RESTRICTED Sf thi' l ? 14 1 S !F {A TSS Report No. AW-27a ords report is for of ficia use only by the Bank Grour and specificaB y authorized organizations or persons. It mray not be published, quoted or citedl without Bank Group authorization. lThe I inkc Group dous not accepi rcsponsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the report. INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION rrT T17 f-TTPPD LTh.T rr LrrC T\Tj-YN\Tr CTTTT A mTr'NT AND P.ROSPECTS OF MAURITANIA (in four volunmes) VO:LUME II LIVESTOCK August 5, 1971 Western Africa Department CURRENCY EQUIVALMNI'U Currency Unit: CFA Franc (CFAF) Before August 11, 1969: US $ 1.00 = CFAF 246.85 CFAF 1,000 - US $ 45.05 After August 11, 1969: US $ 1.00 = CFAF 277.71 CFAF 1,000 US $ 3.60 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 1 Metric Ton (t) 2,205 lbs 1 Kilogram (kg) 2.2 lbs 1 Kilometer (km) - 0.62 mile 1 Meter (m) 3.28 feet COMPOSITION OF MISSION Thia report is baaed on the findings of a mission which visited Mauritania in March-April 1970. The mission comprised the following members: Heinz B. Bachmann Chief of Mission Carlos Merayo General Economist Mohamed Moghazi Agricultural Economist Dr. M. Lacrouts (consultant) Livestock Expert Dr. R. Moal (consultant) Fisheries Expert Remi van Wa(yenberghe (cons ultant-UNESCO) Education Expert This volume was prepared by Dr. M. Lacrouts (consultant). TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. A. PRESENT STATIJS OF STOCKRAISING IN MAURITANIA ...... 1 I. General Observations on Stockraising ......... 1 II. The National Herd .................... 1 1. Estimation of total livestock population .............................. 1 2. Animal breeds encountered .... ........... 4 3. Comnposition of the national herd - Production .............................. 5 III. Stockbreeding in Mauritania .... .............. 6 IV. Marketing Systems ............................ 7 1. Traditional marketing ..... .............. 7 2. The problems involved in meat marketing in Kaedi ................................ 8 V. Macro-Economic Data on Stock Breeding ........ 11 1. Meat production ......................... 11 2. Uses of meat production .... ............. 12 3. Domestic consumption of meat in Mauritania .......................... 14 4. Value added by the commercial meat channel ................................. 14 5. Revenue contributed by stockbreeding .... 19 VI. Stockbreeding and the Public Sector .... ...... 21 1. Budgetary resources derived from stock- bree(ling .......... ...................... 21 2. Funds available to the livestock service 22 Il. MAIN DIFFICULTIES FACING LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT .... 24 1. Product:ivity of the National Herd .... ........ 24 II. The Environment ............................. 28 ftDIDL, uJr %UUL'IZAN Lk UUL1LXL1ti!Uej Page No. III. Animal Diseases ..... ........................ 31 IV. Herding (social aspect of stockraising) ..... 33 C. COMPONENTS OF A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM .............. 34 I. General ..................................... 34 II. Control of Animal Diseases .... .............. 35 1. Situation of the livestock service ..... 36 2. Control of endemic diseases .... ........ 38 3. Control of various parasitic diseases .. 38 4. Difficulties involved in such a program 39 III. Water Development of Grazing Lands .......... 40 D. THE FUTURE OF STOCKBREEDING ...................... 44 A. PRESENT STATUS OF STOCKRAISING IN MAURITANIA I. General Observations on Stockraising 1. Stockbreeding is the mainstay of most of the population of Mr'auri tania. All rural dwellers look to cattle to improve their production. Al-- though the quality of basic statistics can be faulted, they all point to the predominant position occupied by stockraising in the economy of the country. 2. The GDP estiLmates of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania give the following value,added for local production; - Minerals 14.2 billion CFA francs - Animal Production 10.6 billion CFA francs - Vegetable Production 3.2 billion CFA francs - Fisheries 1.0 billion CFA francs 3. Out of the population of 1,140,000, 820,000 are nomads who derive al- most their entire income from stockbreeding; 160,000 are rural dwellers or farmers in the River Senegal Basin, who should substantially increase their livestock in the future; and 160,000 are city dwellers of whom many still own animals. 