1.1 Background
1.2 Livestock numbers and distribution
1.3 Cattle
1.4 Sheep and goats
1.5 Research and development activities
1.6 Selected bibliography
1.7 Major changes since 1977
The Directorate of Animal Health and Production (La Direction de la Santé et des Productions Animales) is currently reporting to the State Secretariat for Animal Resources (Le Secrétariat d'Etat aux Ressources Animales) which is itself under the Ministry of Rural Development [le Ministère du Développement Rural (MDR)].
The Agricultural Research Institute of Senegal [L'Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA)], also under MDR, consists of six departments, three of which are involved with livestock production: a Research Support Department (Département appui à la recherche), a Research Department for Production Systems and Technology Transfer to Rural Areas (Département de recherches sur les systèmes de production et le transfert de technologie en milieu rural) and a Department of Animal Health and Production Research (Département de recherches sur la santé animale et les productions animales) which includes the Livestock Research Centres of Kolda and Dahra and the National Livestock Production and Veterinary Research Laboratory [Laboratoire National d'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires (LNERV)] in Dakar-Hann.
Data for the country and study area are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Human and animal populations of Senegal, 1983.
|
|
Country |
Study area |
|
|
Human population (1983) |
|||
|
|
- number |
6 038 000 |
|
|
|
- density |
30.7/km² |
|
|
Animal population (1983) |
|||
|
|
- cattle |
2 200 000 |
1 210 000 |
|
|
- sheep |
1 967 000 |
1 245 000 |
|
|
- goats |
983 000 |
1 245 000 |
Sources: For human population, projections (+2.8%) based on 1976 national census, Direction de la Santé et des Productions Animales (DSPA), 1985. For animal population, Ministry of Rural Development, Livestock Production Division Statistics, 1985 (quoted by Ly, 1985).
In 1979, tsetse infested 70 000 km² (or 36% of the country) out of a total area of 196 200 km² (Touré, 1979). According to a new tsetse distribution map prepared by Laveissiere and Toure (1982), all of the Casamance Region is infested with tsetse as well as most parts of Senegal Oriental, a strip in the south of Sine Saloum along the Gambian border and the coast, and the Dakar and Thies areas. G. p. gambiensis is found in all the areas mentioned. G. morsitans submorsitans is found throughout the Casamance Region, in the south of Sine Saloum and in the south, southeast and northeast of Senegal Oriental. G. longipalpis is found in the northeast, west and southwest of Casamance.
The combined effect of drought and abuse of forest resources has resulted in major changes in the distribution of tsetse in the mid-east areas of the country within the past few years. G. morsitans submorsitans, which used to be found as far north as longitude 14°40' only 10 years ago, has practically disappeared above 13°50'N (Diaité, 1984).
The number of cattle in 1983 in the departments of the three regions studied is shown in Table 2, broken down according to the three breeds - N'Dama, Djakoré and Gobra Zebu - found in the area. The N'Dama constitutes 53% of the cattle population in the study area and about 30% of the total number of cattle. The Djakore accounts for 33% of the herd in the study area and 18.5% of the total population.
Statistics in Senegal do not always differentiate between sheep and goats. It is generally agreed that two-thirds of all the small ruminants are sheep and one-third goats. The number of small ruminants by species, when available, is given in Table 2.
Table 2. Livestock numbers in the study area of Senegal, 1983.
