Goat Breeding: A Possible Sustainable Way to Manage Xerophytic Thickets in Southwestern Madagascar

Josoa R Randriamalala,Dominique Hervé

doi:10.3390/land11030405

Abstract

Spiny thickets or xerophytic thickets (XTs) are a type of shrubby vegetation found in the far south and southwest of Madagascar, the driest parts of the island. This type of vegetation, which is rich in endemic animal and plant species, is endangered. Extensive local goat breeding (Capra hircus, for meat and milk production) based on XT browsing is an important source of household income. The aim of this paper is to analyse the possibility of using improved goat breeding as an alternative to wood charcoal (WC) production and slash-and-burn agriculture (SBA), which are unsustainable activities. The literature on (i) the impacts of SBA, WC production, and goat browsing on the XT ecosystem and (ii) the income provided by these three activities is reviewed to determine the sustainability level of improved goat husbandry. SBA and WC production reduced XT biomass and XT cover area, while goat browsing alone, at a stocking rate of one head per hectare, did not affect XT leaf biomass production and shrub regeneration. Furthermore, batch breeding and flushing techniques provided the highest annual income, mainly from the sale of surplus animal products. This improved goat husbandry may be a sustainable alternative to WC production. However, increasing the current stocking rate is necessary to surpass the combined income of WC production and SBA. An estimation of the XT carrying capacity would offer a basis to assess whether this ecosystem would support a higher stocking rate.

Highlights

Spiny thickets or xerophytic thickets (XTs) are a type of natural shrubby vegetation dominated by Didiereaceae and Euphorbiaceae [1] that occupies the littoral part of the southwest and the far south of Madagascar (Figure 1)
Slash-andburn agriculture (SBA) is the main cause of this deforestation [3,12], while wood charcoal (WC) production and to a lesser extent goat browsing are the main causes of XT degradation [11,13,14]
An increase in the herd size and in the stocking rate is necessary in order for improved goat breeding to cover the combined income from WC production and SBA

Summary

Introduction

Spiny thickets or xerophytic thickets (XTs) are a type of natural shrubby vegetation dominated by Didiereaceae and Euphorbiaceae [1] that occupies the littoral part of the southwest and the far south of Madagascar (Figure 1). Xerophytic thickets are a type of vegetation with a high endemism rate [2] and provide a multifunctional space and such goods and services as arable land [3,4], food and medicinal plants [5,6], goat rangeland [7–9], and timber and fuelwood (wood charcoal and firewood [6,10,11]). Similar to dry forests, XTs are currently undergoing significant deforestation (annual forest loss > 1%; [3,4]). Slash-andburn agriculture (SBA) is the main cause of this deforestation [3,12], while wood charcoal (WC) production and to a lesser extent goat browsing are the main causes of XT degradation [11,13,14].

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Conclusion