Transhumance in Protected Areas in Benin

Every year, protected areas and regions in West Africa receive transhumant herds. This movement of herds from the dry zone (the Sahelian region) to more humid costal zones is a tradition for the Fulani people. In general, protected areas in West Africa are located at the border of the Sahelian zones through which most transhumants must pass. This periodic movement has an impact on natural resources and the people in the reception zones, especially around and in the protected areas. The objectives of the study were to define and describe the type of transhumant cattle breeding systems around these protected areas, to deduce impacts on population and environment of this system and to provide suggestions for better management of cattle breeding and transhumance around protected area

Typology Of Cattle Herds In Transhumance In The Classified Forest Of Upper Alibori Northern Benin

To characterize the cattle herds in transhumance in the classified forest of upper Alibori (CFUA) north of Benin, an investigation of 132 cattle herds with a total of 11,020 head was carried out. Using the methods of factorial analysis of multiple correspondences (FAMC) and ascending hierarchical classification (AHC), a typology of four types of transhumant cattle herds were established. Cattle herds of type 1 (17.5% of the sample) were riparian of CFUA. They were led by young herdsmen (17 ± 3 years), all parents of herds’ managers to whom they use to make all decisions concerning these herds whose average size is low (44 ± 20 head). Type 2 cattle herds (28.8% of the sample) were from the neighboring commons of CFUA and were led by two relatively young herdsmen (26 ± 3 years) and mostly parents of herds’ managers with which they conferred to make decisions. These herds had an average size of 94 ± 20 head. The third type (43.9% of the sample) consisted of transhumant herds from distant commons, passing through the CFUA towards other protected areas. They had a high size (112 ± 13 head) and were conducted by two relatively young herdsmen (31 ± 4 years) and mostly parents of herds’ managers. Decisions were taken by the herds’ managers sometimes in consultation with the herdsmen. The migratory herds of type 4 (9.8% of the sample) from neighboring countries. They went through the CFUA towards protected areas further south with a very high size (144 ± 15 head). These herds were conducted generally by two or three herdsmen whose average age was 36 ± 4 years and were heavily involved in decision making in consultation with the herds’ managers. The typology implementation will allow us to analyze the different transhumance management modes in the CFUA

Effet de l’implantation des souches de Panicum maximum var. C1 sur l’invasion de Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit dans les pâturages naturels au Nord-Béni

La productivité et la durabilité des pâturages naturels sont menacées au Nord-Bénin par la prolifération de Hyptis suaveolens. La restauration de ces pâturages nécessite des mesures de lutte contre cette plante. L’étude visait à évaluer l’effet de Panicum maximum C1 installé avec des souches à une densité de 4 plants/m2 sur H. suaveolens et à comparer les réactions face à H. suaveolens des souches de P. maximum issues d’un milieu infesté ou non par H. suaveolens. Le contrôle d’invasion de H. suaveolens par la culture de P. maximum a été évalué par la contribution spécifique de contact (CSC), le biovolume (Bv) et la biomasse (Bm) de H. suaveolens. Lesrésultats ont montré que la présence de P. maximum C1 a réduit significativement (p<0,05) la CSC, le Bv et la Bm de H. suaveolens respectivement à 13,20%, 0,16% et 15,62% après trois mois de culture sans exploitation. La provenance des souches n’a eu d’effet significatif (p>0,05) sur aucun des paramètres biophysiques de H. suaveolens, ni sur le développement de P. maximum C1 en présence de H. suaveolens. Ainsi, la culture de P. maximum dans les pâturages envahis a permis d’améliorer leurs caractéristiques pastorales et peut être promue en milieu paysan.Mots clé : Hyptis suaveolens, Panicum maximum C1, plante envahissante, pâturages, Bénin. Effect of Panicum maximum var. C1 stumps cultivation on invasion of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit in natural pastures in northern Benin   The productivity and sustainability of natural pastures in northern Benin are threatened by the proliferation of Hyptis suaveolens. The restoration of these pastures requires control measures against this plant. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of Panicum maximum C1 installed with stumps at a density of 4 plants/m² on the development of H. suaveolens and to compare the reactions with respect to H. suaveolens of P. maximum’s stumps from an infested environment or not by H. suaveolens. Invasion control of H. suaveolens by culture of P.  maximum was assessed using the specific contact contribution (SCC), biovolume (Bv) and biomass (Bm) of H. suaveolens. The results showed that the presence of P. maximum C1 reduced significantly (p <0.05) the SCC, Bv and Bm of H. suaveolens respectively to 13.20%, 0.16% and 15.62% after three months of cultivation without exploitation. The origin of stumps had no significant effect (p> 0.05) on any of the biophysical parameters of H. suaveolens, nor on the development of P. maximum C1 in the presence of H. suaveolens. Thus, the cultivation of P. maximum in pastures invaded has improved their pastoral characteristics and can be promoted in rural areas. Keywords: Hyptis suaveolens, Panicum maximum C1, invasive plant, pastures, Benin