4. Stock farming clearly holds a privileged place in this country, and its production must be increased if the level of living of most of the inhabitants is to be :Lmproved. II. The National Herd 1. Estimation of total livestock population 5. In all African countries it is extremely difficult to ascertain the number of stock animals and the actual turnover in numbers since live- stock iis subject to a head tax. 6. The following table summarizes the estimates made by the live- stock service derived from visits made by the members of the service for the purpose of vaccination. Table No. 1: ESTIMATED TTVIFVTnCK NUMBERS (TN THIOUSANDS OF HEAD) 1964 1966 1967 1968 1969 Steers 2,000 2,000 2,275 2,500 2,000 Sheep - Goats 4,600 5,900 6,550 6,700 7,000 Camels 500 700 710 720 720 Horses - donkeys 250 270 280 300 300 This table calls for the following comments: a. The figure of two and a half million steers, in 1968, is given in the general technical report on the conduct of the joint rinderpest control campaign. The persons in charge of that campaign base this figure on 2,343,000 vac- cinations administered in 1968, the probable coverage being 80%. b. The decline in the cattle population in 1969 (in the order of 20%) is the consequence of the very low rainfall in 1968. The outcome in the 1969 dry season was a hecatomb due first to famine (lack of pasture), then to consequential diseases (botulism, for example) and finally to abortions (physiological exhaustion) and increased mortality in young animals, because their mothers were dry. There were also losses of sheep and goats due to the drought (approximately 15% of the total population according to the estimates of the livestock service). 7. Nevertheless a reduction in the total population to 5,700,000 head in 1969 cannot be taken as a working hypothesis: 1. First because for the last ten years the estimates have been low, undoubtedly well below actual numbers. As earlv as 1960 the total number of sheep and goats was estimated at 7 million head. 2. Secondly, because fluctuations in the total number of all r,im-inanta arp rnmmnn and orrur every year; espe- cially in the wet season, as a result of parasitic di- sease. Rut the reprodurtion rate of theifl animals is very high, and they develop very early so that the herds mak, the losses in rone anao- nff nrni,,tl-Inn .g U - 3 - 3. nUAit.e poinL is that, although the dry season caused loeses due to malnutrition, the usual mortality due to parasitic diseases was avoided because of lack of water. In conclusion we shall take, as the Nouakchott livestoc1{ se.rvice does, the figure of 7 million head of small ruminants in 1969. On balance, other animal species (camels, horses, donkeys) suffered less in the diffi- cult 1969 period. 4. The distribution of animals in the country was deter- mined in 1967. By chance the total estimates made on that occasion coincide very closely with those we have used. It is the(refore to be assumed that they rather accurately reflect the present situation. Table No. 2: DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS BY REGION Unit: number of head CATTLE GOATS SHEEP CAMELS 1st Region NEMA 450,000 2,000,000 120,000 2nd Region AIOUN 280,000 1,400,000 70,000 3rd Region KIFFA 320,000 900,000 50,000 4th Region SELIBABY 130,000 150,000 5th Region KAEDI 200,000 360,000 50,000 6th Region BOGHE 370,000 700,000 20,000 7th Region TIDJIFJA 110,000 550,000 70,000 8th Region ROSSO 220,000 650,000 9th Region NORD 20.000 350,000 250,000 TOTAL 2,100,000 7,060,000 720,000 R.Th 1streio has the most cattle and3 small rumi'nanLts and the 9th region has the most camels. It should be mentioned that the River Senegal area (Sellibaby, Boghe, -aedi, Ros-o) has 44% Of the total cattle population and only 26% of the sheep and goats. - 4 - a Stati-sti-cal Ata are ve, incomplete when if- comes to livuestock numbers. The same holds true of the structure of the herds and the utilization of livestock products. In the followin- chapters we shall be obliged to proceed by successive hypotheses which obvlouUOly allows us to reach. ony rather dubious results. It is therefore essential to take steps to obtain good quality data ei-ther by sampling, by systematic censuses on the occasion of health examinations, or by inspections on cattle routes. This shouLdU bUe dUone notL. only to obtaln rel-lable stIat-ist-ical 4nAformatlon but also to ascertain the economic facts with respect to livestock, its compositlon, the e-voLutiLon oL its structure, the iw A.LIo r t ance of stock farming and its commercial implications. 