MBororo cattleThe MBororo zebu is only present in theregion on a tempo - PDF document

1 MBororo cattleThe MBororo zebu is only
MBororo cattleThe MBororo zebu is only present in theregion on a temporary basis, because oftranshumance, and is found mainly in thecentral-western and southwestern regionsof Chad. This animal … whose local namesinclude Bororo, red Peul zebu, red Fulani,Djafoun, Rahadji, Fellata and Foulata … isfinely built but very large, measuring LIVESTOCK BREEDSTHE M'BORORO IS PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO LONG MARCHES. ITS LYRE-SHAPED HORNS ARE HIGHLY PRIZED BYTHEIR OWNERSTHE WELL NEAR KABELEWA VILLAGE chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 86 ZEBU ARE A MAJOR CAPITAL RESOURCE FOR HERDERSNEAR DOUTHY VILLAGE DAMASSAK ] years crop. They feed on crop residues, suchas straw and bran, and also play a role in asocial context, bestowing status on theirowners and supplying meat for specialoccasions, a modest amount of milk on adaily basis, and hides to make tents.Fulani cattleThe Fulani zebu, also known locally as theFulbe, Peul, white Fulani and Akou, is foundin the Mayo…Kebby region to the west of theRiver Logone, where it was introduced in1915 by the Peul, who had emigrated fromCameroon. Today, the breed is rearedextensively by sedentary and semi-nomadicPeul, especially on the outer edges of Chad.A white coat is the dominant characteristicof this zebu. Its horns are lyre-, cup- orcrescent-shaped. The adult male has anaverage height of between 125 and 140 cmat the withers.The Fulani is closely related to the MBororozebu. It has the same easy speed of animalsaccustomed to covering long distances anda very fine coat. However, its hump is betterdeveloped and is often lopsided, especiallyin the female. Its rump is more roundedand well developed, making this zebuparticularly sought after by herders whoare rearing cattle for meat. One interestingtrend, which merits further attention, is theincreasing tendency for herders to abandonthe MBororo in favour of the Fulani breed asthey conc

2 entrate more on meat production.Arab cat
entrate more on meat production.Arab cattleThe Arab zebu … whose local names includeChoa, Shewa and Wadara … is not widelyfound in the lake region. Traditionally, thisbreed can be found between 11º and 13ºNin the Sahelian…Saharan andSahelian…Sudanian zones, although there isan increasing tendency for populations tospread further south. chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 87 88[ LIVESTOCK BREEDS Agropastoralists with more modestrevenues.These people have fewercattle, and their sheep and goat flocksrepresent a more significant investment.The people grow maize during the rainyseason, using the residues to fatten theiranimals. They sell milk and butter andwill generally send five sheep or goats tomarket in any one year. These are theregions real breeders of smallruminants, which represent a significantsource of revenue. The flocks, togetherwith breeding males, are kept collectively.Lakeshore dwellers who grow maize andmillet and keep small flocks, mainly ofThese are usersof small ruminants, rather than breedersin the strict sense. Because these peoplehave no facilities for keeping food fresh,having a small flock of animals is the onlyway of ensuring a supply of fresh meat.Arab sheepThe Arab sheep … whose local namesinclude black Moor and long-hairedMoorish sheep … is a large animal, theSheep and goats are hardly ever reared ontheir own in the region, but are almostalways mixed in with herds of cattle, or evencamels. It is not easy to define which breedsare raised by which pastoralists because thisoften depends on the availability of animals.There are three types of small ruminantpastoralists in the areas around Lake Chad.Agropastoralists who are comfortablyoff and who also own cattle and horses.These are mainly Arabs from the OuladIssé ethnic group. Their flocks consistmainly of goats and number no morethan 20 animals, with at least one horse,which indicat