Effets De L’incorporation Du Son De Maïs A Différents Doses Sur Les Performances De Croissance Des Lapereaux Et La Rentabilité De L’élevage

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of rabbits fed with rations containing corn bran at different levels of incorporation. Three rations, R5, R11 and R16, were formulated with incorporation rates of corn bran of 5.5%, 11% and 16.5%, respectively. Ninety young rabbits of 5 weeks of age were used for the experiments. The fattening study lasted 8 weeks and that of digestibility lasted for 1 week. The findings showed that the ration with 5.5% maize bran showed the best growth performances (18 g/d) with the highest digestibility values of dry matter (67%) and cellulose (97%). The ration with 16.5% corn bran yields 17 g / d with a better digestibility of the crude protein (97%) and the highest efficiency index (2.40). The ration with 11% maize bran is the most expensive (1395 Fcfa/kg) and has intermediate characteristics to that of the other two. The ration R could be used by rabbit farmers in urban and peri-urban areas to improve animal zootechnical performances. Future studies should be focused on the digestive use of different nutrients in rabbits through an in vivo study

Spatio-temporal Dynamics of Natural Rangelands Exploited by Transhumance Cattle Herds in the Classified Forest of Upper Alibori, Northern Benin

The natural rangelands of the Classified Forest of Upper Alibori (CFUA) are subject to strong anthropogenic pressures. One can question the capabilities of the classified forest sustainably support this level of control. The aim of this research is to assess the physiognomy changes recorded in these natural rangelands of this forest from 2000 to 2015.  The diachronic approach from the Landsat images ETM + of 2000 and OLI-Tirs of 2015 were used. The transition matrix was produced using the Intersect function of the software ArcGIS 10.1. The results showed a regression of the forest formations in favor of the savannah and anthropogenic formations. The woodland and savannah woodland were the most affected because they almost disappeared in 2015. Its surface passed from 12.7 % in 2000 to 0.99 % in 2015.  On the contrary, the agricultural areas (mosaics of fields and fallow land) increased from 15.3 % in 2000 to 33.2 % in 2015. In general, the vegetation of the natural rangelands of CFUA had undergone a major transformation mainly related to agro-pastoral activities and tree logging. Effects on the state of rangelands of transhumant herds in this classified forest have been observed through the degradation of vegetation cover. In a perspective of sustainable management of natural rangelands and securing pastoral resources of this protected area, it is therefore very important to put in place effective strategies for forest management, in order to participate in the restoration of extinct vegetation and the conservation of biodiversity

Transhumance en République du Bénin : états des lieux et contraintes

L’élevage pastoral joue un rôle prépondérant dans l’économie des pays de l’Afrique tropicale. Au Bénin, l’élevage, surtout celui du gros bétail, est essentiellement transhumant. De nombreuses études et rencontres scientifiques se sont consacrées à sa connaissance en vue de résoudre les difficultés qu’elle génère et de nombreuses dispositions réglementaires ont été adoptées dans ce même objectif. Le but de la présente étude est de faire un état des lieux de ces différents travaux afin d’en sortir les contraintes auxquelles ce système est confronté. Pour ce faire, plusieurs documents qui ont traité de la transhumance au Bénin et dans la sous-région Ouest Africaine ont été consultés. Les données obtenues ont été synthétisées. Ensuite, une caractérisation de la transhumance a été faite. L’outil utilisé est la triangulation. Il ressort de l’étude que les premiers écrits sur la transhumance datent de 1905. Les résultats ont également permis de voir qu’elle est confrontée à des problèmes d’alimentation, de variabilités climatiques, des textes règlementaires, de conflits et de disponibilités des infrastructures pastorales. Il ressort également que la transhumance demeure sous la forte influence des systèmes de culture surtout pendant la sécheresse. Mais la contribution des systèmes de culture demeure insuffisante.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Système d’élevage, audit, difficultés, alimentation, Afrique de l’OuestEnglish Title: Transhumance in Republic of Benin: state of art and constraintsEnglish AbstractThe pastoral breeding plays a preponderant role in the economy of the sub-Saharan Africa countries. In Benin, beef cattle breeding are essentially nomadic. Numerous studies and meeting focused on it in order to solving the difficulties it brings and numerous legal dispositions were adopted for this same target. This study aims at making the inventory of these different studies in order to bring out the constraints confronted by the  system. Several documents on transhumance in Benin and the region were consulted and the data synthesized. This synthesis allowed to characterizing the study area, then the historic and characterization of nowadays transhumance. The tools used are the triangulation. The study reveals that the first papers on transhumance were writing in 1905. Moreover, the results showed that transhumance is confronted with pasture, climate variability, the statutory texts, the conflicts and the availability of pastoral infrastructures. The study also showed that transhumance is still under the heavy influence of crops systems mainly the dry drought season. However, the contribution to the farming system is still inadequate.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: West Africa, difficult, alimentation, audit, breedin