18.1 Background
18.2 Cattle numbers and distribution
18.3 Cattle
18.4 Sheep and goats
18.5 Research and development activities
18.6 Selected bibliography
18.7 Major developments since 1977
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (DADR) now consists of 8 Directorates. The Directorate of Livestock Production and Animal Health (DPSA) formulates and proposes a livestock development policy for Zaire and monitors the implementation of such a policy by its regional and subregional departments as well as by private and statal producers.
The Directorate is also responsible for the implementation of livestock production support and extension projects such as the Ituri Project Office (BPI), North Kivu Project, and the Veterinary Laboratories in Kinshasa and Lumumbashi. The technical aspects of these projects are supervised by DPSA and the administrative and financial aspects by the General Directorate for Projects Management (DAMP).
The Ministry is also in charge of The National Office for the Development of Livestock Production (ONDE), a parastatal which operates some government ranches (FAO, 1985). Data on human and animal populations of the country are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Human and animal populations of Zaire, 1983 and 1984.
|
|
For the country |
For the study area | |
|
Human population (1984) | |||
|
|
- number |
29 671 407 |
10 334 524 |
|
|
- density |
1 265/km² |
13.5/km² |
|
Animal population (1983) | |||
|
|
- cattle |
1 461 000 |
358 823 |
|
|
- sheep |
964 200 |
231 408 |
|
|
- goats |
4 501 700 |
1 395 527 |
Source: For human population: projections (+ 2.5%) based on 1982 census. National Statistics Institute (1984). For animal population: DADR (1984) (estimates).
Zaire does not have a government body responsible for tsetse and animal trypanosomiasis control. This falls under the normal responsibilities of DPSA.
Table 2 gives cattle numbers and distribution in Zaire for 1983. The study area comprises the three regions of Kinshasa and Lower Zaire, Bandundu and Equator. The boundaries are based on the geographical distribution of trypanotolerant cattle. More than 85% of the cattle population of about 358 823 head in the study area are trypanotolerant.
Table 2. Livestock numbers and distribution in Zaire, 1983.
|
Region |
Area |
Cattle |
Sheep |
Goats |
|
Kinshasa and Lower Zaire |
63 885 |
129 644 |
77 136 |
270 102 |
|
Bandundu |
295 658 |
175 100 |
115 704 |
630 238 |
|
Equator |
403 293 |
54 079 |
38 568 |
495 187 |
|
Upper Zaire |
503 239 |
349 469 |
67 494 |
675 255 |
|
Kivu |
256 662 |
310 882 |
221 766 |
716 572 |
|
Shaba |
496 965 |
269 519 |
154 272 |
405 153 |
|
East Kasai |
168 216 |
38 440 |
125 346 |
723 972 |
|
West Kasai |
156 967 |
134 467 |
163 914 |
585 221 |
|
Total |
2 344 885 |
1 461 600 |
964 200 |
4 501 700 |
Source: DADR (1984).
Table 3 shows cattle distribution by breed. An estimated 90% of the 451 100 trypanotolerant cattle in Zaire are of the N'Dama breed.
Table 3. Cattle numbers and distribution by breed.
|
Breeds |
Numbers |
|
N'Dama |
350 000-450 000 |
|
Lagune |
15 000-20 000 |
|
Afrikander |
620 000 |
|
Anchole |
350 000 |
|
Exotic breeds (*) + crossbreds |
45 000 |
|
Mateba and crossbreds |
16 000-22 000 |
|
Total |
1 461 000 |
(*)=Imported breeds: Brown Swiss, Sahiwal.
Source: DADR (1984).
18.3.1 Breed description
18.3.2 Diseases
18.3.3 Herd management
18.3.1.1 LAGUNE
No recent data on this breed are available.
