Abstract
Calf management in traditional cattle herds in many parts of the tropics receive less attention as compared to immediate income-generating cows or bulls. Information on long-term implications of poorly reared young stock is limited. A study to assess practices, challenges and opportunities during rearing of less than 12-month-old calves in traditional cattle herds in the Peanut Basin of Senegal was carried out. Data were collected on 207 farms through farm visits and completion of a questionnaire. Categorical principal component analysis followed by two-step cluster analysis identified two cattle production systems: livestock based (LB: 47.83 %) and livestock-crop based (LCB, 52.17 %). On average, 2.81 ± 0.15 calves were reared per farm. Calves were weaned at the age of 12.27 ± 0.32 months. A majority of the calves were of indigenous breeds (71.37 %) and were meant to serve as replacement stock (74.23 %). The tropical livestock unit for cattle owned was significantly lower in LB compared to LCB farms (12.71 vs. 18.85). Significantly higher number of farmers owned non-indigenous calves, had clean calf rearing area and reported feed availability in LB farms as compared to LCB farms. A majority of farmers (98.50 %) perceived calf morbidity and mortality as a major challenge in calf rearing. Meanwhile, labour was readily available to assist with calf rearing in 88.24 % of farms in both systems. Capacity building on improve husbandry practices could enhance calf survival and productivity in surveyed farms. Studies to better identify health and feeding constraints of calves will be necessary to define intervention targets.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chang’a, J.S., Mdegela, R.H., Ryoba, R., Løken, T., Reksen, O., 2010. Calf health and management in smallholder dairy farms in Tanzania. Tropical Animal Health and production, 42, 1669–1676.
Chang’a, J.S., Reksen, O., Løken, T., Mdegela, R., 2011. Calf health and growth in small-holder dairy farms in Tanzania. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 23(7), Retrieved October 14, 2014, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd23/7/chan23156.htm.
Chilonda, P., Otte, J., 2006. Indicators to monitor trends in livestock production at national, regional and international levels. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 18(8), Retrieved October 14,2014, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd18/8/chil18117.htm.
De’ Besi, G., Thieme, O., 2013. Optimum use of milk in traditionally managed cattle herds in the tropics. Tropical Animal Health and production, 45, 1079–1086.
Dieye, P.N., Gueye, M., 2002. Les systèmes agriculture-élevage au Sénégal: importance, caractéristiques et contraintes, in: Improving Crop–livestock Systems in the Dry Savannas of West and Central Africa. Presented at the Workshop on Crop– Livestock Systems in the Dry Savannas of West and Central Africa, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, p. 127.
Dieye, P.N., Montaigne, E., Duteurtre, G., Boutonnet, J.-P., 2008. Le rôle des arrangements contractuels dans le développement du système laitier local et des mini-laiteries au Sénégal. Économie rurale, n° 303-304-305, 108–122.
Dossa, L.H., Abdulkadir, A., Amadou, H., Sangare, S., Schlecht, E., 2011. Exploring the diversity of urban and peri-urban agricultural systems in Sudano-Sahelian West Africa: An attempt towards a regional typology. Landscape and Urban Planning, 102, 197–206.
Ezanno, P., Ezanno, A., Faye, B., 2002. Demographic parameters of N’Dama cattle raised under extensive range management conditions in Southern Senegal. Revue d’ Élevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, 55, 211–219.
FAO, 2011. World Livestock 2011- Livestock in food security. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
Kazybayeva, S., Otte, J., Roland-Holst, D., 2006. Livestock Production and Household Income Patterns in Rural Senegal (Research Report). FAO, Rome.
Keyyu, J.D., Kyvsgaard, N.C., Monrad, J., Kassuku, A.A., 2005. Epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle on traditional, small-scale dairy and large-scale dairy farms in Iringa district, Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology,127, 285–294.
Lesosky, M., Dumas, S., Conradie, I., Handel, I.G., Jennings, A., Thumbi, S., Toye, P., Bronsvoort, B.M. de C., 2012. A live weight–heart girth relationship for accurate dosing of east African shorthorn zebu cattle. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 45, 311–316.
Lukuyu, B., Franzel, S., Ongadi, P.M., Duncan, A.J., 2011. Livestock feed resources: Current production and management practices in central and northern rift valley provinces of Kenya. Livestock Research for Rural Development,23(5), Retrieved October 14, 2014 from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd23/5/luku23112.htm.
