Why and How European Farmers Are Dedicated to Breeding the Dwarf Dahomey Cattle

Animals

Sven König¹  Kerstin Brügemann¹  Kathrin Halli¹  Sèyi Fridaïus Ulrich Vanvanhossou¹  Isabella Jasmin Giambra¹  Sandrine Odounyèmi Houessou²  Luc Hippolyte Dossa² 

[1] Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany;School of Science and Technics of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi 03 BP 2819, Benin;

关键词: African shorthorn taurine;    small-sized cattle;    grassland values;    breeding systems;    smallholder;    resistance to diseases;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani12030377

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This study investigates the motivations and breeding practices of farmers keeping Dahomey cattle in European countries. Data were collected using a web-based open-closed questionnaire survey targeting 55 farmers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Descriptive analyses revealed that the earliest European Dahomey herds were established in 2005. Moreover, interest in the breed recently increased as 63.7% of the investigated farmers established their herds between 2016 and 2020. The average herd size comprises seven Dahomey cattle, kept for managing grassland (59.3%), for production of meat or as breeding stock (32.1%) and for a hobby (8.6%). The animals are mostly kept in grazing systems throughout the year, partly fattened with supplement feeds. The low disease incidence and no need for extra health care in the herds indicate the robustness of the breed. Furthermore, meat quality, calving ease, small size, calm character and low feed requirements of Dahomey cattle were valued by the farmers. For the preservation of these features, farmers confirmed their enthusiasm to support any breeding and conservation program of this smallholder breed in Europe and Benin. This study highlights the importance of small-sized cattle for sustainable breeding systems and with regard to ecosystem management practices.

【 授权许可】

Unknown