2. Animal Breeds encountered 10. CATTLE: In Mauritania there are two distinct breeds: The Zebu Maure, of medium stature, with a brown or pie- bald coat, and short horned. Its conformation is good and when in good condition it Dutcners well. The li-ve weight of male, mature slaughter animals is from 330 to 380 kilograms. Tne natio07aI LI her largely coULstbsL UL this breed. Troquereau - estimates that about 85% of the Maure breed, which today would mean about 1,700,000 head. The Zebu Peul is larger, heavier, and often rather loose- limbed. It usually has a light coat and large horns. Slaughter animals are larger than the foregoing, the males weighing from 400 to 420 kilograms. According to the percentage given by Troquereau, there would be about 300Q000 head in the country. SHEEP! These are fleece animals and are divided into: Peul sheep which are large, smooth-haired animals with a bicolored coat, long-legged; stoutly built with a hooked snout, and good walkers; they butcher well. Car- cass weigght is about 13 to 15 kilograms. b" Moorish sheep has a long-haired black coat. It is smaller than the foregoing, well-shaped, remarkably adap- ted to the Sahel. It is a good meat animal; its carcass is slightly lighter than that of the Peul sheep. GOATS: Goat breeding is very well developed in Mauritania. The only breed found is the Sahel goat which is large, long- legged and rather heavy (25 to 35 kilograms when mature). It has a small, well-shaped head and its coat is of seve- ral colors (black, white, reddish-brown, and grey); the hair is fine and smooth. The female has well developed teats and is an excellent milk animal. 1/ Les Ressources animales de la R. I. M. (FAC. 1959). 3 .-osit4ton of the r.ational herd - Productinn 11.. We a d - 4 . fin.d iD the -eports of the livstock serviae .amny I ** Ye .Jid .n,t L.A* i.an th *. - - examples of the structure of herds ascertained on the spot and unfortunatel.y certLi n structures given. cannot possib ly3 be true. s.-. the oth har.d a stuc!y by the Yugoslav firm "Energoproject" reports the composition of a herd un- uoubtedlyU supplieu by the persons iD SCaLe ofi Ibe LNFL L.&&_ JhV-ch enables us to propose a theoretical scheme of an acceptable herd. The proposeu couUipos'LL'Lon is as follows: 1-a-es - o-ver i years oL age . * . . Females - over 4 years o'L age 38.... MIales - from. I L J years .............. Heifers froml I to Jyears 20.6%. Calves ...... ... *. ........15% 12. Among tne caives there are as many males as females or 7.5% of the total number, and the number of young females not yet bred amounts to 28.1M. Cows account for 38.5% of the total catt'le population. Tusw in. suc. a structure the females "coming on" to replace breeding animals will represent 28.1/38.5 = 72.9% of adult cows. Such a percentage undoubtedly allows the herd to increase in number. The number of males appears to be proportionasLly rather large; however, most of tnem are young buli caives, which is in line with observations made in neighboring countries where stockbreeding is carried on under similar conditions. 13. In our study of Mali we assumed rather a similar composition, as is shown in the following comparative table: MALI MAURITANIA Adult Females 38% 38.5% Heifers 32% 28.1% Adult Males 7% 8.1% Young Males 23% 25.5% 14. Thus we finally come back to the same exploitation rate as the one we applied in Mali, namely 12%, broken down as follows: i 17 We are simply applying the results of an analysis of the cattle populatlion in Mali where stockbreeding conditions are similar. Annex 6 contains studies on theoretical herd structures. Structure No. 1 is rather simLlar, without being comparable, to that assumed here. This example shows how the percentages of different types of animals marketed is ascertained. -6- OverLage cows A 4. J0 of the tJot .J LCLtXt~.,1JI0-' . - ----- Fpt -jJ t io.