INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC BREEDS IN EXTENSIVE LIVESTOCK FARMING SYSTEM OF BURKINA FASO: ASSESSMENT AND PROSPECTS

A study on the situation of exotic cattle breeds introduced in Burkina Faso was conducted in the province of Soum (Djibo) located in the north of the country, a Sahel area of West Africa. The aim of the study was to i) assess the adaptation of exotic breeds with high productive potential in a difficult climatic context and ii) evaluate their productivity in comparison with the native breeds. A participatory survey associated with field visits were conducted to assess the survival and adaptation abilities of exotic breeds and the crossbred offspring as well as their productive (growth and milk) and reproductive performances. The study showed that cattle herds in the region included on one hand, pure breeds consisting of native (Fulani and Azawak) Zebus, Gir and Girolando breeds imported since 2004 from Brazil (30 cows and 10 bulls) and other breeds imported from Europe in the form of semen (Holstein, Montbeliard cattle, Tarentaise cattle and Alpine Brown cattle) and multipurpose breeds from various crosses. The exotic animals were directly put within the farms under the direct management of the livestock breeders. All of them survived under the conditions of the Burkina Faso sahelian area apart from two dead animals recorded. At the time of the investigation, 160 individual animals (pure imported breeds and crossbred) were present in the province. The first heats of pure heifers of the exotics animals were observed at 12 to 14 months of age. The average calving interval was 14 ? 2.3 months for crossbred individuals. Birth weight was significantly higher in crossbreds Holstein x Girolando (32.5kg) and Gir x Girolando (30.3kg) compared to local calves Azawak (20.5kg) and Fulani (18.9kg). The average milk yield of the crossbred cows (with exotic genes) in 180 days of lactation was 1309.85 kg compared to 616.86 kg in the Azawak cow and 455.46 kg in the Fulani cow. These results command that appropriate measures should be taken by competent authorities for a rational management of these genetic resources in the province to ensure sustainable genetic improvement.