Threat of extinction of the taurine breed of sedentary cattle farms in the Bafing Region, in the north-west of Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

The study was carried out in the Bafing region, in the north-west of Côte d'Ivoire, and focused on the threat of extinction facing taurine breeds as a result of cross-breeding practices on sedentary cattle farms. A three-year survey was carried out to determine the prevalence rate of taurine breeds under pressure from cross-breeding (N'damaze and Méré) on sedentary cattle farms. The results showed that the cattle herd of 90,823 head for 2,060 breeding sites in 2021 had declined over the years to 72,051 head in 2023 for 1,039 breeding sites. In addition, the practice of anarchic cross-breeding between local breeds (N'dama and Baoulé) and Sudanese Peulh zebus by farmers was permanent. Comparison of the results revealed a highly significant difference between the three breeds of cattle (p = 0.000). Thus, the majority of sedentary cattle herds were made up of mixed breeds (60.00 ± 0.1%), followed by the Zebu breed (32.05 ± 0.42) and the Taurine breed with the lowest prevalence (8.43 ± 0.046%).