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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401170
Research Project: Accelerating Genetic Improvement of Ruminants Through Enhanced Genome Assembly, Annotation, and Selection

Location: Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory

Title: Morphometric characterization of local goat breeds in two agroecological zones of Burkina Faso, West Africa

Author
item AKOUNDA, BADJIBASSA - Collaborator
item OUEDRAOGO, DOMINIQUE - Joseph Ki-Zerbo University
item SOUDRE, ALBERT - Collaborator
item BURGER, PAMELA - University Of Veterinary Medicine
item Rosen, Benjamin - Ben
item Van Tassell, Curtis - Curt
item SOLKNER, JOHANN - University Of Natural Resources And Life Sciences, Vienna

Submitted to: Animals
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2023
Publication Date: 6/9/2023
Citation: Akounda, B., Ouedraogo, D., Soudre, A., Burger, P.A., Rosen, B.D., Van Tassell, C.P., Solkner, J. 2023. Morphometric characterization of local goat breeds in two agroecological zones of Burkina Faso, West Africa. Animals. 13(12):1931. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121931.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121931

Interpretive Summary: In Burkina Faso, goats are the second largest ruminant population and almost exclusively composed of indigenous breeds. Gaining a deep understanding of the existing production systems is a necessary first step towards improving the management of goats in rural areas and alleviating smallholder poverty. This study characterized the diversity of goat farming systems and identified major constraints and opportunities in the two major agroecological zones in Burkina Faso. Statistical analysis of questionnaires from 372 goat keepers identified the major constraints to goat production including conflicts, feed shortage, diseases, lack of workforce and abortions. Although our results showed diversity among identified groups, many aspects were similar, such as lack of feed supplementation, appropriate housing system, or low use of veterinary services. Attempts at improving management should consider the diversity, strengths and weakness of the different farming systems.

Technical Abstract: Improving the management of goat in rural areas and enhancing its ability to alleviate smallholder poverty requires a better understanding of the existing production systems. This study has been undertaken to characterize the diversity of goat farming systems and identify major constraints and opportunities for their sustainability in two agroecological zones of Burkina Faso, Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian, with a view to their involvement in the design of community-based breeding programs (CBBPs). To establish a typology of the farming systems, data on 372 goat keepers and their herd characteristics were collected in a questionnaire, and 14 quantitative and qualitative variables were selected to perform multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The results indicated that farmers were largely illiterate, with men slightly outnumbered by women, and belonged mainly to three ethnic groups, Mossi, Lobi and Fulani corresponding to three clusters of goat farming systems in the Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian areas, respectively. The first two clusters were composed entirely of sedentary agropastoral systems and principally of producers of Mossi and Lobi, ethnic groups, respectively. These two clusters, which include over 85% of all respondents, represented subsistence crop production and livestock rearing for multiple purposes including income, meat, manure, saving and soci-cultural reasons. The third and smallest cluster (14.5%) was composed entirely of Fulani people in both areas Sudano-Sahelian (85%) and Sudanian (15%). This cluster was the only one containing transhumant pastoral system, with 85% of these farmers practicing seasonal mobility of their herds. The average flock size varied from 12.93 to 15.68 in Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian areas, respectively. About fifteen constraints for goat production were identified, the main ones including conflicts, feed shortage, diseases, lack of workforce and abortions. Although our results showed diversity among identified groups, many aspects were similar, such as lack of feed supplementation, appropriate housing system, or low use of veterinary services. Successful implementation of goat CBBPs should consider the diversity, strengths and weakness of the different farming systems.