Forage biomass availability, species diversity and seasonal variation in grazing behaviour of cattle in the outskirts of Ouagadougou

In order to determine the exploitation of grazing areas in the outskirts of Ouagadougou by cattle herds, the grazing behaviour of cows was monitored in five villages in these during three distinct seasons, namely wet, cool dry and hot dry season. A vegetation study including a census of the woody and herbaceous stratum of grazing areas allowed for an assessment of the pasture biomass availability during the wet season. Results of the monitoring of cattle herds showed that the land type grazed by cattle in the outskirts of the city varied depending on the season. While fallows and post-harvest fields constituted the main land type grazed by cattle in the wet and cool dry season, respectively, cattle herds exploited a variety of land types in the hot dry season. Consequently, cows travelled longer distances and spent more time on walking and browsing and less time on grazing in the hot dry season than in the cool dry and wet season. The pastoral value of grazing areas during the wet season, an important indicator for the quality of the grazing areas being based on the pastoral composition and the global quality index, was estimated at 61.1 %. The biomass was mainly dominated by annual grasses and legumes. The total annual above-ground biomass produced amounted to 575 kg DM ha-1, equivalent to a qualified forage production of 324 kg DM ha-1 and a carrying capacity of 0.084 TLU ha-1. In total, over 100 different herbaceous and 48 woody species were identified, each belonging to 20 families. Despite a high diversity of woody and herbaceous species, it is recommended to reduce the grazing pressure of cattle herds in the outskirts of Ouagadougou by addressing alternative feeding strategies

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers] intercropping improves grain yield, fodder biomass, and nutritive value

Burkina Faso livestock feeding is characterized by a hot dry season fodder deficit, which affects animal performance and causes economic losses. To overcome this challenge, improving quality fodder production through the use of dual-purpose crops is a potential alternative. Hence, this study aimed at testing dual-purpose cultivars of sorghum and cowpea under monoculture and intercropping in the North Sudan zone in Burkina Faso. To do this, a “Mother and Baby trials” approach was adopted. The mother trial was designed as a randomized complete block with eight treatments (combinations of monoculture and intercropping systems for two cowpeas and two sorghum cultivars) and four replications during two cropping seasons (2019 and 2020) at the INERA research station in Saria. The on-farm “baby” trials involved 30 farmers during two cropping seasons (2019 and 2020) in four communes: Koudougou, Poa, Nandiala, and Kokologo. Data were collected on weed biomass and density, fodder biomass and grain yield, intercropping efficiency, and fodder nutritive value. The results of the mother trial showed that intercropping significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced weed density and weed biomass. Sorghum cultivar Ponta Negra had the highest fodder biomass yield (10.05 kg DM/ha) while sorghum Sariaso16 had the highest grain yield (4.42 kg/ha). Cowpea cultivar KVx745-11P had greater fodder biomass (4.72 kg DM/ha) than Tiligré (3.28 kg DM/ha) with similar grain yield (2.17 and 2.17 kg/ha). Intercropping was the most efficient land-use cropping system for fodder biomass and grain yield improvement both in mother and baby trials. For fodder nutritive value, cultivars Sariaso16 and Ponta Negra had similar crude protein concentrations (ranging from 4.1 to 5.4%), and cowpea cultivar KVx745-11P haulms had greater crude protein (ranging from 16.9 to 20.3%). The use of Ponta Negra and KVx745-11P and Sariaso16 and KVx745-11P under intercropping is likely to optimize grain and quality fodder production for crop-livestock farmers in the North Sudan zone

Performance of food–feed maize and cowpea cultivars under monoculture and intercropping systems: Grain yield, fodder biomass, and nutritive value

Livestock feeding in Burkina Faso is characterized by a recurrent deficit in both the quality and the quantity of fodder during the dry season, which affects animal performance. To overcome this, quality fodder/forage production is an alternative. Therefore, this study evaluated food- and feed-improved cultivars of maize and cowpea in intercropping trials using the “mother and baby trials” approach with crop–livestock farmers. The mother trial comprised a randomized block design with eight treatments and four replicates: two cowpea (KVx745-11P and Tiligré) and two maize cultivars (Barka and Espoir), and grown under two cropping systems (monoculture and intercropping). Baby trials were established on-farm and involved 30 farmers during two seasons (2019 and 2020) in four villages in the South Sudan zone of Burkina Faso. Data were collected on (1) weed density and biomass, (2) grain yield and fodder biomass, (3) intercropping efficiency, and (4) fodder nutritive value. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and the least significant difference (LSD) means separation at a 5% threshold. The results revealed that maize and cowpea intercropping significantly reduced weed biomass (p ≤ 0.05). In monoculture, the maize cultivar Barka produced a greater grain yield (4980 kg/ha) and fodder biomass [6259 kg dry matter (DM)/ha] than the cultivar Espoir, which produced a grain yield of 2581 kg/ha and fodder biomass of 4952 kg DM/ha. The cowpea cultivars, KVx745-11P and Tiligré, were similar (p ≥ 0.05) in terms of fodder biomass (2435–2820 kg DM/ha) and grain yield (1152–1163 kg/ha). For the intercropping system, land equivalent ratios for fodder biomass (1.18:1.41) and grain yield (1.02:1.44) were greater than 1; intercropping also had better productivity system indexes than the monoculture cropping system. The crude protein concentration of fodder was greater for Barka maize (9.5%–9.8%) than for Espoir maize (8.5%–8.7%). The crude protein concentration was greater for cowpea KVx745-11P (19%–21.8%) than for cowpea Tiligré (15%–17%). Intercropping both Barka maize and cowpea KVx745-11P was the most productive cropping system for maximizing grain and fodder production for crop–livestock farmers in the South Sudan zone of Burkina Faso

