Characteristics of Farming of the Kirdi Goat (Capra hircus) in the Far North Region, Cameroon
Barzina Justin *
Department of Agriculture, Livestock and by Products, National Advanced School of Engineering of Maroua, University of Maroua, and PO BOX 58 Maroua, Cameroon.
Vondou Lazare
Department of Agriculture, Livestock and by Products, National Advanced School of Engineering of Maroua, University of Maroua, and PO BOX 58 Maroua, Cameroon.
Ziebe Roland
Department of Agriculture, Livestock and by Products, National Advanced School of Engineering of Maroua, University of Maroua, and PO BOX 58 Maroua, Cameroon.
Abdou Bouba Armand
Department of Agriculture, Livestock and by Products, National Advanced School of Engineering of Maroua, University of Maroua, and PO BOX 58 Maroua, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A study on the characterization of kirdi goat (Capra hircus) breeding was carried out in eight localities in the Far North region of Cameroon. The aim was to highlight the socio-economic and zootechnical components of kirdi goat breeding in the said region. The study was based on a survey of 986 households in eight localities in the region. The study revealed that the majority of breeders were men (80.03%), with the most common age group being between 45 and 60. Married people are the most numerous (85.25%), and 54.92% of breeders are Christians. However, the main activity of livestock farmers is farming (59%), and the objective of livestock farming is to increase the number of animals (75.78%). Livestock are purchased (89.35%) and labour is provided by the family (94.18%). Annual household income ranges from 100,000 to 150,000 FCFA. From a zootechnical point of view, the size of the herd varies from 1 to over 45 head, and is a mixed farm. The main livestock management method is divagation (54.08%), the most common housing is the hut (84.96%), and the animals are grouped by species (56.87%). Supplementation is based on harvest by-products. In terms of health, 77.54% of farmers vaccinate their animals, and the most frequent symptom is diarrhoea (22.31%). Mating is not controlled at all by breeders (88.06%), 95.52% of breeders declare that they have recorded multiple births and 75.93% have obtained double births. In view of the above, this study shows that kirdi goat breeders have considerable know-how in managing their operations.
Keywords: Kirdi goat, zootechnics, characterization, breeding, far north
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