Sheep fattening with locally available feed resources in Fakara, Niger
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Citation
Abdou Dangoma, Augustine Ayantunde, Tunde Amole. (15/11/2015). Sheep fattening with locally available feed resources in Fakara, Niger.
Abstract
In West African Sahel, livestock form one of the main livelihood strategies of the rural
population playing a cardinal role in food security and income generation (Hiernaux and
Ayantunde, 2004). In 2014, the livestock population in Niger was estimated at 41 million
heads including all species (cattle, sheep, goat and camel). Livestock is Niger’s second source
of revenue after mining resources contributing to 11% of national GDP and involving 87% of
the rural population in the country.
Despite its socio-economic and cultural importance, livestock production in the Sahel is
largely characterized by low external inputs and heavily dependent on rainfall which varies
markedly from year to year. Feed scarcity, particularly in the dry season and low nutritional
quality are the main causes of low livestock productivity in the region. Sheep fattening based
on locally available feed resources has been promoted in the Sahel as a way to improve
income of rural households and food security. Based on previous studies by ILRI in Niger,
this activity was conducted under CRP Dryland Systems for Kano-Katsina-Maradi action
transect in West African Sahel and Dryland Savanna. The sheep fattening scheme was
designed for youth and women in Fakara, Niger towards the Tabaski of September 2015. The
objectives of the study were: (i) To improve income of rural households through least cost
rations for sheep fattening in the late dry season. (ii) To promote better use of locally
available feed resources for livestock productivity.