Caractérisation des bovins de race Baoulé dans le ''Pays Lobi" de Côte d'Ivoire: rôles socio-économiques, modes d'élevage et contraintes de production

Abstract

Characterization of Baoulé Cattle in the "Pays Lobi" of Ivory Coast: Socioeconomic Roles, Management Practices, and Production Constrainsts. This study aimed at determining the socio­economic roles, the traditional management practices, and the production constraints of the Baoulé cattle. It was conducted in Bounkani region of North­Eastern Ivory Coast, using a semi­structured questionnaire. The results indicate that most (62.7 percent) of the respondents depended on crop and livestock production for household income and food security. Farmers of this region (60 percent) use the Baoulé cattle owing to their multiple socio­economic functions, adaptive qualities, and low management requirements. The Baoulé cattle are primarily reared for ritual ceremonies, gifts and as security against the vicissitudes of life. Farmers (98.41 percent) use natural pasture without supplementation. In the North ­ Eastern of Ivory Coast, livestock rearing tends to be made according to the demand of zebu cattle, due to the secondary interest given to Baoulé cattle. This leads Lobi farmers to breed Baoulé with zebu cattle and to invest in the health of animals because Zebu and cross­bred Zebu x Baoulé are more sensitive than the Baoulé cattle to animal trypanosomiasis. In view of the multiple functions of Baoulé cattle, their specific genetic characteristics and the threat of absorption hanging over it, this local resource should be preserved and valued for its sustainable utilization.

Keywords

• Baoulé cattle
• Bounkani region
• Socio
• economic functions
• Absorption hanging
• Sustainable utilization
• Ivory Coast