18.3.1.2 N'DAMA PRODUCTION TRAITS
N'Dama fecundity rates on Kolo and Mushie ranches were between 75 and 85%. Mortality rate for 15 days-to-1-year-old calves was between 5 and 8%. Overall mortality rate was 1 to 2%. Breeding cow weight recorded at Kolo ranch was 308 kg and 273 kg at Mushie ranch (ILCA, 1986).
18.3.1.2.1 Productivity index
Table 4 summarises the estimates of the main production parameters required to calculate a productivity index showing the total weight of 1-year-old calves produced per 100 kg of cow maintained per year. This index is based on data collected at Kolo ranch for production of beef cattle under moderate trypanosomiasis risk.
Table 4. N'Dama productivity estimates under moderate trypanosomiasis risk at Kolo ranch.
|
Adult females viability (%) |
98.5 |
|
Calving rate (%) |
80 |
|
Calf viability to 1 year (%) |
95 |
|
Calf weight at 1 year (kg) |
134(a) |
|
Productivity index per cow per year (kg) |
102.6 |
|
Adult females weight (kg) |
308 |
|
Productivity index per 100-kg cow maintained per year (kg) |
33.3 |
(a) Estimates
Source: Indices calculated by author.
Animal trypanosomiasis is still a major problem in Zaire. Rinderpest is believed in the Northern, North-eastern and Eastern Regions, and Zaire has received FAO assistance as part of the implementation of a project entitled "Emergency Rinderpest Vaccination Campaign". Foot-and-mouth disease allegedly affects 3% of the cattle population and in northeastern Zaire, 24% of cattle are said to be affected by contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. Tuberculosis, brucellosis, anthrax, blackquarter and lumpy skin diseases are reported to be endemic and theileriosis is found mainly in the north and north-eastern part of the country (FAO, 1985).
Table 5 gives the distribution by breed of 194 775 head of cattle in Lower Zaire, East Kasai and Equator Regions. The data were obtained from a survey conducted in 1985 in these regions.
Table 5. Cattle distribution by livestock management systems in Lower Zaire, East Kasai, Equator and Bandudu Regions.
|
|
Numbers |
Number of herds |
Average herd size |
|
State farms |
20 584 |
6 |
3 431 |
|
Religious organisations |
32 096 |
14 |
2 293 |
|
Large individual herds (> 1000 head) |
130 239 |
14 |
9 303 |
|
Small individual herds (< 1000 head) |
11 856 |
100 |
119 |
|
Total |
194 775 |
134 |
1 454 |
Source: N'lemba quoted by Shaw (1985).
No recent data on small ruminant production parameters are available.
18.5.1 Research centres
18.5.2 Multiplication herds
18.5.3 Development projects
Belgian assistance to the Kinshasa Veterinary Laboratory was extended to cover the period 1984-1986. The laboratory continues to produce vaccines and conduct research on trypanosomiasis.
Lumumbashi Veterinary Institute conducts research on trypanosomiasis in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Lumumbashi University.
The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INERA) focuses mainly on agricultural research. However, it maintains several herds, mainly in Mvuazi, Lower River subdivision, Lower Zaire (552 head in 1985) and in Gandajika, Kabinda subregion, in East Kasai (187 head in 1985).
Certain national structures are currently conducting research within the framework of the African Trypanotolerant Livestock Network co-ordinated by the International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA). Research programmes were launched in 1983 in Kolo and Mushie ranches and in 1985 in the rural areas (ILCA, 1986).
The Rural Economy Grouping was privatised in 1983-84. A mission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is expected to visit Lower Zaire to determine the number of cattle owned by sharecroppers.
Data on the main sharecropping centres are given in Table 6.
Table 6. Sharecropping centres.
|
Name |
Idiofa People's Progress and Development |
Diocesan Office (BDD) |
|
Location |
Diocese of Idiofa |
Kitwit, Kwilu subregion, Bandudu |
|
Organisation responsible |
DPP |
Kitwit |
|
Size |
- |
|
|
Breeds and numbers |
10 000 head in the diocese(in 1986) |
3000 N'Dama |
|
Objectives |
Livestock development, veterinary assistance. Sharecropping operations. Research on productivity and trypanosomiasis in collaboration with ILCA |
Production of beef and breeding stock. Sharecropping operations |
|
External Aid |
Belgian Government |
|
Source: Shaw (1985).
