title: Characterisation of camel breeding practices in the Ansongo Region, Mali.
abstract: Despite its importance in Mali's economy, camel breeding in the country remains poorly documented, impeding effective policy-making in this regard. This study consisted in a 3-month survey and aimed at characterising camel breeding systems in Ansongo, in the region of Gao, Mali. It highlights the diversity of strategies adopted by breeders and their evolutions. Supplementary feeding and veterinary care were seldom practised. In zones close to the Niger River, cattle were substituted to camels. Transhumance routes also are modified but mobility keeps its vital role in the breeding system. Important differences within the study region in the classification of camel breeds have been reported that will influence the implementation of a collective action for animal genetic improvement. The improvement goals should take the actual management, including mobility and the mixed nature of the herds into account.
authors: Department of Animal Productions, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Boulevard de Colonster, 20, building B43, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
authors: Bakary
authors: B
authors: Traoré
authors: Nassim
authors: N
authors: Moula
authors: Abdoulaye
authors: A
authors: Toure
authors: Bara
authors: B
authors: Ouologuem
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Leroy
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Antoine-Moussiaux
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods*; D002162:Camelus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D005843:Geography; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008302:Mali; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric