Complementation Test of Draft Oxen in Dry Season with Harvest Residues in the Cotton Zone in Northwestern Benin
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 7(2): 36-45, 2021; Article no. AJRAVS.62877 Complementation Test of Draft Oxen in Dry Season with Harvest Residues in the Cotton Zone in Northwestern Benin S. Kate1*, B. M. Behingan2, S. Diarra3 and B. Sinsin4 1Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin, BP 884, Agonkanmey/Abomey-Calavi, Benin. 2Ecole des Sciences et Techniques de Production Animale, FSA/UAC 01 BP 526, Cotonou, République du Bénin. 3Université du Mali/Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquée de Katibougou, République du Mali. 4Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, FSA/UAC 01 BP 526, Cotonou, République du Bénin. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author SK designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors BMB and SD managed the analyses of the study. Author BS managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information Editor(s): (1) Dr. Osama Anwer Saeed, University of Anbar, Iraq. Reviewers: (1) Atulkumar, Gb Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, India. (2) Udokang AnietieEdem, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Nigeria. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle4.com/review-history/62877 Received 20 September 2020 Original Research Article Accepted 25 November 2020 Published 12 March 2021 ABSTRACT The study was to conduct a dietary supplementation test on draft cattle in the dry season using the crop residue reserves that had been built up. The experimental design used was a split-plot with soil type as the large area factor and feed complementation as the small area factor. The soil type modalities were clay soils, gravelly soils, sandy soils and sandy-clay soils. The modalities of the feed complementation factor consisted of cattle from the control lot (R0) that received no complement and the second lot (Rc) that received the complement. The data collected were related to the weight of the animals, the duration of ploughing and the investment costs of the rationing trials. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze the _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Kate et al.; AJRAVS, 7(2): 36-45, 2021; Article no.AJRAVS.62877 data. The results showed that the supplemented draught cattle lost less weight than the control lot. The supplemented steers finished ploughing 1/4 hectare on average 30 minutes compared to the non-supplemented steers. The profitability study of the complemented units resulted in a 25% gain in ploughing time under the conditions of cotton farms in northern Benin. The practice of building up crop residue reserves during the dry season offers several opportunities to address the current challenges of climate change. Keywords: Draft oxen; crop residue reserves; profitability; North Benin. 1. INTRODUCTION of the dry season to work in one hour 1737 m² against 1498 m2 for the unsupported draft oxen Climate-smart agriculture is a winning solution to [10]. Studies carried out both in the sub-region meet the challenge of food insecurity and the and in southern Africa have shown that it is the fight against desertification in the Sahel and live weight and not the body condition that mainly West Africa [1]. The practices / technologies of determines the working capacity of draft oxen Intelligent Agriculture facing the climate (CSA) in [11,12]. The practice of building up fodder animal production mainly aims to improve reserves for the dry season offers several breeding systems, reproduction techniques and opportunities to face the current challenges of animal feeding by valuing the by-products of climate change. However, various other plant production without compromising the questions still need to be clarified such as the environment. In this agricultural sub-sector, profitability of the technology (benefit / cost pastoral and agro-pastoral producers resort to analysis) as well as the adaptability of this the mobility of livestock to wetter areas, in search technology to current production systems. The of pasture and water during the dry season [2]. general objective of this study was to conduct a Kate et al. [3] identified six major strategies for trial of food rationing of draft oxen in the dry adapting to climate change in livestock in North season from crop residues. Specifically, this Benin: transhumance, increasing the use of crop involves: (i) evaluating the performance of residues, medical prophylaxis, strengthening the supplemented draft oxen during field work, (ii) management committees of transhumance determining the profitability of supplementation, corridors, creation of water dams and installation (iii) evaluating the adaptability of this technology of fodder reserves, introduction