Ovverview of goats’ health situation in Tizi-ouzou region: the case of “kabylian dwarf”

peer reviewedCette étude informe sur la situation sanitaire et l’impact socio-économique engendré par les différentes pathologies rencontrées chez le caprin « nain kabyle » dans la wilaya de Tizi Ouzou. Elle a été réalisée de mars 2016 à juillet 2017, à travers des enquêtes menées auprès de 36 éleveurs. Les questions ont porté sur les différentes pathologies rencontrées et leurs conséquences sur le plan économique. Les résultats ont révélé l’existence de la peste des petits ruminants (5,55%) et de la fièvre aphteuse (2,78%) sans pour autant déplorer de mortalité. Cependant, la majorité des éleveurs (91,67%) ont déclaré que leurs animaux n’ont manifesté aucune pathologie. Par ailleurs, la totalité des éleveurs enquêtés ne déclarent pas ces maladies du fait de l’absence d’assistance de la part des pouvoirs publiques. Cette situation sanitaire, non déclarée, entraine chez 100% des éleveurs la diminution des revenus et des bénéfices de leurs élevages suite à la baisse de vente de leurs animaux. Ayant eu connaissance de cette situation critique engendrée par la peste des petits ruminants et la fièvre aphteuse, les instances concernées ont mené des compagnes de vaccination gratuite à travers toute la région. Les résultats de cette étude montrent que la chèvre naine kabyle pourrait être considérée comme une race rustique et résistante aux maladies rencontrées dans sa région. Cependant, des études plus approfondies doivent être entreprises (notamment la résistance génétique aux pathologies) pour favoriser son exploitation économique durable dans son berceau

Biometric Variability of Arabia Goat in Laghouat (Algeria) Using the Mean of the Principal Component Analysis

peer reviewedGenetic erosion has a great risk for local goat genetic resources around the world and in Algeria. This study is aimed to verify the homogeneity of Arabia goat through multivariate analysis. A total of 111 females aged three years or more were involved. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Classi-fication Analysis (HCA) were conducted on 14 quantitative variables. Furthermore, 7 body indices were calculated. Through the PCA, the three first factorial components accounted for 60.50% of the total vari-ability (31.02, 20.04 and 9.44%, respectively). HCA allowed classifying the Arabia population into three groups that differ significantly (p˂0.05): the group 1 (n=30, 27.03% of the total) is constituted by the small-est goats, the group 2 (n=56, 50.45% of the total) is characterized by the highest values of body length, height at withers and chest circumference and finally the group 3 (n=25, 22.52% of the total) is character-ized by the highest values of width measurements and canon circumference. Morphology indices calculated did not show a significant difference between the three groups for cephalic index, body index, body length index and thoracic development index. About body ratio, chest dactyl index, and canon thickness index, a significant difference was shown especially with group 3. This work highlighted the non-existent of mor-phometric similarity in Arabia breed of Laghouat region (Algeria)

An overview of the welfare of animals used for scientific and educational purposes in Algeria

This study describes the welfare and animals used for scientific and educational purposes in the field of laboratory animal sciences in Algeria. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the status of the care and use of animals and to improve implementing plans and animal welfare measures. A literature review was performed using online databases and reference lists of the US National Library of Medicine to assess the prevalence of animal use for research in Algeria between 2013 and 2017. Also a retrospective study was conducted using the Pasteur Institute of Algeria report for 2015 to assess the prevalence of animal use in both teaching and research. The first workshop on animal experimentation was organized in 2013 in collaboration with international animal laboratory organizations (ICLAS and OIE) and involving the participation of universities, research centers, veterinary schools and the Pasteur Institute of Algeria. In addition, after accreditation of the Algerian Association of Experimental Animal Sciences, a number of training workshops and courses relating to laboratory animal sciences were organized. In Algeria the use of laboratory animals in research and education is a subject of debate regarding the need to establish regulations and to propose an appropriate ethical framework for the use of animals. Finally, some actions have been already taken in Algeria to promote the ethical use of animals but many more sustainable actions are needed and require cooperation, harmonization of policies and establishment of regional and international networks for experience exchange

A basic characterization of small-holders’ goat production systems in Laghouat area, Algeria

Abstract In order to investigate the practices of goat breeding and establish a classification of goat herds, a survey was conducted with 106 goat breeders in the semi-arid region of Laghouat. Two indigenous breeds were encountered in this survey: the Arabia and the Mekatia; the Arabia being found as the dominant. The results show that breeders choose the breeding goats with a goal of generating more income in cash from the sale of products. The goat milk marketing chain appears to be weak. The milk produced is primary used for home consumption. A multivariate analysis categorized the goat farming of Laghouat region into three groups corresponding to three different farming systems: cluster 1 (pastoral system), cluster 2 (mixed crop-livestock system) and cluster 3 (small herds in zero grazing system). The in-depth study of the goals and contexts of goat farming in Laghouat will allow policy makers to design strategies for sustainable development of goat breeding in the region