~~ Sterile cows r.8 . of UI o fthe total population A-U-l I_-±V _ L* 1)/ tjL LI LLJ 'lJJJ~.JL s.lightLly fewer buLl calves r[ark L LU and sLJLghly LAIL.o L.L l if on. percentages we have given were correct. As a first approximation, however, tnis scheme may be considered more reall c A ior l eathe y oAf LUloaLiL A Lrat used so far. In the study of Mali the structure of the herd in which heifers represented 84% or tne aauiLt remales tle annual grow-LIWth Xd Lb *s Ls;, eU at 3%. In this case there are 73% heifers as opposed to cows so that the potential growth is therefore theoretically iess. However, until we ha-ve more accurate statistics we will apply the same hypothesis as in our study of livestock in Mali and assume only a 2% growth rate. III. Stockbreeding in Mauritania 16. It would be more accurate to speak of stockbreeding in the Sahel. in order to exist, men must adapt their way of life to the demands of the cattle. In Mauritania, sedentary stockbreeding has not taken the place it should have in agricultural development and stockbreeding at the present time is characterized by transhumant movements. Because of environmental conditions (pasturage and water) the animals can only survive if they are made to regularly undertake rather long transhumances according to the season. Timing and itinerary are always the same. 17. During the rainy season (July to September) the herds are in the northern regions where the rainfall is sufficient to ensure sufficient green herbage and to fill the pools. This is the fat season in which without any help from the herders the animals have more than enough to eat and drink. In October-November the dry season sets in and the meres in the area where the animals are gradXually dry up. The move south begins, divided into as many stages as there are temporary water points along the way. Towards December all the graziers are grouped around permanent water points (wells or streams). They will stay there until the first rains, thus spending the height of the dry season on grazing lands composed of graminaceous stubble, a few leguminous plants, and some trees which are very useful in supplementing the food supply. When the rains are sufficiently heavy to allow grass to grow again (in the months of June-July), the march northwards is resumed to the rich range of the rainy season. - 7 - la. The length of these transhumances varies according to the region; some of the herds move into Mali or to Senegal; and the movements are ex- tremely regular if nothing interferes with them. Indeed the graziers al- ways find their way to the same grazing lands, following the same transhu- mance routest anAd the wells are often ronsidered to belong to certain familiest or groups. 19. Exterior factors that may change the course of things are lack of water (-ater holes along the route that have dried un) or lack of nasture because of low precip:Ltation (as in 1969) or because of brush fires. Indeed uncontrolled fires each year destroy large areas of ran-e sometimes the best range. If they are overgrazed in the dry season around a well-for example, the well iB deserted and is no longer of any benefit. 20, A knowledge of th1e transhum.ant m-verents is essential to the work of the livestock serv-Lce. Activities can rarely be undertaken during the rainy seonorU, since then the roads are io LSssble and the graziers are wide- ly scattered in the northern region. On the other hand, during the treks, activities can sometir.mes be undertaken on the cattle routes at points of "compulsory passage" and especially in the dry season, for the animals are col'lected together ar.,i remin stationary for f.ive or six .o-ths arnd are much more accessible. However, it must be realized that, under such stockbreeding condi'tior.s, i;t 'Ls ofLt,z-nr.3 difficul t~ o apply or to ...zint-a4n r-igid sar.it- , olicy conu±LULUS J. .L~ LLI .L U±L.Lt A. L. L. ~.y 'J i-u flllAfl~A~ I - - k"' .7 measures. During the movements, for example, it is almost impossible to iLsolate siLckr ar.,,,,als and to preventL cor.tacts between th-le h.-erds IV riLarketirLig Systemst 21. I * sLLIe buLk ofJ thLe produuction i8 disose of LLILuUh traditional .ar ket channels. However, very different arrangements are to be set up in Kaedi and we shall examine them separately. 1. Traditional Marketing 'aL2 Altugl -inaccurate, the estimates we give -In the Lfollowing chapter indicate that 130,000 steers, 900,000 sheep and goats, and 30,000 camels are marketeu both flor export aLru. UdornestLic meat needa. 