Production objectives, trait and breed preferences of farmers keeping N’Dama, Fulani Zebu and crossbred cattle and implications for breeding programs

Abstract

Many local livestock breeds in developing countries are being replaced by exotic breeds, leading to a loss of genetic resources. In southern Mali, for the past two decades, a trend towards increasing crossbreeding between the trypanotolerant N'Dama cattle and the trypano-susceptible Fulani Zebu cattle has been taking place. A survey with 160 farmers owning a cattle herd was carried out in southern Mali to investigate their production objectives, as well as trait and breed preferences and correlated socio-economic determinants in order to understand farmers' breeding decisions and to identify comparative advantages of three breed groups (N'Dama, Fulani Zebu and crossbreds) raised in the study area. Data were analyzed using an exploded logit model. The reasons for raising cattle, as well as trait and breed preferences reflected the multiple objectives of the farmers. Draught power and savings were the most important production objectives. Productive traits were ranked highest; farmers reported large body size as the most preferred trait, followed by fertility, draught ability and milk yield. Crossbreds were the favored breed group. Breed preferences were mainly explained by 'resistance to disease' for N'Dama cattle and 'high market price' for Fulani Zebu and crossbred cattle. Production objectives, trait and breed preferences were mainly influenced by farmer group (local farmers and settled transhumants). Local farmers put comparatively more emphasis on livestock functions linked to crop production such as draught power. They had a higher preference for traction ability as a selection trait and preferred N'Dama over Fulani Zebu cattle. Settled transhumants emphasized milk yield as a selection trait and preferred Fulani Zebu over N'Dama. The results indicate that the trend towards more crossbreeding will continue putting the N'Dama breed under high risk of genetic dilution in southern Mali. The N'Dama cattle remain a valuable breed due to their adaptive traits such as disease and drought tolerance and their good traction ability, fulfilling the diverse objectives of local farmers. Crossbreeding was found to be a promising breeding strategy, which might contribute to the maintenance of the local breed, provided that breeding schemes are thoroughly planned and organized.

Determinants of Crossbreeding Practices by Cattle Farmers in South Benin, West Africa: Implications for the Sustainable Use of the Indigenous Lagune Cattle Population

“…However, whenever a zebu bull is maintained in a Lagune cattle herd, the farmer tends to mate it with all cows present in the herd. These results are in accordance with findings of Sokouri et al (2009) in the northern region of Côte d'Ivoire and of Traoré , Markemann, Reiber, & Piepho (2017) in South Mali.…”

The potential of reproductive technologies in breeding smallholder cattle populations in Zimbabwe

“…Trait preferences for cattle found in this study reflect the multiple needs of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, and are comparable with the findings of similar studies conducted in Southern Mali (Traoré et al, 2017) and Kenya (Bebe et al, 2003). Rowlands et al (2003) reported that the five traits farmers in Zimbabwe perceived by to be most important were size, adaptability, growth, temperament and fertility.…”

“…In the context of climate change and variability, the adaptive traits of preferred Sanga cattle breeds justify the need for conservation of these unique breeds as insurance against unforeseen future changes (Traoré et al, 2017). Therefore, the use of principally Sanga, Brahman and Brahman based composite breeds may be considered the most suitable breeding strategy for smallholders in Southern Africa.…”

“…These imported genotypes may not survive or produce optimally under resource constrained, smallholder systems (Wilson, 2009). Thus, replacement of local breeds may have serious consequences on genetic diversity, performance and capacity to cope with future changes in markets, production environments and breeding goals (Traoré et al, 2017).…”

“…The aim was to determine herd sizes and composition, reproductive performance, breed ownership, breed and trait preferences, and breeding practices; and to assess current knowledge, application, perceptions and potential adoption of novel cattle breeding and reproductive technologies by the smallholder cattle farming sector of Zimbabwe. The study was premised on the fact that understanding farmers' production objectives, preferred breeds and valuation of different traits is the starting point to define appropriate breeding goals and set up sustainable livestock systems (Traoré et al, 2017;Desta et al, 2011). Without this information, targeting intervention in cattle reproduction and breeding for smallholder farmers remains difficult due to a mismatch between technology and its context of application.…”