|
Region and department |
Cattle |
Sheep |
Goat |
|||
|
Total |
N'Dama |
Djakoré |
Zebu |
|||
|
CASAMANCE |
||||||
|
Ziguinchor |
12 700 |
12 700 |
- |
- |
9 050 |
12 750 |
|
Oussouye |
8 000 |
8 000 |
- |
- |
2 510 |
3 350 |
|
Bignona |
77 000 |
77 000 |
- |
- |
54 700 |
23 070 |
|
Sedhiou |
84 000 |
84 000 |
- |
- |
53 370 |
47 000 |
|
Kolda |
158 400 |
158 400 |
- |
- |
91 870 |
129 930 |
|
Velingara |
108 700 |
108 700 |
- |
- |
40 000 |
45 700 |
|
Subtotal |
448 800 |
448 800 |
- |
- |
252 500 |
261 800 |
|
SENEGAL ORIENTAL |
||||||
|
Tambacounda |
151 470 |
106 000 |
37 900 |
7 570 |
139 740 |
|
|
Bakel |
162 580 |
1 600 |
157 680 |
3 300 |
18 760 |
|
|
Kedougou |
22 550 |
22 550 |
- |
- |
65 700 |
|
|
Subtotal |
336 600 |
130 150 |
195 580 |
10 870 |
224 200 |
|
|
SINE SALOUM |
||||||
|
Fatik |
57 406 |
- |
14 352 |
43 054 |
118 850 |
|
|
Foundiougne |
46 451 |
18 580 |
27 871 |
- |
140 093 |
|
|
Gossas |
52 225 |
- |
13 225 |
39 000 |
33 732 |
|
|
Kaffrine |
126 615 |
4 700 |
80 370 |
41 545 |
67 839 |
|
|
Kaolack |
49 848 |
- |
26 918 |
22 930 |
64 135 |
|
|
Nioro du Rip |
92 055 |
41 455 |
50 600 |
- |
82 706 |
|
|
Subtotal |
424 600 |
64 735 |
213 336 |
146 529 |
507 400 |
|
|
Total (study zone) |
1 210 000 |
643 685 |
408 916 |
157 399 |
1 244 900 |
|
Source: DSPA (1983).
1.3.1 Breed characterisation
1.3.2 Diseases
1.3.3 Herd management
1.3.1.1 N'DAMA
Livestock production stations and ranches show a preference for N'Dama with fawn coats as these are preferred by countries importing N'Dama. Another reason given is that this coat colour is associated with a greater resistance to trypanosomiasis. However, a study conducted by Touré et al (1981) showed that fawn N'Dama are neither more nor less trypanotolerant than white, black or pied N'Dama.
1.3.1.1.1 Performance traits
A comprehensive study of reproduction parameters for N'Dama raised on-station was conducted by ISRA with the assistance of ILCA in 1982 (Fall et al, 1982). Detailed information on reproduction parameters, mortality, body weight, linear measurements and productivity are presented in this document.
The main results obtained at the station during the 1974-81 period are:
· Age at first calving is given as 39.8 months ± 0.8 months with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 14.1%; a calving interval of 495 ± 16 days with a coefficient of variation of 26%; an average breeding career of 7.5 years and an average lifespan of 10.8 years· Mortality rates in calves are 9.6% between birth and weaning at six months and 1.3% from six months to one year. Mortality rate for breeding cows is 2.9% per year and average interval between generations is 6.7 years
· Average daily weight gain for calves is 0.36 kg between birth and weaning at six months and 0.21 kg/day between birth and 30 months. Average body weight of cows is 234 kg
· The three body measurements of the animal - weight at withers, scapulo-ischiale length and chest girth - were analysed and correlated with body weight
· Reproduction parameters, viability and body weight of calves and dams have been combined to obtain the productivity index.
1.3.1.1.2 Index of productivity
Table 3 summarises estimates of the production traits of the N'Dama based on the index computed in Volume 1 which is defined as the total weight of one-year-old calves plus the liveweight equivalent of milked-out yield per cow maintained per year or per 100-kg cow maintained per year.
Table 3. N'Dama productivity estimates at CRZ, Kolda.
|
Adult female viability (%) |
97 |
|
Calving percentage |
75 |
|
Calf viability to one year (%) |
80 |
|
Calf weight at one year (kg) |
111 |
|
Productivity index per cow per annum (kg) |
67.6 |
|
Adult female weight (KG) |
232 |
|
Productivity index per 100-kg cow maintained per annum (kg) |
29.1 |
Source: Compiled by authors.
The methods used to calculate productivity indices in the ILCA study (1982) were slightly different and are as follows:
Index 1: Calf weight at nine months per cow per year. Calculated for each calving as the product of the weight of calf at nine months x 365 ÷ calving interval.Index 2: Calf weight at nine months per 100 kg per cow per annum. Calculated as index 1 ÷ average weight of cow x 100.
Index 3: Total weight of calves at nine months per 100 kg metabolic weight per cow per annum. Calculated as index 1 ÷ average cow weight to the power 0.73 x 100.
The value of these indices calculated from 280 data sets are 70.1, 29.1 and 127 kg for indexes 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
Since the publication of these results, CRZ, Kolda has started a research programme in village environment. Preliminary comparative data obtained for N'Dama raised at CRZ and traditional production systems are presented in Table 4.