23. Tne marketing arraLge-menLts hlave bUeen descriLbedU in a nuber of re ports and have not varied, most of the trade passing through the hands of traditional cattle merchants and butchers. ThIe farrm. price of cattle, ac- cording to figures given by official market price lists, seemed to have in- creased since 1964 by 5 to 10% depending on the anim'als and regiors con- cerned. It must be borne in mind that the findings of the market surveys used to establish these price lists are necessarily rather approxi,mate. However, they do indicate trends which, over rather a long period of time, are acceptabie. - 8 - 24. Foreign demand is ste-adi41 4vn,Qao4nn Th4i pheanon.mnn ia common to all the African cattle and meat markets. Since no reliable statistical data are available, we have taken the figure of only 1l00,00 cattle for port. Hlowever-, we are certain that this figure has already been exceeded .oday . The pri_ce on lnUere.Jlatle .,,arkets fo: export cattle is, for good animals, in the order of 70 to 80 CFA francs per net kilogram live weight aL AJlou e1 A ross an-' C__m On _- inzt) rrA fns_ a- K_aedi This phennfi ~L £LLU UA& 11 £ L n U O r ULLU XL UJII LJV IAJ * VV '. Cl X J, afA_D a S * v *.IC is extremely important, since it represents confirmation that the efforts i-Laue LUo UdevUelop productUiLUon wrill r.ot be -n vaGin and thIat. braziers w411 al-y be able to sell the animals they put on the market. 25. The domestic needs of the country are very considerable; our cal- cu'LatiLons indicate a very h'LAghl indi'LviLual cor.u tion 'Lev-l, a fact re8ard ed as obvious by all Mauritanians. But the demand can only increase be- cause of tle 'ncrease in populatlon and "IC VCLh LIghI LaLe Uf urbanizatio in the country for the last few years. The problem of supplying Nouakchott witn cattie hias Deen improved by increasing the price of meat. Irndeed, ir, 1961, the price of beef with bone was 80 CFA francs per k-logram and that of mutton 200 CFA francs; in liO9 Lne price of beef nad risen to 125 CFA iranics per kilogram while that of mutton had not changed. 26. Thanks to a 56% increase in the price of meat a certain number of steers have been drained off to the capital despite the udfficulties inL- volved in conducting cattle in that area and their survival. Nevertheless, we still find today that at the most difficult period (from May to July) beef is in short supply and then, as an offset, many more camels are slaugh- tered since that animal can easily come to Nouakchott at any season or tne year. 27. In this connection mention should be made of a very interesting measure which has been adopted in Selibaby, where the price of meat is fixed according to the period of the year; a kilogram of beef with bone costs 80 CFA francs from August 1 to September 31 and 90 CFA francs from January 1 to July 31. Mutton with bone costs 90 CFA francs per kilogram from August 1 to September 31 and 100 CFA francs from January 1 to July 31. This example should be followed by all the large towns. The most difficult semester should be identified and a slightly higher retail price (in the order of 10%) shoul' be allowed. We have proposed the same solution for Dakar. 2. The problems involved in meat marketing in Kaedi 28. A well-equipped and well-managed slaughterhouse, which is also a meat packing plant, has been planned to serve the exacting cl4entele of the country (Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, the iron and copper mines) and the Cana-ry Tsalnds. 11Lia planti was put .eLn. operation a-bout a year ago. 'Lt has opened several domestic markets (MIFERMA at Nouadhibou, the Nouakchott SecondUary Sachool, thLe NI1ou a±N-LUchott Teachers' T.ra'.L'Lng College, thLe Akgricul- tural Training and Extension Center in Kaedi, the Governor's office of the - 9 - '4;h Ld reg;ion, Lithe Ke U. Secon.dary Schlool, the Boucherie Barbosa STP of Nouadhibon, etc.) but has not yet been able to serve the Canaries market. A cursory exam,'Lnat.ion of thI'e presentL siLtuatior, shos tht-at- there are st-ill- administrative and commercial problems. a. Management of the Plant Proper 29. A public establishment with financial autonomy and legal status has been carefully established; the meat packing plant is well managed. However, one basic difficulty remains: the cost of the service. For despatch, the meat must pay 15 CFA francs per kilogram of carcass weight for slaughtering and 15 CFA francs for refrigeration; these sums do not represent taxes but only the actual costs of tne services rendered. 