Socio-Economic Characteristics of Small Ruminant Rearing in the West Province of Cameroon. Between March and August 2003, a survey was carried out to assess the socio-economic characteristics of small ruminant rearing in the West Province of Cameroon (LN 3' 5°, LE 8' 20°). A total of 55 farms were investigated through direct interviews and observations. The main results indicate that: Socioeconomically, small ruminant rearing is a male activity (90%). Farmers are more than 40 years old (75%). The majority are married (95%), polygamist (63%) and have more than 3 wives (50%). Few of them are Christians (8%), while one fifth is illiterate but 40% have more than 10 years of experience in animal rearing. The majority of the farmers (90%) use family labour. They raise animal mostly for market (78%), despite the fact that small ruminant rearing contributes only for 4% to the household annual income. Farmers invest very little on animals. Zootechnically, herd are made of West African Dwarf Goat, Djallonke sheep and Merinos crossbred. Goat and sheep herds represent 80% and 5% respectively. Goat herd varies from 1 to 5 for 85% of the farmers, 67% of whom house animal in the kitchen. Feeding is mainly on pasture. Complementary diet is provided by 74% with 44 and 20% of them using kitchen and agricultural wastes respectively. As concern the types of births; 56, 38 and 6% are simple, double and triple respectively. Before weaning mortality is 28%. The main diseases are diarrhoea (80%) and respiratory complications (70%). The main constraints as indicated by 64, 32, 47 and 35% of farmers are theft, mortality, shortage of credit and lack of pasture respectively. Respectives to their perspectives, farmers would like to increase the herd (58%), access easily to pharmaceutical products (53%), build separate houses for animals (11%) and improve the pasture (5%)