Table 4. Comparative average weight of N'Dama raised at CRZ, Kolda, and in the traditional production system.
|
Age |
Number |
Mean weight (kg) | |
|
CRZ, Kolda | |||
|
Females | |||
|
Birth |
66 |
16.33 | |
|
|
3 months |
52 |
46.42 |
|
|
6 months |
38 |
71.86 |
|
|
9 months |
14 |
78.08 |
|
Males |
|
| |
|
|
Birth |
69 |
16.49 |
|
|
3 months |
48 |
44.44 |
|
|
6 months |
38 |
86.13 |
|
|
9 months |
10 |
89.9 |
|
Traditional livestock production system | |||
|
|
Birth |
69 |
14.05 |
|
|
3 months |
1 |
22.0 |
|
|
6 months |
2 |
37.02 |
|
|
9 months |
6 |
46.66 |
Source: CRZ (1984).
1.3.1.2 DJAKORE
Comparative productivity research on this breed was first conducted by ISRA, primarily as part of the production systems study. However, no new data are currently available.
Thirteen outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were reported in the Louga and Diourbel regions between 1983 and 1984 (DSPA, 1983). According to the most recent report by the Directorate of Animal Health and Production (FAO, 1986), there were several outbreaks of rinderpest in neighbouring countries in 1984 and 1985. No case of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia was reported during this period. Several outbreaks of anthrax (58 foci of blackquarter and 23 of anthrax) were recorded. The number of reported outbreaks of botulism remained stable (25 foci) as did the number of cases of pasteurellosis (25 foci).
Senegal received FAO assistance in 1983 for a one-year project entitled "Emergency Rinderpest Campaign and Strengthening of Dakar Laboratory" and in 1985 for a Rinderpest Control Project.
There has been a rapid increase in the use of animal traction in Senegal and the number of draught oxen in 1985 was estimated at 130 000 teams. (P H Starkey, Reading, UK, personal communication, 1986).
Lhoste (1986) emphasises the increasing use of females for animal traction. In Sine Saloum, 325 pairs of cows and 9039 pairs of oxen were used in 1974. In 1981, 8051 pairs of cows and 23 054 pairs of oxen were used. Since 1978, one-fourth of the traction power has been supplied by cows. The major difficulty is to synchronise the breeding season of the two cows with ploughing. A rest period of three to four months should be allowed during calving (end of pregnancy and beginning of lactation). Work females also have less draught power and less resistance than males. Nevertheless, agropastoralists recognise the numerous advantages of using females for traction:
· the longer working life of the female
· females are easier to train and move at a faster pace
· production of milk and calves.
A comprehensive study of the performance traits of West African dwarf sheep raised under village conditions was conducted by ISRA with the assistance of ILCA in 1982 (ILCA, 1982). Detailed data on reproduction parameters, mortality rates, weight, body measurements and productivity are given in this document.
The main results obtained at this station during the period 1974 to 1981 were as follows:
· age at first lambing 575 days with a lambing interval of 495 days· mortality rates for sheep were: 33% from birth to weaning at four months and 19% from four months to one year old. Mortality rate for breeding ewes was 14.8% per year
· daily weight gain for sheep was 0.06 kg from birth to weaning at four months and 0.04 kg from birth to one year. Average body weight for ewes was 23.5 kg
· the three body measurements, height at withers, scapulo-ischial length and chest girth were analysed and correlated with body weight
· reproduction parameters, viability and body weight of ewes and lambs were combined to obtain productivity indices.
Table 5 summarises estimates of the productivity of West African dwarf sheep using the index defined in Volume I as the total weight of lambs at five months per ewe maintained per year or per 10 kg of ewe maintained per year.
Table 5. Productivity estimates for West African dwarf sheep.
|
Ewe viability (%) |
85.2 |
|
Lambing rate (%) |
115 |
|
Lamb viability to one year (%) |
48 |
|
Lamb weight at 5 months (kg) |
10 |
|
Productivity index per ewe per year (kg) |
5.96 |
|
Ewe weight (kg) |
23.5 |
|
Productivity index per 10-kg ewe maintained per year (kg) |
2.54 |
Source: Compiled by authors.