Recent data on other sharecropping centres covered in Volume II are unavailable. Current data on the main multiplication herds are given in Table 7.
Table 7. Multiplication herds.
|
Name |
Lola ranch |
|
Location |
Equator Region, North Ubangui subregion, Bosobolo |
|
Organisation responsible |
Agricultural Development Centre |
|
Size |
60 000 ha |
|
Breeds and numbers |
6500 N'Dama (1984) |
|
Objectives |
production of beef cattle and breeding stock |
|
External aid |
Between 1978 and 1983, Belgian Government |
|
Name |
Kolo ranch |
|
Location |
Kolo-Fuma, Lower Zaire subregion. |
|
Organisation responsible |
J. Van Lacker Company, P.O. Box 199, Kinshasa |
|
Size |
50 000 ha |
|
Breeds and numbers |
Between 23 000 and 25 000 N'Dama (1984) |
|
Objectives |
Commercial ranch. Production of breeding stock for the local market and
export. |
|
External aid |
Private ranch. |
|
Name |
Mushie ranch |
|
Location |
Bandudu region, Mai-Ndombe subregion |
|
Organisation responsible |
J. Van Lacker Company, P.O. Box 199, Kinshasa |
|
Size |
30 000 ha in use |
|
Breeds and numbers |
17 000 N'Dama in 1984. Projected herd size of 23 500 N'Dama by 1989/90 |
|
Objectives |
Commercial ranch, production of breeding stock for the local market and
export. |
|
External aid |
Private ranch. |
|
Name |
Kitomessa Farms and Plantations (PEK) |
|
Location |
Lovo and Sanzikwa, Lower Zaire |
|
Organisation responsible |
PEK |
|
Size |
20 000 ha |
|
Breeds and numbers |
7329 N'Dama in 1984 |
|
Objectives |
Production of beef cattle and breeding stock |
|
External aid |
Private ranch |
|
Name |
Mateba ranches: |
|
Location |
Mateba and Kanga sector are located on Mateba Island and the banks of
the Congo River near Boma, in Lower Zaire |
|
Organisation responsible |
Société des Grands Elevages du Bas Zaire (SGE) |
|
Size |
- Mateba and Kanga sector: 7000 ha on the Island and 20 000 ha on either
bank of the river |
|
Breeds and numbers |
Total for all the ranches: 21300 |
|
Objectives |
Commercial ranch |
|
External aid |
Private ranch |
|
Name |
Ndongo Zola ranch |
|
Location |
Moanda, Lower Zaire Region and Lower River subregion |
|
Organisation responsible |
Private |
|
Size |
2500 ha |
|
Breeds and numbers |
1420 N'Dama x Lagune crossbreds in 1984 |
|
Objectives |
Commercial ranch |
|
External aid |
- |
|
Name |
Kalombi farm |
|
Size |
Near Feshi, Bandundu Region, Kwango subregion |
|
Organisation responsible |
Kitwit, P O Box 69 |
|
Size |
5000 ha |
|
Objectives |
4000 N'Dama x zebu crossbreds in 1984 |
|
External aid |
Commercial ranch |
|
Name |
Mpaka ranch |
|
Location |
Equator Region, North Ubangui subregion in Bosobolo zone |
|
Organisation responsible |
Agricultural Development Centre (CDA) |
|
Size |
75 000 ha of which 25 000 in use |
|
Breeds and numbers |
10 000 N'Dama x Ituru Afrikander in 1984 |
|
Objectives |
Production of beef cattle |
|
External aid |
State ranch. |
|
Name |
Fiwa ranch |
|
Location |
Equator region, North Ubangui subregion, Bosobolo zone |
|
Organisation responsible |
Agricultural Development Centre (CDA) |
|
Size |
- |
|
Breeds and numbers |
3000 N'Dama in 1984 |
|
Objectives |
Production of beef cattle |
|
External aid |
State farm. |
|
Name |
Lombo, Bosondjo and Lusana ranches |
|
Location |
Lombo and Bosondjo are located in Equator Region, North Ubangui. Lusana is located in Kwilu subregion Bandudu |
|
Organisation responsible |
Lever Plantations, Zaire (PLZ) |
|
Size |
20 000 ha for Lombo |
|
Breeds and numbers |
Mostly N'Dama. Some zebu and zebu x N'Dama. 3000 head in Lomba, 2000 in Bosondjo and 10 000 in Lusanain 1984. |
|
Objectives |
Production of beef cattle |
|
External aid |
Private ranch. |
Source: Shaw (1985).
