Filling information gaps is important for setting future research priorities and defining proper strategies for the improvement and conservation of indigenous breeds. This review focuses on a synthesis of knowledge on the Borgou cattle breed farming in Benin. It gathers information about its origin, its physical and ethnological characteristics. It also highlights the characterization of rearing modes, its adaptation to different farming systems, the analysis of its productivity and its genetic improvement. Studies of several authors, reports of various structures that intervene in livestock farming system in Benin have been involved in this review. It should be noted that the Borgou cattle breed is a trypanotolerant taurine breed from northern Benin. The breed has shown by its traits a remarkable adaptation to its natural environment and has the advantage of enhancing natural rangelands and especially wetlands infested with tsetse flies and hostile to zebu cattle farming. If particular attention is paid to livestock farming in rural areas, this breed has the potential to improve and increase production from cattle farming in Benin. Likewise, uncontrolled crossbreeding of this breed with other native breeds or even exotic breeds presents risks of genetic loss to the detriment of crossbreds becoming more and more vulnerable to environmental conditions
The study was conducted at the farm of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) "Fermiers Sans Frontière" to assess the reproductive performance of Red Maradi, Saanen goats and their crossbred F1 and F2 (backcross) in an intensive livestock farming system in northern Benin. The reproduction data were collected on 238 goats. The Red Maradi first reached age at conception and first kidding, followed by F1, Saanen and F2 (P<0.05). On the other hand, the average weight at mating was significantly higher in Saanen, followed by F1, F2 and Red Maradi. Goats born in the rainy season had better reproductive performance than the others born in the dry season. Similarly, single-born goats had the shortest period (P<0.05) for some reproductive performances (age at conception, age at first kidding, kidding interval and gestation period). The Red Maradi breed was superior in all reproductive traits indicating better reproductive performance of this breed compared to Saanen and F1 and F2. The effect of the season on most traits indicates the need for supplementation of goats during the dry season when the pasture condition is very poor for better reproductive performance.
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