The following new productivity indices for ewes were calculated using methods similar to those used for cows (ILCA, 1982):
Index 1: Total weight of lambs weaned at four months per ewe per year. Calculated for each lambing as being the total weight of lambs weaned at four months per ewe x 365 ÷ next lambing intervalIndex 2: Total weight of lambs weaned per kg of ewe maintained per year. Calculated as index 1 ÷ average weight of ewe.
Index 3: Total weight of lambs weaned per metabolic weight of ewe raised per year. Calculated as index 1 ÷ average weight of ewe maintained to the power 0.73.
The results obtained for 397 data sets were 11.5 kg for index 1, 466 g for index 2 and 1103 g for index 3.
There was a significant drop in the number of reported cases of peste de petite ruminants in 1983-84 compared to 1982-83 (6 foci as against 13) (FAO, 1986).
There was an increase in the number of sheep and goat pasteurellosis foci in 1984-85 (37 foci compared to 33 in 1983-84). There was no increase in the number of sheep pox foci (2 foci).
The following four research centres in Senegal work on trypanotolerance or with trypanotolerant breeds.
The National Laboratory for Livestock Production and Veterinary Research (LNERV) continues its activities on vaccine production and research on trypanosomiasis, trypanotolerance and trypanotolerant livestock (cattle and small ruminants) (LNERV, 1985). Technical assistance is provided by IEMVT (France) and recently by the World Bank through ISRA.
In 1985, CRZ, Kolda maintained 450 N'Dama and 200 West African dwarf sheep. Twelve sires are sent each year to the study area and the programme will eventually be extended to all ecological areas in which N'Dama are found (Ly, 1985). The mandate of the centre is the dissemination of genetic innovation obtained under station conditions. To this end, a pre-extension programme was introduced in 1978 involving a number of herds in nearby villages, to prepare and monitor reception conditions and utilisation of sires supplied by the station and eventually evaluate their effect on herd productivity.
Thirteen herds in seven villages, comprising 1300 head, are currently involved in the programme (Landais, 1985).
These two bodies should collaborate with the International Trypanotolerance Centre in The Gambia within the framework of the African Trypanotolerant Livestock Network.
CRNA, Bambey, is now mainly involved with crop research. Its livestock component (trypanotolerant livestock selection and crossbreeding) has been closed down and the livestock distributed to the Kaolack and Casamance stations.
Finally, the Experimental Units (UK) programme of the Kaolack Centre in Sine Saloum has been taken over by ISRA systems and production team. ISRA's livestock research programmes for 1985 were as follows (ISRA, 1985):
· Production systems in Sine Saloum (Kaolack and Fatick): surveys, monitoring and livestock trials· Production systems in Basse-Casamance: livestock production and monitoring systems, animal traction
· Support research for production systems in Sine Saloum (Kaolack and Fatick regions): animal traction equipment.
Various development projects on trypanotolerant livestock have been launched since the last study was completed.
The Project to Develop Livestock Production in Senegal Oriental (PDESO) is managed by the Textile Fibres Development Company (SO.DE.FI.TEX). It was launched in 1976 with funds provided by the World Bank, BADEA and Kuwait. The initial phase of the project was to encourage livestock production in the northern part of Senegal Oriental north of the Dakar-Bamako railway, a project involving an area of 1 300 000 ha and 132 000 head of cattle. A second phase is to be implemented between 1980 and 1985 (Agri-Afrique, 1985 and Kane and Ka, 1986).
In 1984, PDESO introduced a southern area livestock production phase in Senegal Oriental and Haute Casamance to provide adequate veterinary service and training in the nutritional aspect of breeding stock. This project covered 456 000 head of cattle and 260 000 head of sheep and goats and will last for five years (Agri-Afrique, 1985 and SO.DE.FI.TEX, 1986).
SO.DE.FI.TEX is also responsible for the "Senegal and Haute Casamance Rural Project" (PDRSO) and is primarily involved with the dissemination of animal traction (15 000 teams). The five-year project, begun in 1985, is funded by the CCCE, IDA, FAC, Kuwait and Senegal (Agri-Afrique, 1987).
The Casamance Region Development Company (SOMIVAC) also has a livestock production development component as part of a new project, "The Lower Casamance Integrated Agricultural Development Project" (PIDAC). This phase was introduced in 1979 to tag draught animals and monitor diseases within the framework of the SOMIVAC "agricultural programme". These activities were extended in 1981 with the establishment of small-scale rural projects. The livestock production programme comprises various aspects: herd management, management of sheep barns, veterinary materials and products, village veterinary pharmacies, training etc (PIDAC/SOMIVAC, 1986).
