Performances de reproduction et de production laitière des vaches White Fulani et Red Fulani dans les petits élevages traditionnels de la région du nord Cameroun

The present study was carried out on 150 White Fulani (WF) and Red Fulani (RF) zebu cows of small traditional farms in the North region of Cameroon in order to determine their reproductive performance and dairy production. Reproductive performance was assessed by determining the age at first calving and calving interval. Dairy production performance was assessed by obtaining the daily quantity of milk produced by manual milking. The mean age at first calving was 3.59 ± 0.49 years and the calving interval was 1.27 ± 0.33 years. Only teat placement and cow weight had a significant influence on age at first calving while the calving interval was significantly longer in WF cows but short in heavy cows (> 350 kg). The average quantity of milk produced was 1.89 ± 0.59 liters/day and only the width of the ischium had a significant influence on this production. Keywords: Cow zebu, calving, milk, traditional husbandry, North Cameroon.La présente étude a été réalisée sur 150 vaches zébus de races White Fulani (WF) et Red Fulani (RF) des petits élevages traditionnels de la région du Nord du Cameroun dans le but de déterminer leurs performances de reproduction et de production laitière. Les performances de reproduction ont été évaluées par la détermination de l’âge au premier vêlage et l’intervalle inter-vêlage; tandis que les performances de production laitière ont été évaluées par l’obtention de la quantité journalière de lait produite par traite manuelle. L’âge moyen au premier vêlage a été de 3,59 ± 0,49 ans et l’intervalle vêlage-vêlage a été de 1,27 ± 0,33 ans. Seuls le placement des trayons et le poids de vaches ont eu une influence significative sur l’âge au premier vêlage, tandis que l’intervalle vêlage-vêlage a été significativement long chez les vaches WF, mais court chez les vaches de plus de 350 kg. La quantité moyenne de lait produite était de 1,89 ± 0,59 litres/jour et seule la largeur des ischions avait une influence significative sur cette production. Mots-clés: Vache zébu, vêlage, lait, élevage traditionnel, Nord-Cameroun

Reproductive and milk production performance of White Fulani and Red Fulani cows in traditional small scale farms in the Northern Region of Cameroon

The present study was carried out on 150 White Fulani (WF) and Red Fulani (RF) zebu cows of small traditional farms in the North region of Cameroon in order to determine their reproductive performance and dairy production. Reproductive performance was assessed by determining the age at first calving and calving interval. Dairy production performance was assessed by obtaining the daily quantity of milk produced by manual milking. The mean age at first calving was 3.59 ± 0.49 years and the calving interval was 1.27 ± 0.33 years. Only teat placement and cow weight had a significant influence on age at first calving while the calving interval was significantly longer in WF cows but short in heavy cows (> 350 kg). The average quantity of milk produced was 1.89 ± 0.59 liters/day and only the width of the ischium had a significant influence on this production

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Zoonotic Risk Perception of Bovine Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii) among Cattle Farmers and Veterinary Personnel in Northern Regions of Cameroon

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, practices and zoonotic risk perception of Q fever among 484 selected cattle farmers (438) and veterinary personnel (46) in three northern regions of Cameroon. Data collection was conducted using questionnaires and responses were recoded into binary scale. An ANOVA test was used to assess significant differences in mean knowledge, attitude, practice and zoonotic risk perception (KAPP) scores between regions, while Linear regression was done to explore the relationship between demographic characteristic and KAPP. Overall, surveyed had low mean scores for knowledge (0.02 ± 0.11), desirable attitude (0.30 ± 0.16), appropriate practice (0.43 ± 0.13) and negative perception of zoonotic risks (0.05 ± 0.11). The means knowledge, attitude, practice and risks perception scores of cattle farmers were lower than those of veterinary personnel. The nature of respondent was negatively associated to knowledge and risks perception, while regions were negatively correlated to attitude and practice. These results revealed significant knowledge gaps, low levels of desired attitudes, and high-risk behavioral practices. To improve awareness, control programs are needed to update knowledge on medical personnel and to prevent animal-to-human transmission