Méthodologie d’analyse et d’évaluation technico- économique des systèmes de production ovine et caprine

. Cet article rapporte le travail effectué depuis 1994 par le groupe d’experts du sous-réseau FAO-CIHEAM sur les systèmes de production ovine et caprine, concernant la méthodologie d’évaluation de ces systèmes. L’objectif de ce travail était de mettre au point une méthodologie pour analyser, évaluer et comparer les systèmes de production ovine et caprine, et ainsi pour répondre aux besoins des éleveurs et des agents de développement dans les domaines du diagnostic, du conseil et de l’aide à la décision. La méthode repose sur l’estimation d’un ensemble d’indicateurs directement mesurés, ou d’indicateurs calculés à partir d’autres indicateurs concernant l’exploitation agricole dans son ensemble ou l’atelier ovin ou caprin exclusivement. Les indicateurs sont choisis après validation du groupe d’experts. L’article décrit comment dans certains cas, les difficultés sur le choix d’un ou plusieurs indicateurs ont été résolues. Au total, 196 indicateurs sont décrits dans les tableaux de 1 à 8 avec des conseils sur les conditions de calcul, la signification et l’interprétation de chaque indicateur. Cette méthode repose sur le travail d’enquête des agents de développement qui peuvent être aidés par les éleveurs au niveau de l’enregistrement des données. Les différentes approches pour interpréter les résultats en fonction des objectifs de l’étude sont passées en revue, en particulier l’interprétation par des "blocs diagnostics" et l’identification des points forts ou faibles de chaque système. La restitution des résultats aux éleveurs est considérée comme une phase essentielle de la méthode. La méthode a été appliquée dans des conditions différentes en Andalousie, en Roumanie, au Portugal et au Nord du Maroc pour validation ; ce qui a permis d’améliorer certains points de la méthode afin qu’elle puisse être appliquée de façon plus large.This paper presents the work undertaken since 1994 by a working group of experts from sub-network FAO-CIHEAM on systems of sheep and goat production, on evaluation’s methodology of such systems. The objective of this study was to set up a methodology for analysing and comparing the various systems of sheep and goat production, an so as to meet farmers and extension officers’ requirements in terms of diagnosis, advise and help to decision. This methodology may be applied only if the characteristics of sheep and goat units can be measurable and measured. The method is based on the assessment of a set of directly measured indicators, as well as indicators calculated by other indicators concerning the whole farm or sheep or goat units exclusively. The indicators are selected after validation decided by a working group of experts. The present paper reports on how in some cases, the difficulties on the choice of one or several indicators were solved. On overall, 196 indicators were described in tables from 1 to 8 with advises on conditions of calculation, the significance and interpretation of each indicator. This method is based on the work of survey of development agents likely to be helped by farmers at recording of data. The different approaches for interpreting results in accordance with the objectives of the study are presented in the present paper, particularly the interpretation by "indicators sets for diagnostic" and identification of major or weak points of each system. The diffusion of results to farmers is an essential phase of the method. This method was applied in different conditions in Andalusia, in Romania, in Portugal and Northern Morocco for validation purpose; this enabled the improvement of some points of the method so as to enlarge its field of applicatio

Effects of kefir on coccidial oocysts excretion and performance of dairy goat kids following weaning

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of kefir, a traditional source of probiotic, on coccidial oocysts excretion and on the performance of dairy goat kids following weaning. Twin kids were randomly allocated to one of two groups at weaning. Kids of the first group received 20 ml of kefir daily for 6 weeks (KEF), while kids in the control group were given a placebo (CON). Individual faecal samples were regularly (n = 18 per kid) taken to quantify the number of coccidial oocysts per gram of faeces (OpG). There were no differences between the groups in terms of body weight development (P > 0.05) and feed consumption. Kids of both groups were not able to consume enough feed to meet their nutrient requirements during the first 3 weeks following weaning. KEF had a lower frequency of OpG positive samples than CON (P = 0.043). Kefir did not affect the maximum oocyst excretion and age of the kids at the highest oocyst excretion (P > 0.05). KEF shed numerically 35% lower coccidial oocysts than the controls, which corresponded to a statistical tendency (P = 0.074) in lowering Log-OpG in comparison to CON. While KEF had a lower frequency of OpG positive samples and tended to shed lower OPG by around one-third, the frequency of diarrhea, level of highest oocyst excretion, and performance of the kids remained unaffected. Therefore, it is concluded that overall effects of kefir do not have a significant impact on sub-clinical infection and performance in weaned kids under relatively high-hygienic farming conditions