This paper looks at African livestock herds in Zimbabwe over the period 1890-1980. The focus is on the livestock system in the tribal areas where, under communal land use, there has been long-term concern with environmental deterioration Zimbabwe was chosen because it is one of the few African countries for which reasonably accurate historical data are available regarding African (common range) as opposed to Europen (closed range) herd development.

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.

Shows mixed species stocking in Northern tropical Africa w., particularly emphasis on the African traditional animal production systems; w. data on reproduction, growth and viability for five species in the region; herd & flock structures for dif. species; and the use of livestock to increase the human food supply.

This paper examines post-drought rehabilitation policies to aid recovery in pastoral livestock production in Africa. It starts by describing the main impact of drought on livestock production and the sequences of this for the national economy. It considers the range of policy options open to governments and development agencies in this area and the problems associated with each one. It then examines the provision of credit to herders to aid in the reconstitution of livestock holdings, and associates the particular issues with the implementation of such projects.

Examines the consequences for cattle husbandry of livestock-crop integration as practiced in an agropastoral production system in the sub-humid zone of Nigeria - based on a study of herding practices and cattle grazing behaviour.

Evaluates the productivity of transhumant Fulani cattle in the inner Niger delta of Mali. Summarises the results of the animal productivity study extending from December 1978 - March 1983, which indicated high calf mortality, low reproductive performance and moderate milk production. Identifies constraints limiting the productivity of Sudanese Fulani cattle and suggests interventions aimed at eliminating or ameliorating these constraints

Presents results of studies of settlement, land use & relations w. settled farmers of Fulani agropastoralists in Abet & Kachia Grazing Reserve in Subhumid Nigeria. Discusses reasons of choice of site, pattern & right of grazing and access to land.

Describes effects of feeding Bunaji cows supplements of cottonseed cake, molasses-urea or fodder bank on birth & 1-year weight of calves and their viability to 1-year, and milk yield, for both calves & humans, of cows under an agropastoral management system.

This paper examines a process - the spontaneous enclosure of the range by livestock owners - which may rise new problems but also permit new approaches to the development of the African livestock industry. Drawing on case material from Sudan and Somalia, the opening section of the paper discusses some of the spontaneous range enclosure.

Explains to what extent effective traditional African range management systems exist/existed, and discusses the factors which influence their incidence, persistence or effectiveness - focussing principally on sub-Saharan Africa.

Describes, briefly, sizes structures, general management and productivity of pastoral herds in the Kaduna Plains of Nigeria. Includes data on age at first calving, calving percentage, calving intervals, calf liveweight & mortality to 1 year, and milk yield of Bunaji cattle under this sedentary pastoral management system. Identifies nutrition as cause of this below-genetic-potential productivity.

Etude ayant pour objet de determiner, en partant d'observations cliniques faites tout au long de l'annee 1983 au niveau des troupeaux de petits ruminants suivis par le CIPEA, les causes de mortalite les plus connues avant sevrage afin de pouvoir entreprendre des essais visant a leur reduction au niveau des memes troupeaux.