3 es the social status of theowner. There
es the social status of theowner. There are few sheep in the flocks,since lamb and mutton are only used onspecial festive and religious occasions.More than 75 percent of flocks consistonly of goats. Most of them do not evenhave a male for reproductive purposes,since the pastoralists do not select andbreed their animals but rather keep anduse them with very little investment.Average to small in size, the Arab zebu hasa straight nose, a wide muzzle and a squatframe that is well fleshed. The hump ispronounced in the male, much less so inthe female, and the limbs are short but fine.The horns are generally short and pointoutwards. The coat is usually dark red ordark brown, although some animals areblack and white or red and white in colour.This breed has a sound capital value since itfetches a good price once butchered.Kilara cattleThe Kilara zebu is generally considered tobe a different-coloured variety of the Arabzebu, although no studies have beencarried out on its provenance andcharacteristics. To the Kilara should beadded the variety known as Wadara by theArabs of Chari…Baguirmi, in central…westernChad. By rights, the term breedŽ ratherthan varietyŽ should be used to describethese zebu cattle, which are linked to aregion or an ethnic group. However, in theabsence of any conclusive studies on theanimals identification and traits, theusual term has been adopted, althoughthis does not mean that they might not, infact, be breeds.Toupouri cattleThis breed, whose local names includedwarf Logone cattle and Massa cattle, is thesmallest found in Chad. Its height rangesfrom 110 to 120 cm at the withers foranimals aged four years and over. Its weightvaries between 100 and 150 kg. Its mainquality is its resistance to trypanosomiasis,which is the major reason why it hasacclimatized so well to its habitat. Thebreed is becoming increasingly dominant inareas where the Arab zeb

4 u is traditionallyfound. However, pure b
u is traditionallyfound. However, pure breeds have becomerare, which means that this is anendangered breed.SMALL RUMINANTS REPRESENT A FLEXIBLE, MINIMAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT AS WELL AS PROVIDING A SUPPLY OF FRESH MEATTHE WELL NEAR KABELEWA VILLAGE chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 88 ] male of which stands 80 cm high and thefemale 70 cm. The coat is black and fawnin colour and the hair is generally long. Thehorns are smaller in the females. Theirears are often pendulous and floppy ratherthan upright. This breed produces excellentmeat and fattens easily on crop by-products. Their meat is used for feastsPeul sheepThe Peul sheep, also called the Bororosheep, can be found during transhumancemigrations and is the largest of the sheepbreeds in Chad. The male has an averageheight of 85 cm, while the female generallyreaches 80 cm. The distinguishingfeatureof the Ouadah variety is its two-tone coat,which is black or brown in front and whitebehind, with the two colours meetinghalfway along the body. The Waïla varietydiffers in having a coat that is uniformlywhite. The Peul breed is short-haired andhas long, pendulous ears. A highpercentage of the females have horns.Dewlaps are rare, but long … up to 15 cm.The nose is straight, strongly hooked inthe case of the male, while the tail isrelatively thin and ends at the hocks.the Peul sheep, but its rump is low,ending in a tail that is thicker near thebase, where it may have a circumferenceof up to 30 cm. The tail is also very long,always extending below the hocks andsometimes reaching the ground. Thedistinguishing trait of this breed is itsfawn coat, although it is sometimes fawnand white. Local names include Kababishand Sudan desert sheep, and it is oftencalled the Peul sheep. Mayo…Kebby and Kirdimi sheepThe Mayo…Kebby sheep is sometimes foundon the shores of Lake Chad and is verysimilar to the Arab sheep. It is know