The role of ligneous vegetation for livestock nutrition in the sub-Sahelian and Sudanian zones of West Africa: Potential effects of climate change

The Advisory Group on International Agricultural Research (BEAF) at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) within the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ) for funding the project ALUCCSA (Adaptation of Landuse to Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa, project number 07.7860.5-001.00)

Transhumance et gestion des ressources naturelles au Sahel : contraintes et perspectives face aux mutations des systèmes de productions pastorales

En région sahélienne du Burkina Faso, l’élevage est de type extensif basé essentiellement sur l’exploitation des ressources naturelles. Les pratiques traditionnelles actuelles ne permettent plus de répondre efficacement aux problèmes d’alimentation et d’abreuvement des animaux. L’amplitude des mouvements des pasteurs, la transhumance, est devenue plus importante et les séjours dans les zones d’accueil deviennent de plus en plus longs. Ce travail fait une situation de référence de la pratique de la transhumance et des perspectives face aux grandes mutations des systèmes de production pastoraux en cours. Le travail a consisté à effectuer des travaux d’enquêtes à passage unique chez 111 transhumants de la région du Sahel. Ces enquêtes ont été couplées avec des interviews semi-structurées auprès de 16 personnes ressources des services techniques, ONG/Associations travaillant avec des transhumants. Les investigations ont montré que la transhumance est due en majeurs partis aux déficits en ressources fourragères et hydriques (88 %). Le calendrier, l’itinéraire suivi et les temps de séjour dépendent de la disponibilité des ressources pastorales des zones d’attache, de transit et d’accueil. Ainsi, une partie des transhumants du Sahel se déplace vers les parcours de la zone du Béli et la République du Mali tandis qu’une autre va vers le Gourma, le Bénin et le Togo. Les difficultés liées à cette mobilité sont l’accès à l’eau (19,4 %), les agressions et vols d’animaux (19,7 %), les dégâts des champs (41 %) et les taxes (21 %). L’analyse des contraintes permet de formuler des propositions relatives à : i) l’aménagement de l’espace pastoral, ii) les mécanismes de sécurisation des aménagements, iii) l’amélioration de l’environnement de la transhumance, iv) la formation des acteurs de la transhumance.In the Sahelian region of Burkina Faso, the dominant livestock keeping system is the pastoral system characterized by a high dependence on natural resources. Currently, the traditional practices are not any more able to respond efficiently to the recurrent animal’s feeding and watering problems. The range of herd mobility, the transhumance has become more important and the stays in the destination sites are becoming longer. This present work aims to make a baseline on the transhumance practices and its perspectives in the context of ongoing great mutation of livestock production system in the Sahel. Household surveys with 111 transhumant pastoralist, coupled with semi structured interview with 16 key informants were conducted. Results show that, transhumance is an animal production system in expansion in the Sahel. Herd mobility is mainly due to lack of forages and water resources (88%). Departure to, and return from transhumance as well as the time spent in transit zones and the distance travelled depend on the availability of pastures resources. The itinerary analyses showed a first group of transhumant having their destination toward Béli and Republic of Mali, and the second group move southward to Gourma region of Burkina Faso, and neighbouring countries such Ghana, Benin and Togo. The main constraints of transhumance are access to watering point (19.4 %), conflicts and animals rob (19.7 %), crops fields damage (41 %) and high taxes payment (21 %). Action to be taken for the future of transhumance, are creation of pastoral zones (47%), digging of pastoral wells (53%) and dam (52%); and establishment and maintenance of transhumance routes (21%). Based on the analyses of the constraints, propositions were formulated for adaptation and improvement of the production system in relation to the key issues and challenges: i) the creation of pastoral zones, ii) securisation of transhumance routes and pastures areas iii) improvement of transhumance practices and iv) capacity building of transhumant pastoralists