30. Tnis charge is very high and is due to the fact that the amount of meat handled is low, that the personnel at present employed work very few hours a day yet are enough to operate the establishment at full capacity. But the heaviest constraint comes from the fact that, during construction, a radical change was made in the original project. FAC experts and technicians had emphasized that the necessary water supply and electricity investments be included in the establishment. Now the electricity generating plant and the water and pumping station have been separated (by deducting, it must be acdded, credits from those for the meat packing plEnt) and today the company operating the slaughterhouse is required to buy water and electricity at exorbitant rates, which makes economical management impossible. This problem must be reconsidered today if a reasonable service price is to be obtained. b. Commercial Problems: 31. The COVINA Company (Company for the Marketing of Mauritanian Meat) has been established to sell meat brought in to Kaedi. The volume of busi- ness in the first year of operation was small, which is not serious in itself since at this level of activity it is possible under favorable conditions to "run in" all the mechanisms of the company and of the meat packing plants,, It is now a matter of increasing the domestic markets by rigorously applying the regulatory decisions about the priority of local meats, and every effort must also be made to export to the Canary Islands and perhaps to Morocco. 32. To sell meait to the Canaries three problems must be resolved: - The agreement of the Spanish authorities for the intro- duction of meat from Mauritania. rhis has been obtained,, thanks to an agreement made in 1969. - The establishment of a quarantine station, which will be financed by French assistance. - Favorable economic conditions. For that it is necessary to have accurate knowledge of the cost of livestock in Kaedi, of services, of transport and of selling prices acceptable to the Canary Islands. - 10 - . At th1e present ti.ie CIVMA iM 8 ri.ot in a -ositior. to solve any of these problems. An expert from the French Office of the Secretary of State ol' ForeiLg. ALfjfairs wil provide t necessar; economic data. He will then endeavor to set up an effective and dynamic marketing system in the Canary islanUs i the iarket i8 posslble. 34. At th's point we rm-ust ermphasize that the very high taxes levied on the slaughterhouse in Kaedi and on meat marketing undoubtedly make success impossible. or thlie slaughLILlue, in adjdtion to settling a matter of excessive water and electricity prices 4 or 5 "start up" years should be allowed before repaymenL begins. It would also be wise to exemrpt COVIMA from taxes and fees, even the licensing fee, until the break-even point is reached. Finally, there is thLe so-called meat c'rculation tax of lS CFA francs per kilogram which in principle, is not levied on meat for export; however, the manager of the slaughterhouse would like ml-eat Lor the domrest'c market to be exempted as well. Finally for meat export the regulations provide for a 6.90% ad valorem customs charge as well as 1% fiscal duties; 0.5% conditioning tax; and 5.4% purchase tax. In order to open up the Canary Islands market it is essential to suppress these duties and taxes as soon as possible. 35. The profit and loss statement of COVIMA for the first three months of 1970, all c1harges included, was as follows: Operating expenses 7,906,569 CFA francs Turnover tax + 870,784 CFA francs 8,777,353 CFA francs Total receipts - 8,459,076 CFA francs Debit balance 318,277 CFA francs As it will be seen if income tax is excluded COVIMA made a profit of 552,507 CFA francs. 