Millogo, V., 2010. Milk production of hand-milked dairy cattle in Burkina Faso, Ph.D Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala.
Moran, J.B., 2011. Factors affecting high mortality rates of dairy replacement calves and heifers in the tropics and strategies for their reduction. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. 24, 1318–1328.
Munkhnasan, T., Wiehle, M., Schlecht, E., 2014. Characterisation of Agro-Pastoralist Households Along the Bulgan River in the Altay Region of Western Mongolia, in: Bridging the Gap between Increasing Knowledge and Decreasing Resources. Proceedings of the Tropentag 2014 conference, Prague, Czech Republic, p. 230.
Musa, L.M.-A., Peters, K.J., Ahmed, M.-K.A., 2006. On farm characterization of Butana and Kenana cattle breed production systems in Sudan. Livestock Research for Rural Development,18(12), Retrieved October 14, 2014 from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd18/12/musa18177.htm.
Pica-Ciamarra, U., Baker, D., Morgan, N., Ly, C., Nouala, S., 2014. Business and livelihoods in the livestock sector in Africa: Investments to overcome information gaps (Report). World Bank.
Reinhardt, V., Reinhardt, A., 1981. Natural sucking performance and age of weaning in zebu cattle (Bos indicus). The Journal of Agricultural Science, 96, 309–312.
Riedel, S., Schiborra, A., Huelsebusch, C., Huanming, M., Schlecht, E., 2012. Opportunities and challenges for smallholder pig production systems in a mountainous region of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China. Tropical Animal Health and Production,44, 1971–1980.
Sawadogo, G.J., Ouedraogo, G.A., Diakhoumpa, M., Yameog, N., 2007. Analysis of the cost and benefit of bovine artificial insemination in Senegal. Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Animal Production and Health Section, Vienna (Austria), pp. 44–50.
Sow Dia, F., Somda, J., Kamuanga, M., 2007. Dynamique des filières laitières en zone sahélienne: cas de l’offre et de la demande du lait en zone agropastorale centre du Sénégal. Revue d’Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des pays Tropicaux, 60, 77–88.
Stads, G., Sène, L., 2011. Private-Sector Agricultural Research and Innovation in Senegal - Recent Policy, Investment,and Capacity Trends. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC, USA.
Tebug, S.F., Baltenweck, I., Poole, E.J., Mossohou, A., Ema, P.J.N., Juga, J., Tapio, M., Marshall, K., 2014. Uptake of Artificial Insemination and Non-Indigenous Cattle in Small to Medium Scale Farms in Senegal, in: Bridging the Gap between Increasing Knowledge and Decreasing Resources. Proceedings of the Tropentag 2014 conference, Prague, Czech Republic, p. 203.
Vall, E., Bayala, I., 2004. Note d’état corporel des zébus soudaniens (No. 12). Cirdes, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Fasso. Retrieved October 14, 2014 from http://www.cirdes.org/IMG/pdf/F12_Note_etat_corporel.pdf
Williams, T.O., Tarawali, S., Hiernaux, P., Fernandez-Rivera, S., 2004. Sustainable crop-livestock production for improved livelihoods and natural resource management in West Africa. Proceedings of an international conference. ILRI.
Wudu, T., Kelay, B., Mekonnen, H.M., Tesfu, K., 2008. Calf morbidity and mortality in smallholder dairy farms in Ada’a Liben district of Oromia, Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 40, 369–376.
Wymann, M.N., Bonfoh, B., Schelling, E., Bengaly, S., Tembely, S., Tanner, M., Zinsstag, J., 2006. Calf mortality rate and causes of death under different herd management systems in peri-urban Bamako, Mali. Livestock Science, 100, 169–178.
Yilma, Z., Gojjam, Y., Shumye, M., 2006. Milk production level and calf-rearing system affecting Boran, Ethiopian zebu cattle breed, cow-calf performance. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 18(5), Retrieved October 14, 2014 from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd18/5/yilm18071.htm.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the cattle farmers in Thies and Diourbel regions, Senegal, for their participation in this survey. Appreciations also go to Dr. O.A. Ndambi and Dr. Mizeck M.G. Chagunda for suggesting constructive amendments during the manuscript preparation. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the institutions to which they are affiliated.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest on writing and publishing this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tebug, S.F., Kamga-Waladjo, A.R., Ema, P.J.N. et al. Calf management practices, challenges and opportunities in traditional cattle production systems in the Peanut Basin of Senegal. Trop Anim Health Prod 47, 797–804 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0782-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0782-y