Role and potential of draught cows in tropical farming systems: a review.

Abstract

Draught animals are used throughout the world and, while in some areas their use has declined (e.g. camels in some sahelian regions and oxen and horses in Europe), in other areas they are as important now as they have ever been. Prophesies that use would decline due to mechanisation have often been shown to be ill-founded. In Ethiopia Gryseels and Anderson (1983) state that the most important contribution of livestock in highland areas is for draught. In other parts of Africa such as Senegal (Munzinger, 1982) and Zambia (Milimo, 1985) draught animal use is reported to be increasing. In Egypt buffaloes provide 30 to 40% of farm power and, even though mechanisation has been widely adopted, the buffalo's potential is again attracting attention (Shalash, 1983). Petheram, Thahar and Bernsten (1985) state that in South East Asia draught animals are the most important consumers of feed and labour resources amongst the livestock populations and play vital economic and social roles. In Bangladesh the draught animal requirement is determined by the area of cultivable land. The estimated demand in 1978 was 11-5 million draught animals (one pair for every 1.7 hectares) but Ahmed (1978) considers that this demand is unlikely to be met even ff cows are used. Chantalakhana (1981) estimates that in China, India, Indonesia, Korea and the Philippines, 98% of farm power is derived from animals and that in Thailand 95% of rice production depends on draught animal power. Singhal and Tomar (1982) quote a figure of 44% of cultivation being carried out by draught animals in India. These examples and others in following sections indicate the importance of animal power in tropical countries. Rather than declining, the demand in some countries has increased and often cannot be met by oxen alone. In a number of countries cows are commonly used to meet demand at peak periods while in other countries, where cultivation pressure on land has caused a decline in ruminant populations, cows also are used for draught. Since the circumstances causing these changes are only likely to become more widespread, it is likely that in future cows will be utilised more widely in the tropics.