5 nlocally as the western sheep and as the
nlocally as the western sheep and as thePoulfouli, but its presence in the region isdue entirely to trading.Also coming from southern Chad is theKirdimi sheep, the smallest of the sheepbreeds found in Chad. Its local namesinclude southern dwarf sheep, Kirdi andDjiallonké. The Kirdimi has as manyvarieties of coat colour as the goat breeds,the most common being all-black or blackwith a red belly.The lake region is dominated by the Sahelgoat, whose local names include Arab goatand Sahelian goat. However, herders alsomake use of a variety of other breeds,depending on the location, the purpose andtheir ethnic group.The Moussouro or Kanem goat is small,between 45 and 55 cm in height and from20 to 30 kg in weight.The nomadic Arab goat is large, between75 and 85 cm in height and from 35 to 40kg in weight.The western goat is about 69 cm inheight and from 25 to 30 kg in weight.The Baguirmi or Massakori goat is across between the Sahelian breed andthe southern breed.Without a detailed study (inventory andbreed characteristics), it is difficult to sayhow many breeds actually exist, especiallywhen names have been given by thepastoralists without linking them to specificforms of utilization.Kirdimi goatThe Kirdimi goat is reared by the sedentarypopulations of the south. Known locally asthe southern dwarf goat, Kirdi andDjallonké, this goat, like the Kirdimi sheep,is found on the shores of the lake, aided, nodoubt, by its well-known resistance toparasites. In the south, this goat representsthe sole source of meat in the tsetse-fly(trypanosomiasis) zones although, unlikethe Sahelian breed, it is not kept for milk.Around Lake Chad, where trypanosomiasisis not a major problem, there appears to beno justification for its use.This small goat has short, coarse hair thatis white, yellow, brown, or sometimesblack. It varies in height from 45 to 55 cm,and its weight ranges from 15 to 25

6 kg. Themeat is used for everyday consump
kg. Themeat is used for everyday consumption.The animal does not appear to beespecially well adapted to its surroundingsand people use it on an opportunistic basisrather than attempting to develop it intoany particular breed eed .SHEEP AND GOATS ARE GENERALLY MIXED WITH CATTLE,HORSES AND CAMELSTHE WELL NEAR KABELEWA VILLAGE chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 89 THE HORSE IS A SYMBOL OF POWER AND PRIDENEAR LOGONE-GANA VILLAGE, CHADPACK ANIMALSIn the case of both horses and camels,there is no particular species endemic tothe Lake Chad Basin. Around the lake,during certain times of the year, more orless all the species found in the rest ofChad can also be seen, depending onmigration and transhumance patterns and,in the case of horses, on an owners desireto make a statement about his socialposition. Of the two, the dromedary is moreextensively used as a pack animal and hasbeen more thoroughly studied, but thehorse has an undeniable social role.Horses and poniesThe equine population of the region is verydiverse and appears to be the result ofrandom cross-breeding. However, threedifferent morphological types can bedistinguished, and these are used byvarious ethnic groups.1. The Dongola horse, which is believed toexist in a relatively pure version in theBahr-el-Ghazal region, is a light, finelybuilt animal that weighs just 350 to 400 kg.Its coat is generally dark, with extensive 90[ LIVESTOCK BREEDS chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 90 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANIMALS AND PASTORALISTS DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON ECONOMIC FACTORS BUT ALSO ON SOCIAL ISSUESMATAFO VILLAGE white patches on the extremities. It haslarge white socks, a broad blaze, broadwhite patches on the belly, hairlesspatches around the nose, and oftendifferent coloured eyes.2. The Berber Arab horse is found almosteverywhere. Bay is the dominantcolour, with chestnut being rare in thelake re

7 gion.3. The Logone pony is very rare in
gion.3. The Logone pony is very rare in the areaaround the lake. Traditionally, this breed,which is also known as Sara, Lakka,Kirdi, Mbaï, Kabia pony and Hoho pony, isreared on either side of the River Logonein southern Chad. It is extremely hardyand robust, with excellent powers ofendurance, and is capable of bearingheavy loads. It is an animal well suited todifficult conditions although, since theend of tribal conflicts and the introductionof measures to ban traditional hunting,its use has been much reduced. This hasalmost certainly led to it becoming aspecies in danger of extinction. Moreinformation is required in order toestablish any effective conservationprogramme. THE FUTURE IS AN ANCIENT LAKE[ chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 91 DONKEYS ARE THE CHEAPEST MEANS OF TRANSPORTATIONNEAR BOL, CHADDonkeysOnly one breed of donkey is found in Chad,but it is relatively homogeneous. It is ashort, hollow-backed animal of smallstature, standing between 90 and 110 cm atthe withers, and is mainly found in theSahel. Its coat is grey, with a cross-shapedblack stripe on the back. Over two milliondonkeys are estimated to exist in the fourriparian countries, mainly owned by smallfarmers and pastoralists. The animals arerustic and can feed on poor grassland, andthey are well adapted to rough tracks. Very few studies have been carried out onthis animal, which is widely used fortransport and especially for carryingwater. Unlike horses and camels,donkeys are pack animals with no status,and it is quite common to see women Logone pony The Logone pony was once a familiar sightthe twentieth century there were some40000 examples of this breed in thecountry. The ponies were found betweenthe lower reaches of the Tanjile, an affluentof the Logone River from which the animaltakes its name, and the Kabia, which flowsessential to a whole range of ethnic groups,including the Marb