There are no data available on the other ranches mentioned in the previous study. Furthermore, it is likely that the Directorate of Livestock Production and Animal Health (DPSA) holds no records of several other large ranches.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has studied and submitted a project entitled CODAIK or the Kwango-Kwilo Integrated Agricultural Development Project (Company) in southern Bandudu Region.
The following activities, funded by IDA, FRG and FAO have been carried out: refresher course for field staff, adaptation trials on improved maize verities and establishment of a 200 ha multiplication centre for improved seed varieties. The project is concentrating on agricultural production with a weak livestock production component.
A project to provide producers with veterinary assistance is to be launched in Mbanza-Ngungu Region, Lower Zaire. It will be funded by the Government of Belgium and will cover between 5000 and 10 000 head of cattle in the study area. The Belgian Government will also fund the following projects, which include a livestock production component (FAO, 1985):
- improvement of livestock production in Kasongo
- production of anaplasmosis vaccines
- livestock production in the Idiofa area
- assistance to livestock producers and fishermen in Mbandaka.
Several projects to train work oxen are in progress:
- Nkata Project based in Masuika, West Kasai and Mbuji-mayi Rural Project based in East Kasai. Both projects are funded by the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (OXFAM) and train an estimated 30-40 pairs of work oxen annually- The Integrated Rural Development Project in Luala Valley, funded by the Government of Italy, which provides about 10 work oxen annually.
The World Bank plans to introduce a work oxen training programme as part of the West Kasai Project (Starkey, 1984).
DADR (Departement de l'agriculture et du développement rural), Zaire. 1984. Rapport annuel 1984. Kinshasa, Zaire.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 1985. Questionnaire on African animal trypanosomiasis in countries covered by FAO Projects FAO GCP/RAF/190-191/ITA. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa). 1986. The ILCA/ILRAD Trypanotolerance Network. Situation Report December 1985. Proceedings of a network meeting. ILCA, Nairobi, Kenya/ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 98 pp.
Institut national des statistiques, Zaire. 1984. Rapport annuel 1984. Kinshasa, Zaire.
Shaw A. 1985. Consultant mission on the marketing and multiplication of trypanotolerant cattle. FAO project GCP/RAF/190/ITA. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Starkey P H. 1984. The use of draught animal power in tare Kasai Occidental and Kasai Oriental regions of Zaire. Report of an advisory mission undertaken from 30 January to 11 February 1984. British Overseas Development Administration London, UK. 40 pp.
The trypanotolerant cattle population in Zaire continues to increase at a regular rate. In 1977, there were only 274 000 head. The number is currently estimated at 450 000 head, an increase due solely to the growth in the N'Dama population. The number of Lagune and zebu x Shorthorn has remained static.
The N'Dama population is estimated at 415 000 head and accounts for over 70% of the cattle on large private ranches.
Over 3000 head of selected N'Dama were exported in the 1980's, mainly to Gabon (Hoste and Shaw, 1987).
With the launching of a research programme under the ILCA/ILRAD Network, very important and useful data on N'Dama performances under ranch and village conditions should become available.