The Project to Improve Livestock Production and Pastures in Bakel Department, launched in 1975, aims to train producers in livestock management activities (350 000 ha and 40 000 head of cattle managed). The second phase, to be implemented between 1985 and 1989, is funded by USAID (Agri-Afrique, 1985).
The Sedhiou Rice Project (PRS) in Casamance provides training for farmers in the use of draught animals and encourages the production and fattening of trypanotolerant cattle.
Since the last study was completed, a sheep production project has been established in Sine Saloum. The "Project to Develop Sheep Production in Kaolack and Fatick Regions" (PRODELOV) covers Gossas, Guinguinéo-Gandiaye and Mbar, an area of 3000 ha. A second phase, to be implemented between 1985 and 1989, will be funded by the FAC (Ly, 1985 and Agri-Afrique, 1985).
In 1982, UNDP undertook a study at the request of the Gambian River Basin Authorities during which three livestock development projects were identified:
· Integrated Livestock Production Development Project in Kedougou Department, Senegal Oriental (a six-year project starting in 1981)· Development of the livestock production sector in Casamance (a five-year project starting in 1981)
· Livestock Fattening Project in Sine Saloum, expansion of pilot units for intensive beef production (a two-year project starting in 1981) (UNDP, 1982).
These projects are, however, in the planning stage.
Finally, it should be pointed out that the new agricultural policy of Senegal encourages private investment in identified projects. With regard to trypanotolerant livestock production, some privately owned structures are currently being established (Ly, 1985). These include:
· the ranch for the finishing beef cattle in Senegal Oriental. Planned production of 4000 head per year. Cost: 800 million CFA francs· the fattening company (SABEVI). Planned production of between 4000 and 6000 head per year. Cost: 850 million CFA francs
· SOPELA N'Dama Multiplication Unit in Missira. Cost: 200 million CFA francs.
· There are also indications that some private companies are interested in establishing a trypanotolerant cattle ranch in Kedougou Department.
Agri-Afrique. 1985. Dossier Sénégal. Les prévisions du VIIIème Plan (1985-1989) pour l'élevage. Agri-Afrique, 228, 3 Decembre 1985.Agri-Afrique. 1987. Sénégal: Evolution du programme SODEFITEX de Développement rural du Sénégal Oriental. Agri-Afrique 256,10 March 1987.
CRZ (Centre de recherche zootechniques de Kolda, Sénégal). 1984. Rapport d'activité. (Activity report).
Diatie A. 1984. Country Report - Senegal. Presented at the first meeting to coordinate the activities in West Africa of the Programme for the Control of African Animal Trypanosomiasis and Related Developments held in Bobo-Dioulasso. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
DSPA (Direction de la santé et des productions animales). 1982. Etude sectorielle de l'élevage au Sénégal (situation et perspectives). Ministère du Développement Rural, Dakar, Senegal.
DSPA (Direction de la santé et des productions animales). 1983. Notes succinctes sur la situation sanitaire et les méthodes de la prophylaxie appliquées aux Sénégal pendant l'année 1983. Ministère du Développement Rural, Dakar, Senegal.
DSPA (Direction de la santé et des productions animales). 1985. Sous-secteur Elevage, VIIème Plan. Ministère du Développement Rural, Dakar, Senegal.
Fall A, Diop M, Sandford J. Wissocq Y J. Durkin J and Trail J C M (eds). 1982. Evaluation of the productivities of Djallonke sheep and N'Dama cattle at the Centre de recherches zootechniques de Kolda, Senegal. ILCA Research Report 3. ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 70 pp.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 1986. Consultants' report on the improvement of animal health services in CILSS member countries. Vol II: Country reports and project proposals. Consultations held in Banjul, The Gambia, 23-27 June 1986. FAO, Rome, Italy.
ISRA (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles). 1985. Orientation et programmes de recherches du Département systèmes et transfert. ISRA, Dakar-Hann, Senegal.
Kane A and Ka A. 1986. Responsabilisation des agropasteurs ou la dépérissement d'une structure d'encadrement: le Projet de développement de l'élevage au Sénégal-Oriental (PDESO) Tambacounda. Report presented at the "Méthodes de recherche sur les systèmes d'élevage en Afrique intertropicale" workshop held in Mbour, ISRA, Dakar, 2-8 February 1986.
