that are well adapted to the local environment, redeploying biodiversity) [1,2,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”