Investigations into traditionally managed Djallonké‐sheep production in the humid and subhumid zones of Asante, Ghana

Abstract

This studies presented in this paper were undertaken on 42 households units in two ecological zones of four farming villages located in the heart of the Kumawu Traditional Area (KTA) in Asante. The traditional area is the largest (9256 km(2) ) of the 21 traditional areas or paramouncies comprising the Asante Region (24 390 km(2) ), one of the ten regions of Ghana. The headquarters are in the township of Kumawu, which is located 56 km north-east of Kumase, the capital of the Asante Region. A brief discription of physical conditions, the land tenure system and the current agricultural resources of the area are given. Detailed descriptions of the physical characteristics of sheep type, ownership pattern and management practices, as well as flock structure, are discussed. The availability of fodder plants and their seasonal cover are outlined. In all, the studies covered 700 dams with almost 1500 lambings over a period of 30 months. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Untersuchungen über traditionelle Schafproduktion in der Humiden und Sub-humiden Asanter Region Ghanas. I. Natürliche Standortbedingungen und Resourcenausstattung im Untersuchungsgebiet Die Untersuschungen wurden in zwei unterschiedlichen agro-ökologischen Zonen in 42 kleinbäuerlichen Haushalten von 4 Dörfern durchegeführt. Es handelt sich um das Kumawu-Gebiet (9256 km(2) ) der Asanteregion (24 390 km(2) ) 60 km nördostlich von Kumase, der Hauptstadt der Asante mit traditionell sehr starker Schafhaltung. In der 1. Mitteilung wird eine detaillierte Beschreibung der natürlichen Standortfaktoren, Landeigentumsverhältnisse und landwirtschaftlichen Resourcenaussttatung gegeben. In einer Untersuchung über 30 Monate an 700 Mutterschafen mit ca. 1500 Geburten werden zunächst Schafrassen, Management und Eigentumsverhältnisse sowie Herdenstrukturen analysiert. RÉSUMÉ: Analyse de la production ovine traditionnelle (Djallonké) dans la région humide et sub-humide d'Asante du Ghana. I. Conditions naturelles du milieu et disponibilité de ressources dans la région d'enquête Les enquêtes ont été effectuées dans deux zones agro-écologiques différentes, soit dans 42 petites exploitations agricoles faisant partie de quatre villages. Il s'agit du territoire traditionnel de Kumawu, territoire le plus vaste (9256 km(2) ) dans la région d'Asante (24 390 km(2) ), à 56 km nord-est de Kumase, la capitale d'Asante, òu on se dédie traditionnellement à l'élevage intensif des ovins. L'article donne une brève description des facteurs naturels du milieu, de la structure agraire et des ressources agricoles de la région. L'enquête, effectuée pendant 30 mois, sur 700 brébis et à peu près 1500 parturitions s'est dédié d'abord à l'analyse des races bovines, aux pratiques de gestion, aux structures de propriété et celles des troupeaux bovins. Les enquêtes suivantes ont étudié les techniques de production, la reproduction, la commercialisation et les aspects économiques en tant que base d'une intensification de la production.

Influence of Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors on the Growth Performance Ofdwarf Sheep of Djallonke Breed Reared on Natural Pasture in Benin.

“…In the current study, the animals born from the second, third and fourth parturition showed the best growth performance than animals born from the first and the fifth lambing rank. Our findings are in accordance with the reports of several authors (Fall et al, 1982;Poivey et al, 1982;Filius et al, 1986;Abaffa et al, 1992;London et al, 1994;Yapi-Gnaoré et al, 1997).This remark can be due to the age and the live weight of primiparous ewes because the females do not usually reach their physiological maturity at the first lambing and their own growth competes with that of their product (Poivey et al, 1982;and Yapi-Gnaoré al., 1997).…”

Examination of non-genetic factors affecting the growth performance of djallonke sheep in soudanian zone at the Okpara breeding farm of Benin

“…In order to reduce the gap between the demand and meat production, increased efforts have been put into livestock development in West Africa over the last decade, with emphasis on Djallonke sheep (Bonfoh et al, 1996;London et al, 1994;Yapi-Gnaoré et al, 1997). In the Republic of Benin, attempts have been made to improve meat production of Djallonke sheep through genetic manipulation and improved management.…”

Small ruminant feed systems: perceptions and practices in the transitional zone of Ghana

“…There is, however, a dearth of documented information regarding what farmers themselves collectively perceive as "feed for small ruminants" in the transitional zone. Moreover, there is no documentation regarding the relative importance of these feeds to farmers in the zone, although some researchers reported on feeds eaten by small ruminants in parts of the zone [ 17 , 18 ]. There is also a dearth of information on the modalities of feed usage by farmers in the zone, with respect to who uses which feed, feed sources, how different feeds are used and the seasonality of usage.…”