Zoo technical Characteristics of Breeders and Some Grasses Forages Used in Small Ruminants Feeding in Sahelian Zone,Ati Division-Chad

A survey of socio-technical characteristics of small ruminant’s production was carried out in Ati division within the region of Batha in Tchad, from August to September 2018. Data were collected from 100 livestock producers within the urban community of Ati (UCA), using a structured questionnaire. Information on socioeconomic (breeder’s ethnic group, age, marital status, education level, number of children, reasons for rearing goats and sheep, labor distribution etc.), technical characteristics (herd size and composition, feeds and feeding practices etc.) and phytosociological investigation of small ruminant’s breeders were focused. The result obtains from this study show that Arabic (26%) ethnic groups were the major breeders, followed by the Fulani or Peulh (25%) ethnic groups. The farmers (43%) who were all Muslim (100%), were aged between 20 and 40 years and were almost married (92%). Their educational level was limited to primary (21%) and secondary school (10%), with few famers having high level of education (2%). Self-consumption of milk and wealth accumulation through the trade of animals and its products were the main reasons for ruminants breeding. The herds of animals were mostly led in group (75, 58%) to the pasture, using familial (82%) or paid (17%) labor. The herd average size which was 58 animals, were mainly constituted by goats (32%) and mixed herd comprising goats and sheep (25%). The annual income was ranged between 50 000 and 200 000 FCFA. The Bokaro were used as the means of housing herd in the community of Ati. Feeds scarcity and lack of health care and transport were the main challenges of small ruminants breeding. It has been noticed that, feeds from the pasture were made up of grasses that are often insufficient for animal nutrition. The main grasses registered were Cenchrus biflorus (81.34%), Echinocloa colona (81.32%), Schoenefeldia gracilis (64.41%), Setaria verticill at (50%), Echinocloa sp (29%), Brachiaria deflexa (31.15%), Dactyloctenium aegyptium (14.62%) and Eragrostis tremula (10.65%). During the dry season grasses fed to animals were complemented with by-products like cow pea hays (23%, agro-industrial by-product (22%) like leguminous cakes, the kitchen waste (17%), minerals (28%) and even grass and browse fodder (10%). Technical training over animal nutrition and health which was solicited by the farmers can enhance the rational utilization of existing feeds to increase animal breeding in the community of Ati.

Keywords: Zootechnical characteristics, forages, small ruminants, feeding, Sahel.