Improving sheep fattening practices in the high Eastern plateau of Morocco

Abstract

Aiming to assist organized pastors in the Oriental region on good fattening practices, three workshops were organized in Beni Mathar (BM), Tendrara (TN) and Bouarfa (BF). The preparatory meetings raised awareness of the planned protocol and environmental constraints. The animals were identified, treated and weighed to constitute homogeneous batches. The batch 1 received food ration that satisfies animal needs (60% of barley, 10% of wheat bran, 20% of alfalfa hay, 10% of sunflower meal and CMV) and batch 2, serving as a control, is conducted in the manner of breeders (barley and wheat bran in addition to dried Stipa tenacissima in TN or oat hay in BM). After adaptation, the animals are fed morning and evening with control of refusals and adjustments. The performances recorded by the trial batches are encouraging with good growth rates (243.5, 236.1 and 199.6 g/day in BM; 262.3, 200.4 and 178.2 g/day in TN and 240, 282.8 and 202 g/day in BF respectively for GMQ 1-2, GMQ 2-3 and GMQ 3-4) compared to control batches (175.6, 171.9, 185.2 in BM and 198, 190 and 166.7 in TN) and good food conversion indices (6,0 against 7,5). The discussions at the end of each control, analyzed the evolutions in search of solutions to the problems. In addition to the need for supervision, the main constraints concern the difficulty of the environment, diseases and the market.

Keywords

• engraissement
• ovins
• parcours
• coopératives pastorales
• hauts plateaux de l’oriental