8 a, Kolon, Nancere, Musey,Lele, Mesme and
a, Kolon, Nancere, Musey,Lele, Mesme and Monogoy tribes.For a long time, the Logone pony was anintegral part of daily life in a wide variety ofsocial settings. It was used as a cavalry horse, asa packhorse, for transport and for reasons ofsocial prestige. However, the end of tribalhunting, profound social changes and theexclusion of the pony from dowry settlements,all led to a decline in the fortunes Ð and hencethe numbers Ð of this hardy local breed. Today,Logone pony from the Lake Chad Basin Ð agenetic heritage of the region. 92[ LIVESTOCK BREEDS chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 92 FOR CENTURIES, DROMEDARIES HAVE BEEN USED FOR TRANSPORTING GOODS ACROSS THE DESERT. THEY ARE ALSO GOOD MILK PRODUCERSTHE WELL NEAR KABELEWA VILLAGE ] DromedariesThe first studies on the dromedaries foundin Chad were carried out by the veterinaryservices of the then French colony at thebeginning of the twentieth century. Theseanimals are often used by nomads fortransporting merchandise and campingmaterials, especially in Chads Sahelianzone. They also produce milk. Three breedsof dromedary can be distinguished.1. The Kanem dromedary is the smallest ofall the breeds in the region. The hair ofthe coat is short and the most commoncolours are light fawn or white mixedwith grey. This animal has the long neckfound in camels used for riding, and it isaccustomed to both ) and saltwater. This typemost closely resembles the dromedariesused by the Tuaregs of North Africa. Itshabitat is the Kanem region ofnorthwestern Chad.2. The Mahamid or Arab dromedary is apack breed, large in stature, measuringbetween 1.85 and 2 m at the withers, andis found in eastern and central Chad. Itscoat is whitish grey to fawn in colour. Thehair is quite long and slightly wavy. Thisdromedary is bred by the nomadic Arabtribes, the Batha and Ouaddaï, from the3. The Gorane dromedary is reared by theSaharas

9 Toubou and is more accustomedthan the M
Toubou and is more accustomedthan the Mahamid dromedary to harshconditions, and saltwater. It is a finelyis excellent for riding over the rockyterrain, to which it is well accustomed. chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 93 PEUL WOMEN WITH MILK ON THEIR WAY TO THE MARKET1000 CFAF are equivalent to 1,52 euros.NEAR KANIRAM VILLAGE MALAM FATORI Village dairy productionaround Lake Chad The transformation of milk into other dairyproducts is carried out entirely by women,mainly during the rainy season, when milkfetches a lower price of 125 CFAF AF . The three main dairy productsare milk, curds and melted butter. Freshmilk is usually consumed in the morning,generally with added sugar andaccompanied by bread or cake. It can alsobe used to prepare dishes. Curds, which areseparated out during churning, are mainlysugar are added. These are the main disheseaten by Muslims during Ramadan. Curdstraditional millet porridge. Eaten on theirsugar, rather like yoghurt. Melted butter istablespoonsful being added to each dish.are mainly Muslim, consume large quantitiesof fresh milk and curds and are also themajor consumers of fresh camelÕs milk.Turning milk into cheese is a traditional andinexpensive method of conserving milk,which would otherwise be difficult toTchoukou-type cheese is a dry cheeseto which commercial rennet is added,made into round or rectangular forms, eachof milk to make 100 g of cheese. Each formsells at 250 CFAF, which is equivalent to 166CFAF per litre of milk Ð an increase on theseasonal average. Cheddar-type cheese ispressed and warmed, and keeps well inrequires a greater initial investment, since itrequires a small dairy. It takes 10 litres of chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 94 BREEDS BECOME ESTABLISHED AND WIDESPREAD NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF THEIR PRODUCTION LEVELS BUT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE DYNAMICM'BORORO CATTLE, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE

