Perception and farming practices to mitigate fluorosis in sheep in three communes of the province of Khouribga-Morocco

Abstract

The aim of this study is to characterizethe perception of farmers, sheep farming practices and fluorosis mitigation strategies in three rural communesin Khouribga province, Morocco (M’Fassis, El Foqra and OuladAzouz). Individual surveys and workshops were carried out in the three communes from June to August 2018. Farmers agree that the three communes were affected by fluorosis, but with variable degrees. Fluorosis had a negative impact on the saleprice of animals which is depreciatedby 20 to 40%.The most involved factors in fluorosis were the richness of the soil in phosphate, the dust released into the air and contaminated plants. Whereas, the drinking water andthe camp site (El mergued) were not involved in this intoxication. Flock's rearing practices are traditional and consist of raising all categories in a single herd without anyprophylactic programwhatever the category or a physiological stage was. The unique adopted strategy by farmers to cope with the harmful effects of fluorosis was the sale of young animals at 6-12 months and the purchase of rams and ewes (older than 24 months) from fluoride freeareas. In conclusion, even if the farmers in the south of Khouribga consider that fluorosis doesnot represent a problem for their flocks, it remained a real handicap to sheep farming. The animal trade was the only strategy adopted by breeders to cope with fluorosis.

Keywords

• fluorose, khouribga, enquête, perception, pratiques d’élevage.