36. Finally, it is important to emphasize the importance for the de- velopment of stockbreeding of a modern meat distribution channel. We shall see later that the possibilities of fattening cattle in Mauritania are ex- tremely limited. They can only be recommended for an improved quality market. Thus if it were impossible to send consignments from Kaedi, the whole future of the improvement of stockbreeding in the area would be ieopardized. - 11 - V, MArrn-Ernnnm1ie Data on Stockbreedine 1V Mpat Prnduxrtl:_n a. Gattle producwtlon 37. In the scond paragraph of thin report we stated that we would assume a 12% exploitation rate for livestock broken down as follows: over-age cows 4.2% Sterile cows 0.8% Adult imales 4.1% Bull calves 2.9% 38. The average farm prices of animals are estimated at 6,000 CFA fran.s .'or o-ver-age ciJws, '5,000 CF i nA A francs for adult males and -terile females, and 8,000 CFA francs for bull calves. In the light of these thleoretical 'uata we c.sr 'Urww up- tale LV01MWVn8 #- V^e: TaDie No. 3: PROBABX PRODUjCTION OF THuE NATIONA1J i{ERu "I R1ITANI Value of Unit farm national Number marketed Theoretical number price production Type of animal as percentage of marketed. Number CFA francs millions of marketed total numbers of head per head CFA francs Over-age cows 4.2% 84,000 6,000 504 Sterile cows 0.8% 16,000 15,000 470 Adult males 4.1% 82,000 Bull calves 2.9% 58,000 8,000 464 TOTAL 12 % 240,000 2,438 b. Production of national sheep and goat herds 39. Assuming an exploitation rate of 25% and an average farm price for a meat animal of 1,400 CFA francs, the national sheep and goat herds would each year supnly: 1,750,000 meat animals with a value of 2,450 miLlion CFA francs. - 12 - c. Production of the camel herds 4.A ~Bearing ln i,nd the lack of the earl- development of these anlmnai the exploitation rate for this herd can hardly exceed 9% per year and if the average farm price of a meat ani.mal is 15,000 CFA francs, the herd would produce each year 65,000 animals worth 975 million CFA francs. 2. Uses of Meat Production a. Cattle production 41. Export: In our study on Senegal, we estimated that, in 1966, 65,000 steers came from Mauritania. In 1967 our collaborators in an analysis of the meat supply of Central West Africa 1/ stated that 20,000 beasts left Mauritania for Mali and 8,000 for the Ivory Coast. Around 1967, at least 93.000 head were therefore exported. The demand is growing and it is therefore certain that a figure of 100,000 head for export in 1969 would not be over- estimated. 42. Domestic Consumption: For domestic consumption we shall distin- guish between urban dwellers, nomads and rural dwellers. This is undoubted- ly an arbitrary breakdown especially since in some areas the transient popu- lation is by no means negligible (Aioun, Kiffa, for example). However, that breakdown enables us to roughly define the importance of the various rates of consumption. 43. The nomadic population is estimated at 820,000 inhabitants; that of rural dwellers, who are almost all located in the River Senegal Valley at 170,000; and urban dwellers at 150.000. SuDervised slaughterings account for almost all the consumption in the towns or about 20,000 head in 1969; according to the slaughterhouse records, production is about 30% male adults, 35% over-age cows, and 35% bull calves. Among rural dwellers and nomads, it is mostiv over-age crrs and bull calves that are consumed. On important markets and on the occasion of certain holidays or religious ceremonies, steers and even bulls are slaughtered. 44. Text table 4 summsarizes, by numhber and tonnage, the various uses of meat animals. The following average weights have been used: Over-age cow and bull calf 80 kilos carcass weight bull, steer or sterile cow 160 kilos carcass weight offal weiglht 25% of carcass weight l provisliornne;nt en. visr.de GO e l'Afrique Cent.-re Ouest. Tyc, Sarniguet, Peyredieu du Charlat. Secretariat d'Etat aux Affaires Etrangeres. Table No.4: UTIL]:ZATION OF CATTLE PRODUC'TION (UNITS = HEAI) OF CATTLE: TONS) HEAD OF CATI'LE TOtIS CARCASS WEIGHT Total - _…-…-…-… - - ofofal carcass Steers Bull Steers Bull Total + + calves Total cows; + calves tons offal Cows sterile Sterile tons cow'; IC OWS Exports 9,000 80,000 11,000 100,000 720 12,80CI 880 14,400 3,300 18,000 Consumption -, towns 7,000 6,000 7,000 20,000 560 9 60 56O0 2,080 520 2,600 Consumption nnmads 60,000 10,000 35,000 105,000 4,800 1,600 2,800 9,200 2,300 11,500 Consumption rural dwellers 8,000 2,000 5,000 15,000 640 320I 400 1,360 340 1,7O0 Total &8,000 98,000 58,000 240,000 720 15,680 4,640 27,040 6,760 33,800 - 14 - b. Production of small ruxminanet 45. Export is estimated at 700,000 head per annum. Domestlc con- sumption is difficult to break down, because most of the slaughterings are for family consumption, both in towns and in the bush. We propose the following table which has been established assuming an average carcass weight of 12 kilos, an offal weight equal to 12 kilos ana an offal weight equal to 25% of the carcass weight. (Table 4) c. Production of camels 46. Export is estimated at 20,000 head per annum. Domestic consumption is limited to urban and nomadic population. Carcass weight equals 130 kilos, and offal weight equals 25% of the carcass weight. 