10 WIDESPREAD AMONG WODAABE NOMADS, DESPITE
WIDESPREAD AMONG WODAABE NOMADS, DESPITE THEIR LOW MILK YIELDN'GORTOGOL ] THE FUTURE IS AN ANCIENT LAKE[ chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 95 The types of animal that farmers andherders in the region choose to reardepend largely on the purposes for whichthey are required. Geography is certainly animportant factor when it comes to thecreation and maintenance of animalbreeds. As different tribes moved into theregion, they brought their livestock withthem. These animals have often taken boththe names of the areas from which theyoriginated and those of the ethnic groupsthat introduced them. It is remarkable tosee how the Kouri or Buduma herdershave managed to develop breeds sosuperbly adapted to their habitat, and thecattle have generally taken the name of thetribes. Heavily built breeds are not suitedto travelling long distances, so they areuseful for communities who have to someextent become sedentary. At the sametime, there has been no parallel creation ofspecific breeds of sheep or goats, althoughvarious breeds occur at random, such asthe Peul sheep.All the breeds are related to theenvironment and have been modified by,or have adapted to, the systems used bythe farmers and herders. Factors such aswhether the system was intensive orextensive, or whether it was sedentary,nomadic or based on transhumance, havehad a strong influence on thedevelopment of breeds. Having said this, it LIVESTOCK BREEDSNEAR BOL, CHADis hard to say whether the existence of acertain breed has forced herders to adopta particular management system orwhether the breed has been forced tochange in order to fit in with a particularenvironment. Only careful phylogeneticresearch will provide the answer.The same question mark hangs over theissue of determining the aptitudes ofcertain races. In Africa, this is often not soeasy, unlike the situation in Europe, wherespecific traits, such as

11 good milk or meatproduction in cattle,
good milk or meatproduction in cattle, are clearly defined.However, that should not lead immediatelyto the assumption that the majority of cattlebreeds in Africa are of mixed origin. BREEDING PRACTICES AND OBJECTIVES chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 96 ] MOST BREEDS REPRESENT THE BEST RESPONSE TO THE DEMANDS OF HERDERS IN A GIVEN ENVIRONMENT. THESELECTION CRITERION OF THE KOURI BREED IS ITS ADAPTATION TO THE ISLAND ECOSYSTEMNEAR BOL, CHAD In fact, the specific traits displayed by abreed are already an indication that humanbeings have intervened with a geneticimprovement programme, whether in asystematic, organized fashion or in a moreempirical way. Birth weight is one example of a selectioncriterion. In the case of animal growthperformance, the selection criteria and theobjective are the same and, forreproduction purposes, the herder will usemales with the best growth performancegiven the feed resources available. Hetherefore combines his objectives with theenvironmental and herd situation.The definition of a selection criterion is farmore complicated when direct measures ofthe animal in question cannot be taken, orwhen the selection is directed at animalsfrom another generation. Scientists carry outsophisticated selection programmes, usingascendants, descendants, collaterals andmultiple selections. The breeder who wantsto improve his milk production will choose abull whose mother is a good milker. He willcheck the descendants and then give the goahead for new mating. The desired objectivedictates the choice of criteria andprogressively shapes the species.BREEDS IN EVOLUTIONIt could be argued that the ancestors ofAfrican livestock breeders did not have theadvantage of the selection methods that weuse today. However, it would be wrong toassume that they were unable to identifythose selection criteria that responded totheir objectives. Around Lake Cha

