Calf mortality in peri-urban zones of Bamaka, Mali

• Unité de recherche: TPH
• Numéro de projet: 8.04
• Titre du projet anglais: Calf mortality in peri-urban zones of Bamaka, Mali

Mots-clé (Allemand)

Mali, Rinder, Kälber, Mortalität, Nematoden, Zeckenkontrolle

Mots-clé (Anglais)

Mali, cattle, calf, mortality, nematodes, tick control

Description succincte (Anglais)

An important factor for the low productivity of cattle in Sahelian countries is a high calf mortality which may be caused by a variety of different factors, like parasites, infectious diseases and herd management strategy. This study investigates in a general approach perceived health of cattle and herd management before focusing on more specific causes like nematodes, ticks and tick-borne diseases. The goal of this study is to rise the productivity of traditionally managed cattle by reducing calf mortality.

Objectifs du projet (Anglais)

- to describe the herdsmen's perception of cattle health
- to determine causes of the high calf mortality in traditionally managed herds
- to evaluate the spectrum of tick-transmitted diseases
- to determine the effect of nematodes and strategic tick control on calf mortality

Résumé des résultats (Abstract) (Anglais)

Malian cattle production covers 70% of meat and 40% of milk products of the local demand (1999). To reduce the dependence on imports, the output of the cattle industry must be raised. One approach is to increase meat and milk production of local breeds by artificial insemination with sperm of European high performance cattle. However these crossbreeds are more susceptible to local pathogens and parasites and need intensive prophylactic treatment for survival. An alternative approach is to rise the productivity of N'Dama and Zebu, a breed tolerant towards trypanosomes and with some degree of resistance to gastro-intestinal parasites, ticks and tick-borne diseases.

An important factor for the low productivity of N'Dama and zebu is their high calf mortality of 20%, which may be caused by a variety of different factors, such as parasites, infectious diseases and herd management strategy (e.g. access to water and pasture). This study will investigate in a first general approach the perception of cattle ill-health and herd management by herdsmen. It will then focus on more specific causes like nematodes, ticks and tickborne diseases.

The goal of this study is to rise the productivity of traditionally managed N'Dama cattle by reducing calf mortality.

Publications / Résultats (Anglais)

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