6.1 Background
6.2 Livestock numbers and distribution
6.3 Cattle
6.4 Sheep and goats
6.5 Research and development activities
6.6 Selected bibliography
6.7 Major changes since 1977
The National Livestock Bureau (NLB) of the Ministry of Agriculture is still in charge of the livestock sector.
Data for human and animal populations of the country are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Human and animal populations of Liberia, 1982/83.
|
Human population (1982) |
||
|
|
- number |
2 061 498 |
|
|
- density |
21.4/km² |
|
Animal population (1983) |
||
|
|
- cattle |
12 600 |
|
|
- sheep |
210 000 |
|
|
- goats |
200 000 |
Source: For human population, Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs (1983). For animal population estimates, National Bureau (1983) quoted by Shaw (1985).
According to Pabs-Garnon (1984), G. palpalis, although distributed widely, is found mainly in the north-east of the country. G. nigrofusca and G. fusca are found in the forest zones. Detailed studies were conducted only in Bong and Sinoe counties (Pabs-Garnon, personal communication, 1985).
Livestock numbers by county are summarised in Table 2.
Table 2. Livestock numbers in Liberia, 1983.
|
Country |
Total |
% |
N'Dama |
Muturu |
|
Bong |
2 346 |
18.6 |
1 290 |
1 056 |
|
Cape Mount |
151 |
1.2 |
136 |
15 |
|
Grand Bassa |
1 200 |
9.67 |
976 |
224 |
|
Grand Gedeh |
1 762 |
13.96 |
1 762 |
0 |
|
Lofa |
824 |
6.53 |
824 |
0 |
|
Maryland |
2 087 |
16.54 |
522 |
1 565 |
|
Monteserrado |
270 |
2.14 |
177 |
93 |
|
Nimba |
716 |
5.67 |
716 |
0 |
|
Sinoe |
3 242 |
25.69 |
710 |
2 534 |
|
Total |
12 600 |
100 |
7 113 |
5 487 |
Source: National Livestock Bureau, Liberia (1983) quoted by Shaw (1985).
The cattle population of Liberia-7113 N'Dama and 5487 Muturu-are exclusively of the trypanotolerant breed. The N'Dama are found mainly in Bong (north) and Grand Gedeh (south-east) counties and the Muturu in Maryland and Sinoe (south) counties.
The cattle populations of Grand Gedeh, Lofa and Nimba countries are wholly trypanotolerant.
No recent data on small ruminant distribution are available.
6.3.1 Breed description
6.3.2 Diseases
6.3.3 Herd management and composition
6.3.1.1 LIBERIAN DWARF
No data on the productivity of this breed are available.
6.3.1.2 N'DAMA
Research on the performance traits of the N'Dama conducted at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI, 1983) gave an age of first calving of between 30 and 35 months, a calving rate of 83% and a mortality rate of 27% for 0 to 1-year-old calves.
In 1983-84, Liberia implemented an Emergency Rinderpest Vaccination Programme as part of an FAO technical cooperation assistance programme project (Straw, 1985).
Pabs-Garnon (1984) indicated that T. brucei and T. congolense were isolated on N'Dama and Muturu cattle.
No new data on herd management are available.
No recent data on production parameters for small ruminants could be obtained.
6.5.1 Research centres
6.5.2 Multiplication herds
6.5.3 Development activities
The activities of the two research centres carrying out research on trypanotolerance are-described in Table 3.
Table 3. Research centres in Liberia.
|
Name |
: CAES (Central Agricultural Experimental Station) is now known as CARI (Central Agricultural Research Institute). |
|
Organisation responsible |
: Livestock Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Monrovia |
|
Size |
: 100 ha |
|
Breeds and numbers |
: 182 head, mainly N'Dama with some Muturu and N'Dama x Muturu crossbreds. 14 goats and 70 sheep |
|
Objective |
: Selection, multiplication and study of production parameters of the
N'Dama and Muturu breeds. Training centre for draught animals. |
|
Name |
: College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) |
|
Organisation responsible |
: University of Liberia |
|
Size |
: 100 ha |
|
Breeds and |
: In 1980 the Brown Swiss were slaughtered and the number of numbers cattle dropped to 6. |
Source: Shaw (1985).
In 1984, the largest multiplication herds in Liberia were maintained by the Liberia Agricultural Company in Bong county (200 head), David Moore Farm (300 head), Foya Unity Cooperative (150 head) and Todee State Farm (100 head). Smaller livestock units are also maintained at Buto Oil Corporation in Sinoe county (60 head), the United Methodist Church (35 head), Panama Agricultural Training Centre (25 head) and Sasstown Project. Cattle breeds maintained in these centres are of the N'Dama and Muturu types (Straw, 1985).
Other large farms such as President Tubman Farm, Minister Phillip Farm, the Liberian Government Farm, Firestone Plantation (ceded to CAF) and Bomittill Farm are no longer in operation (Straw, 1985).
FAO undertook a mission to formulate projects in the three countries of the Mano River Union (MRU) (FAO, 1983).
In 1984, delegates from the three MRU countries participated in a workshop organised with the assistance of FAO to study the possibility of establishing an N'Dama Improvement and Multiplication Centre Network in the three countries.
A mission recently visited the three countries to promote the project (Gyening, 1986). CARI, CAF, LAC, Todee, Foya and Mr. Moore's Farm were selected to participate in the network.
Other studies are also planned at the national level, the EEC intends to fund a feasibility study shortly on the possibilities of increasing animal beef protein production. Within this framework, an N'Dama Selection and Multiplication Centre, which will also distribute animals to villages producers, will be set up. The possibility of developing animal traction will also be studied.
The cost of the study is estimated at 75 000 ECUs (Straw, 1985).
Finally, a mission is expected to visit the country by the end of 1986 to formulate an integrated development project with a livestock component.
CARI (Central Agricultural Research Institute). 1983. 1981-1982, Annual Research Report. CARI, Suakoto, Liberia.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 1983. Report to the Mano River Union of a preparatory assistance mission under the FAO Programme for the Control of African Animal Trypanosomiasis and Related Development. Rome, Italy. 99 pp.
Gyening K O.1986. Consultant's report on trypanotolerant cattle in the Mano River Union States. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Rome, Italy.
Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, Liberia. 1983. Economic survey of Liberia 1982. Monrovia, Liberia.
National Livestock Bureau, Liberia. 1985. Rules and regulations governing the importation of animals into Liberia. Ministry of Agriculture, Monrovia, Liberia.
Pabs-Garnon L. 1985. Country Report-Liberia. Presented at the first meeting to coordinate the activities in West Africa of the Programme for the Control of African Animal Trypanosomiasis and Related Development held in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Shaw A. 1985. Consultation mission on the marketing and breeding of trypanotolerant cattle, FAO project GCP/RAF/190/ITA. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
While the sheep and goat populations have substantially increased during the study period, there has been a dramatic fall in the number of cattle. However, in the absence of reliable census figures, these figures should be analysed with some caution.
It should be noted that the drop in the cattle population is due to the rapid disappearance of the Muturu rather than of the N'Dama. In fact, the Muturu population, estimated at 15 000 head in 1976-77, has allegedly dropped to 5500 head by 1983. The studies and projects envisaged by the EEC and the joint Mano River Union Project should help revitalise cattle production in Liberia.