12 d there isliving proof that these Africa
d there isliving proof that these African herders wereable to create a cattle breed that wasperfectly adapted to both the particularconditions and the needs of the people wholived there. Meat and milk were equallyrequired, in an environment that was especially difficult. With no sophisticatedknowledge of genetics, the local herdersalmost instinctively responded to thechallenge by creating the Kouri breed. Thephysiognomy of this breed is thereforebased not on the characteristics found inliterature, such as large horns, white coatand large size, but on the adaptation of thebreed to the island environment. As aresult, the breed represents a combinationof genes best suited to the environment: abreed in evolution.By the same token, it should beremembered that, in an African context,selection criteria are more complex. InAfrica, it is not simply a question ofeconomics, of developing breeds thatproduce more milk or more meat. Otherfactors need to be taken into consideration,such as the capacity of an animal to thriveon poor pastures and resist certaindiseases, make the most of certain difficulthabitats, retain a capital value for thehousehold or a dowry, or be suitable for usein social and religious rites.Perhaps we should ask ourselves howeffective our own methods would be inresponding to demands such asthese.These aspects are often neglectedbecause there is a lack of information, butthese selection criteria are certainly behindthe creation of many breeds. chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 97 of the parent breeds, as a source of thecross-breeds, has an economic benefit.It is therefore possible to think of livestockbreeds as socially created phenomena thathave been constructed according to arange of constraints imposed by therearing system together with a range ofobjectives based on the intended use of theanimal. Breeds that have become firmlyestablished and

13 geographically widespreaddo not owe thei
geographically widespreaddo not owe their success simply tobiological factors, such as high productionlevels and the ability to adapt to the mostcommon livestock-rearing methods. Theyalso owe it to the dynamics of theparticular human group, be it a collectiveof livestock rearers or a private firm thathas organized the selection of the animals,mastered their genetic potential, takencare of the promotion and sale of thereproductive stock and been responsiblefor sharing out the profits among thevarious participants. All of this stronglysuggests that it should be possible to findjust as many good qualities in other breedsas in the so-called improved racesŽ,provided that a social grouping is preparedto take on the long and arduous job oforganizing all that this entails. However, breeds evolve naturally under thepressure of change, both from rearingsystems and production objectives. Thisevolution can be achieved either by thegrading of reproductive stock within thebreed (selection) or by introducingreproductive stock from outside (cross-breeding). In practice, most breedsrepresent the best response by an animalpopulation to the demands of herders in agiven environment. This line of reasoning leads to the logicalconclusion that there is no such thing as apure breed. No breed is pureŽ in the sensethat it has not been mixed. SOCIAL STRUCTURESFor most of us, a breed consists of agrouping of animals that we recognize asbelonging to that breed. The principle ofbelonging may be based on inheritedphenotypical criteria, such as the size of ananimals horns, the colour of the coat or thetype of fleece, or it may be based on theanimals performance. The diversity ofbreeds existing at any one moment willdepend on the constraints encountered inrearing them. Moreover, this diversity hasincreased over time, because the weight ofhistory has forced each animal populationto evolve acco

14 rding to the socialrelationships develop
rding to the socialrelationships developing among peoplesand to the environment. This is whathappened with the widely distributed Peulzebu. Therefore, the existence of certainvarietiesŽ cannot be called into question.However, while there may be homogeneitywhen it comes to the criteria of belonging,different breeds of animals may beheterogeneous when it comes to othercriteria. That, after all, is what makes itpossible to improve average production andfor breeds to evolve in response to changesin environmental or socio-economicconditions. Conserving biodiversity is asmuch about preserving the different breedsas it is about preserving diversity withineach breed.In this context, cross-breeding does notundermine biodiversity unless the relativeimportance of one of the breeds declinesover the years, and unless the genespresent in that breed do not occur in otherbreeds. On the contrary, in certain cases,cross-breeding can actually preservegenes, either because a new breed hasbeen created, or because the maintenance LIVESTOCK BREEDSIt is important to look at breeds in aneconomic context. No livestock farmer willinvest time and money in developing abreed unless it has something particular tooffer, either directly, e.g. by providing meator milk for the household, or indirectly, e.g.by producing items that fetch a high price atmarket. In both cases, humans and animalsare sharing a common space and theresources of the land. Cattle breeds thatare adapted to an extensive pastoral systemare neglected in favour of crop growingwhen populations increase demands orwhen this kind of activity is more profitable.The system has to be flexible; the farmermay abandon certain breeds of domesticanimal and concentrate on developing otherbreeds that are better adapted to a new setof circumstances. He may also modify apreviously used breed in order to respond tochanging demands in the marketp

