Caractérisation technique des élevages des ruminants dans la ville de Niamey (Niger)

A study was conducted for eight weeks (July to September 2015) in the city of Niamey, to characterize the technical conduct of ruminant farms. It involved two hundred and five ruminant farmers (small ruminants and dairy cattle), six livestock feed dealers and the five communal managers of livestock services. This study shows that almost all ruminant farmers (91.70%) are men, (90.73%) married, (48.29%) aged between 31 and 50 years. With regard to rearing diversity, seven types of herds were observed: cattle (23.41%), sheep (18.04%), goats (0.97%) cattle-sheep (19.51%), cattle-goats (10.24%), cattle-sheep-goats (20.00%) and sheep-goats (7.80%). Food used to feed ruminants consists of natural pastures, crop residues, agro-industrial by-products and kitchen by-products. Regarding the mode of reproduction, it is the free projection which predominates with a touch of artificial insemination in cattle urban dairy farming. Outside food (main constraint confirmed by 100% of respondents); these are flights 31.62%, lack of space 27.62%, diseases 30.15% and the absence of technical extension agents 30.15% which limit the development of this breeding.