Summarizes a baseline study of the traditional livestock production system of central Mali, classifying production systems in the study in the study zone according to the degree of dependence on livestock products for gross revenue or food supply of the household or production unit, and according to types of agriculture associated w. livestock. Describes primary resources available for livestock production; livestock numbers & movement patterns; the agropastoral system; and the pastoral system associated w. rice cultivation in the Niger innundation zone.

This document summarises the major discussions, findings and recommendations of the conference convened by ILCA and its cosponsors to bring together national and international experts in livestock nutrition and management, ecology, agronomy, soil science and socio-economics to address fundamental issues of nutrient balances, agricultural productivity and the well being of the people, livestock and environment of sub-Saharan Africa.

Provides a brief outline of the theory and practice of livestock systems research, and presents the fruits of both ILCA's own long experience of livestock systems research and of expertise and efforts of others in the field. The manual may be of use to a wide audience, including those who need to study livestock systems in Africa in the context of development activities rather than research.

Livestock production in Ethiopia has, for long, remained subsistence with limited market-orientation and poor institutional support. Producing for the market requires

re-orientation of the production system and development of a knowledge based and responsive institutional support services. Institutional support services of extension,

research, input supply, rural finance and marketing are key areas of intervention that

Little of the current focus on landscape fragmentation has focused on rangelands or pastoral lands. This paper investigates the existing evidence for causes and processes of fragmentation in pastoral lands and its effects of landscapes and peoples. More conceptual work is needed on the definition of loss and fragmentation, particularly efforts to clarify fragmentation from whose (or what's) perspective.

Presents results of a 6 year study on the livestock production systems, management practices herd & flock demography in an agropastoral system in central Mali as well as reproductive performance growth rate, weights, mortality, offtake and productivity in terms of meat & milk yield of cattle & small ruminants; includes recommendations on means of improving the system and future research.

Achieving sustainable increases in agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa is both a regional and a worldwide concern. High human and animal population densities in some areas have surpassed

land-carrying capacities causing environmental degradation and undermining the long-term stability of these production systems. In attempts to meet the increasing food demands of larger populations,

farmers are cultivating more land permanently, grazing lands have diminished and many traditional farming practices that formerly allowed land to rejuvenate are disappearing.