15 lace. Theexamples that have been given o
lace. Theexamples that have been given of animalpopulations around Lake Chad show howThe conservation of a breed in a static formcan only happen in a relatively closedenvironment, where the product or theservice is exclusively aimed at domesticconsumption. In any case, animals alwaysevolve in response to the needs of thosewho keep them. What is needed is a systemthat allows the animal to develop on theunderstanding that it is the animal adaptingto human beings. It is nonsensical to thinkthat this process can be halted, and muchbetter to try to manage it and minimize thelosses. Conservation initiatives will onlywork if they are undertaken within a well-defined economic context in which thefarmer has a good chance of making aprofit, and in circumstances that are sociallyacceptable. The pros and cons need to becarefully weighed up before embarking onsuch a process. chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 98 ] THE FUTURE IS AN ANCIENT LAKE[ but on the environment, which evolves inresponse to human actions, then it ispossible to view the animal as a grouping ofgenes that are organized to take the bestadvantage of a temporary situation. Theonly problem lies in managing the timespan. The very notion of breedŽ isinextricably linked with the environment.As far as the evolution of an animal isconcerned, a species or a breed developswhen it is isolated. Most frequently, thisisolation is geographic, although it maysometimes be behavioural. This is confirmedby the observations on animal breeds livingaround Lake Chad.It therefore seems paradoxical that, inmany countries, a clear distinction and asharp separation are made betweenlivestock breeds and the environment. Thissituation is the fruit of history, but it cannotbe supported any longer. Both domestic andwild animals have an impact on theenvironment and on human ability tomanage it. It is the common evolution ofanimal

16 s, environment and human beingsthat must
s, environment and human beingsthat must be always considered.CONSERVATION INITIATIVES WILL ONLY WORK IF THE PASTORALIST CAN MAKE A PROFIT AND IF CIRCUMSTANCES ARE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLETHE WELL NEAR KABELEWA VILLAGE, THE NIGERIt seems that the primitive concept ofexisting species and selected breeds beinginvariable can be easily replaced by a muchmore evolutionary idea. That static and fixednotion has led to the universal adoption inmost production systems of a few so-calledsuperiorŽ or improvedŽ breeds. It has alsoled to the development of cross-breedingprogrammes and to the sale of improvedreproductive stock and artificialinsemination. But it has often failed inenvironments that are either unsuited tothese breeds or that are in a state ofevolution. If one focuses not on the animal CONCLUSIONS chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 99 Peul/Buduma agreement We leave Bol early in the morning and reach theisland of Kalgama after more than four hoursislands; driven by a northeast wind, they force usto change course over and over again. We aregoing to meet Moussa Bukar, a Peul family head), a herdsman and a nomad: 45years old, two wives, eight children. We areaccompanied by Idriss Issaka, a splendid figureTechnicien de) at the service of the herders. He tells uswhole island was cultivated. Now the droughthas forced the last of the farmers to abandonthese lands; the nomads take advantage of it,territories. The problem, however, is not thatsimple: the Peul herds are not comfortable inwater. While they are hardy walkers, the Peulzebus swim with some difficulty and the islandscan only be reached by swimming. This iswhere the Buduma poeple come in, expert asthey are in the customary transhumance oftheir Kouri herds from island to island. TheMoussa Bukar receives us seated with greatleaves, in the light shade of acacia trees. Afterthe usual polite remarks, there can