of new breeds to production systems current and (iv) proposing and improvement of livestock performance scenarios for improving the adoption of fodder through genetic selection. Indeed, the reserves. constitution of fodder reserves is a practice that existed in Benin, but which has developed more 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS following current climatic constraints. Agro- breeders store haulms of crops after harvest or 2.1 Description of Study Area fodder harvested for the occasion in sheds or on the roofs of houses. These are the tops of sorghum, cowpea and groundnuts [4]. These This study was carried out in the agro-pastoral stored crop tops are used to feed draft animals in zone of cotton production in the commune of the dry season. They are sprinkled with salt to Banikoara. It is located in the North-West of the stimulate the appetite of the animals. The Department of Alibori, between 2º05 'and 2º46' of collection and storage of crop residues by agro- East longitude and between 11º02 'and 11º34' of pastoralists is a growing practice in West Africa North latitude and covers an area of 4397.2 km² [5-7]. of which approximately 49% is cultivable land. and 50% of protected areas (W du Niger National The adoption of animal traction has often Park and the Atacora hunting zone). It is provided the opportunity and the means for an bounded to the north by the commune of intensification of cultivation practices and a rapid Karimama, to the south by the communes of expansion of cultivated areas [8, 9]. A Kérou and Gogounou, to the east by the supplement of 2.5 to 5 kg of cowpea haulms commune of Kandi and to the west by Burkina- allows the draft oxen during the last three months Faso (Fig. 1). 37 Kate et al.; AJRAVS, 7(2): 36-45, 2021; Article no.AJRAVS.62877 2° 05' 400 475 2° 46' Ñ Ñ N Ñ 11° 11° Ñ Ñ Ñ 34' Ñ COMMUNE DE KARIMAMA 34' BURKINA FASO Ñ Ñ Ñ LEGENDE Ñ Ñ 1280 1280 Ñ Cours d'eau permanent Ñ Ñ Ñ Cours d'eau temporaire Ñ Ñ Ñ Parc National W du Niger FOUNOUGO Route bitumée Ñ # Ñ Route non bitumée Ñ COMMUNE Ñ DE Ñ MALANVILLE Piste Zone cynégétique # Ñ Ñ Ñ Ñ Ñ Limite d'Etat de l'Atacora KOKEY Limite de département # GOMPAROU SOROKO # # SOMPEREKOU Limite de commune Y# BANIKOARA Limite d'arrondissement TOURA NIGER # BURKINA FASO Parc National KOKIBOROU # OUNEY Alibori # Atacora Zone cynégétique GOUMOR#I #Y Chef-lieu de commune Borgou COMMUNE Donga DE KEROU # N Chef-lieu d'arrondissement COMMUNE DE KANDI I G T E Collines O R G 1220 I 1220 O Plateau Zou A Couffo Commune Source : Fond topographique IGN au 1/600 000 de Banikoara Mono Atl. 11° Ouémé Ñ Ñ 11° 10 0 10 Kilomètres OCEAN ATLANTIQUE Conception : OROU SEKO Sabi Séko M., 2012 02' COMMUNE D E GOGOUNOU 02' Ñ Ñ 2° 05' 400 475 2° 46' Fig. 1. Geographic and administrative location of Banikoara district 2.2 Experiment Design the feeding test have been contributed by research. A total of 40 oxen were divided into two lots, 20 per lot. All the animals used in this study were 2.3 Methods half-breeds from the cross between Zebu and 2.3.1 Description of the technology Borgou. The animals were aged between 4 and 7 years with an average age of 5 years 5 months. Crop residues and agro-industrial by-products The average weight of the subjects at the start of are the staple food for livestock in the dry the experiment was 202.6 Kg and 206.90 Kg season. Agro-pastoralists have fodder reserves respectively for the control batch and the to maintain draft oxen. Indeed, these agro- supplemented batch without there being any pastoralists bring back to their habitat almost all significant difference. The subjects of the the cereal straw and legume tops of their farm. different batches were dewormed, treated and Their draft oxen are kept in a pen and tied to a vaccinated against common diseases in the stake and fed at the trough throughout the lean region before the start of the experiment. season. This practice reflects a certain rationality The ingredients used in the formulation of the of agro-pastoralists and adaptation to climate complementary ration consisted of rice straw, change. The food ration based on residues peanut haulm and cottonseed. The straws were (cereal straw and peanut tops) and cotton seeds collected at the end of the harvest and at the available in the medium added to the lick stone, start of the dry season (December to January). must cover the nutrient requirements of the draft However, the tops were collected between oxen. October and December. The cotton seeds come from the Banikoara cotton ginning factory. These 2.3.2 Formulation of the supplementation different food reserves collected by the producer ration were stored on a watchtower and were used for the food supplementation test for draft oxen. The matrix method was used for the formulation Cottonseeds and mineral supplements used in of the daily rations.