Researchers at University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Science Report New Data on Livestock (From Farmers To Livestock Keepers: a Typology of Cattle Production Systems In South-western Burkina Faso)

2020 MAR 27 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Fresh data on Agriculture - Livestock are presented in a new report. According to news originating from Vienna, Austria, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Cattle production is an essential livelihood strategy in south-western Burkina Faso. Although having a distinct cultural role and known to be resistant against African animal trypanosomosis, the Lobi taurine cattle breed is endangered due to its low market value.”

Funders for this research include University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Austrian Development Agency, Austrian Partnership Programme in Higher Education and Research for Development.

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Science, “As the first step in preservation efforts, our study aimed to develop a typology of production systems at the farm level. We used a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions for collecting data on household characteristics, socioeconomic activities, livestock, and access to services. The sample comprised 169 households in three communities. The analytical strategy included factor analysis of mixed data and hierarchical clustering. We identified four distinct types of cattle production systems: (1) sedentary Lobi farms, (2) sedentary crossbreed farms, (3) semi-transhumant Fulani zebu farms, and (4) transhumant Fulani zebu farms. Significant factors in developing this typology were the farmers’ ethnic group, crop diversity, cattle herd size, cattle herd composition, number of small ruminants, and livestock management strategies. Across all production systems, men were considered being primary decision-makers in cattle production, with women, herders, and children being responsible for specific tasks. All identified production systems are increasingly confronting disease pressure and scarcity of water and land.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Future efforts in preservation and breeding will need to respond to these trends in the agroecosystem, integrate risk management measures, and resonate with the specific needs of the different household members involved in cattle rearing.”

For more information on this research see: From Farmers To Livestock Keepers: a Typology of Cattle Production Systems In South-western Burkina Faso. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2020;():. Tropical Animal Health and Production can be contacted at: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. (Springer - www.springer.com; Tropical Animal Health and Production - http://www.springerlink.com/content/0049-4747/)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from L. Probst, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Science, Institute for Developmental Research, Dept. of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Vienna, Austria. Additional authors for this research include B. Zoma-Traore, N. Khayatzadeh, J. Solkner, G. Meszaros, D. Ouedraogo, B. Yougbare, M. Wurzinger, S. Ouedraogo-Kone, G.M.S. Ouedraogo, A. Soudre, L. Traore, P.A. Burger, A. Traore and M. Sanou.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02241-6. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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