17 be but onetopic of conversation: the dro
be but onetopic of conversation: the drought, which everythe nomads. It has been 15 years since theymust rent pirogues for the members of theherd, which must swim across, there is alwaysthe risk that some of the animals will disappearin the dark waters of the lake. For this task thePeul turn to the more experienced Buduma forhelp. Today, too, they are ready. We are goingto give them concrete assistance by putting attheir disposal our large motorized pirogue. Inthis way we will be able to document the wholeKalgama to the island of Kafia (which takes itsMaerua crassifoliafor pulmonary diseases). The go ahead for the operation is given. Whilethe females, all of them, from five-year-olds up,the household goods, the men gather theor so all is ready, and no trace is left of thecamp. We are on our way. Soon we arrive at theshore. All the belongings are transferred on tothe big pirogue, along with the smaller animals,a few calves and an old donkey loaded and tiedlike a sack of potatoes. Then it is the turn ofshort while, with three or four trips, they willother Peul herdsmen drive the reluctantanimals into the water. Four Buduma will goSuddenly there is a great churning of water, atangling of long horns, a roaring of bellowingefforts and hopes are aimed at keeping theherd arrives on the new land. They stop,disoriented, gasping for breath. Then thehorses arrive, a few at a time and, last of all,Moussa Bukar is drenched fromhead to toe after having floundered in thedonkeys, cows and calves to reach land. BUDUMA PEOPLE HELP PEUL HERDERS REACH THE ISLANDS KALGAMA ISLAND Notes from a journey [ LIVESTOCK BREEDS chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 100 ABOVE AND BELOW: ZEBU CATTLE ARE HARDY WALKERS BUT SWIM WITH SOME DIFFICULTY. THE JOURNEY IS NOT SO EASYKALGAMA ISLAND KALGAMA ISLAND ] THE FUTURE IS AN ANCIENT LAKE[ chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 101 N

18 otes from a journey TRANSHUMANCE IS GENE
otes from a journey TRANSHUMANCE IS GENERALLY REGULATED BY PERSONAL AGREEMENT RATHER THAN BY ANY CODE OF LEGISLATIONKALGAMA ISLAND NOMADS' BELONGINGS ARE VERY BASIC, BECAUSE THEY MUST BE PACKED OR UNPACKED IN A FEW MINUTESKALGAMA ISLAND 102 [ LIVESTOCK BREEDS chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina 102 my eyes full of water . . .Ó, and he seemsunwittingly to paraphrase another more famousnomad, Dayak, who wrote, ÒI was born with myeyes full of sand . . .Ó. Certainly, from the sandsof the desert to the waters of the lake is a longdistance to cover, mental as well as physical.Although soaking wet and out of breath like hisspirits: no losses and a rich new pasture for hisherd. We say goodbye with warm handshakes,while all the women, from five-year-olds up,have already set up the new camp: yellow rowstrestles and the mortars are already at work,with their usual muted and regular rhythm.Tonight, too, there will be curdled milk andOn the way back, in the reddish light of thesunset, we encounter another small groupon board and three Buduma in the water, whonot seem to be an easy job. Idriss Issakafollowing morningÕs market. He adds that thenomads, out of need, decide to sell some oftheir zebus. To get to the market, they oftenstretches of water to swim across. The distancebetween islands can be as much as a kilometre.For such a service the Buduma usually charge5000 CFAF , (but with two or three trips theymight earn as much as a teacher).By now we are navigating in complete darkness.difficult day full of risks, with Peul and Budumaharmonious arrangement between nature andthe calm and resolute human will to survive. 1000 CFAF are equivalent to 1,52 euros. DECISIONS ON HOW, WHERE AND WHEN TO MOVE ARE TAKEN BY THE KALGAMA ISLAND WOMEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WHOLE HOUSEHOLDKALGAMA ISLAND ] THE FUTURE IS AN ANCIENT LAKE[ chap03_livestock_25 7-02-2008 13:17 Pagina