Landais E. 1985. Eléments pour la préparation du programme de recherches sur les systèmes de production et le transfert de tecnologie en milieu rural. Haute Casamance et Sénégal-Oriental. ISRA (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles), Dakar, Senegal.
Laveissiere C and Toure S M. 1982. La répartition des glossines au Sénégal. ORSTOM (Office de la recherche scientifique et technique outre-mer), Paris, France.
Lhoste P. 1986. L'utilization de l'energie animale en Afrique intertropicale. Report presented at the "Méthodes de recherches sur les systèmes d'élevage en Afrique intertropicale" workshop held in Mbour from 2-8 February 1986. ISRA (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles), Dakar, Senegal.
Lhoste P. 1987. L 'association agriculture élevage. Evolution du système agropastoral au Sine Saloum (Sénégal). Etudes et synthèses de l'IEMVT 21. IEMVT (Institut d'élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux), Maisons-Alfort, Cedex, France. 314 pp.
LNERV (Laboratoire National de l'élevage et de recherches vétérinaires). 1985. Activity report for 1984.
Ly B. 1985. Consultation mission sur la commerce et la multiplication du bétail trypanotolérant. GCP/RAF/190/ITA. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
PIDAC/SOMIVAC (Projet intégré de développement agricole en Basse-Casamance/Société de mise en valeur agricole de la Casamance). 1986. Les actions de développement de l'élevage entreprises par le projet intégré de développement agricole en Basse-Casamance (PIDAC/SOMIVAC). Report presented at the "Méthodes de recherche sur les systèmes d'élevage en Afrique intertropicale" workshop held in Mbour, 2-8 February 1986. ISRA (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles), Dakar, Senegal.
Poats S V, Lichte J, Oxley J, Russo S L and Starkey P H. 1985. Animal traction in a farming systems perspective: A Farming Systems Support Project Networkshop, March 3-8, 1985, Kara, Togo. FSSP Network Report 1. FSSP (Farming Systems Support Project), Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 187 pp.
SODEFITEX (Textile Fibres Development Company). 1986. Le voles élevage sud du projet de développement rural du Sénégal-Oriental et de la Haute-Casamance. Report presented at the "Méthodes de recherche sur les systèmes d'élevage en Afrique intertropicale" workshop held in Mbour, 2-8 February 1986. ISRA (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles), Dakar, Senegal.
Toure S M. 1979. Evaluation des projets de lutte contre les glossines et les trypanosomes. 5. La situation sanitaire en République du Sénégal. Proceedings of the Khorogo symposium, Côte d'Ivoire, 6-9 November 1979, GTZ (German Agency for Technical Cooperation) publication, Federal Republic of Germany. pp. 47-53.
Toure S M, Seye M, Gueye E and Diate M.1981. Etudes comparatives sur les bovine N'Dama de Haute Casamance pour évaluer leur trypanotolérance en fonction de la couleur de robe. Revue d'élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux 34(3):281-287.
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).1982. Development of the Gambia River Basin Preinvestment action plan. In support of country development strategies. New York, USA. 251 pp.
The number of cattle fell slightly in the country (-10%) and the study area (-8%) during the study period. Sheep and goat populations increased slightly (+11% for the whole country and +20% for the study area). Although the trypanotolerant cattle population (N'Dama and Djakoré) remains the largest group in the country (48% of the total cattle stock in 1983 and 47% in 1976), the drop in the percentage of N'Dama within this group is alarming (746 000 head in 1976 and 644 000 head in 1983, a drop of -14%). Data analysis carried out jointly by ISRA and ILCA provided valuable information on the performance traits of N'Dama cattle and Djakoré sheep raised under station conditions. New ISRA research programmes to be funded through a World Bank project should provide important data on livestock production under village conditions.
Finally, during the past few years, major efforts have been made with regard to livestock research and development in the Casamance, Sine Saloum and Senegal Oriental regions. The government encourages private investments in this sector and several private ranches should be established within the next few years. Furthermore, with close cooperation with the International Trypanotolerance Centre (ITC) in The Gambia, significant progress should be made in trypanotolerant livestock production in Senegal in the near future. It should be stressed that Senegal is one of the major exporters of N'Dama breeding stocks.