3. Domestic consumption of meat in Mauritania 47. Text table 8 gives the detail of the domestic consumption of meat and offal. 4. Value added by the commercial meat channel 48. The main commercial item is animals on the hoof, both for export and for domestic consumption (with the exception of self-consumption), followed by meat for towns, villages, and the Mauritanian markets. a. Trade in animals on the hoof 49. The estimated value added by the domestic trade is 1,000 CFA francs per head of cattle and camels, and 200 CPA francs per head of sheep and goats. For the export trade 1,000 CFA francs per small ruminant, 2,000 francs per camel, and 4,000 CFA francs per steer. It must be stressed that all this trade is in the hands of Mauritanian nationals and therefore the money it brings in must be included in the revenue of Mauritania. Text tables 9 and 10 give the total added value in this respect. b. Domestic meat trade 50. We have found almost everywhere in Africa that the margin between the retail price of meat and the net price of a kilogram live weight is 25%. 1/ Thus by assigning to the tonnage of carcasses marketed a quarter of the retail price of meat, we will obtain the value added by the meat trade. We also give a rough estimate of the amount of meat consumed in the bush through sales in small centers and regular markets. Text table 10 shows the total value added by the domestic meat trade. 1/ The net nrice ner kiloaramlive weight is obtained by dividing the price of the live animal by its carcass weight. Tab1.P No. 5 TTT,TTAT NAM OF STHTE.P AMn GONTS Pnj0TDjTTn1 (Units - Head of sheep and goats, and ton) INu-mber Carcass Slaughtering Total If Tead WeiWht(ton) Weih(on) (tn 700 000 8 ,1400 2,100 10, 510 uroar~ Cfl!9UTr~p c,..fJTI -121 r%% r- 1 ~ )" TJrban, eorl,is-arrutionl 1CO^JO Ai-J--1 81 A 5n 14-1 FTornna(11 crongumwption . n(( 9 600 2 hOG 12 C00 miral conmuvptior 1000 10 00 I . _ Total 1,750,000 21)n00 5,250 26,,25n Table No. 6 UTILr7ATION OF CAMELS PRODUCTION'I (U-its - Tread of camels, aid ton) Numlbor Carcass Slauightering Tot-l. 01 flia.l1 101eiAht(ron) Wleilht(ton) WeigU_ IL Export} 20rl0n0 -nz < } TUrbanl consi-emt-Lion l>) lrl,1nsOk-n1 t85 "-- ".C '1 A 1 A ŽA uruaii C0Ti~1U.lI!)L, ctmon i.'t'~~- 4.L )'J5 Total 6nnn A0 I.En )1 I,', Table No. 7: LIVESTOCK RESOURCES AND UTILIZATION (UNITS = NUMBER OF HEAiD AND TONS) RESOURCES UTI L IZATION EXPORTS DOMESTIC: CONSUMPTION No. of Carcass Carcass No. of Carcass Carcass No.. of Carcass Carcass head weight + heLd weight tihesd weight after tons offal tons offal tons weig]ht weight weigbt torts tons tons Over-age cows 84,000 6,720 8,400 9,000 720 900 75,00C0 6,000 7,500 Aclult males 82,000 15,000 19,000 80,000 12,800 16,000 18,0CIO 2,880 3,600 Sterile cows 16,000 Bull calves 58,000 4,640 5,800 11,000 880 1,100 47,000 3,760 4,700 Subtotal 240,000 27,040 33,800 100,000 14,000 18,000 140,0>00 12,& 40 15,800 Sheep-Goats Subtotal 1,750,000 21,000 26,250 700,000 8,400 10,000 1,0C50,C000 12, 600 15,,750 Camels Subtotal 65,000 8,450 10,750 20,000 2,600 3,250 45,)00 5,850 7,500 Grand Total 56,490 70,800 25,400 31,750 31,090 39,050 Table Na 8 DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION OF MEAT (UNITS = TONS AND KILOGRAMS) Consumpltion Consumption Consumption Consumption townis nacuds rural dwellers entire country 150,000 pop. 820,000 pop. 170,000 pop. 1,140,000 pop. Total Kg Total Kg Total Kg Total Kg tons per capita tons per capita tons per capita rpnn per capita Beef 2,600 17.3 11,500 14 1,700 10 15,800 13.8 Mutton and goats meat 2,250 15 12,000 14.6 1,500 8.8 15,750 13r.8 Camel meat 1,620 10.8 5,800 7.8 7,5>00 6.4 H Total 6,470 43.1 29,380 36.4 3,200 1.8.8 39,050 34 Table No. 9 : VALUE ADDED BY TRADE IN LIVESTOCK Number of head Value added per hed Total value added Steers Export 100,000 4,000 CFA -francs 400 million Domestic mar'ket 30,000 1,000 CFA;francs 30 million Sheep Export 700,000 1,000 CFA francs 700 million Goats Domestic market 200,000 200 CFA francs 40 million Caraels Export 20,000 2,(000 CFA francs 40 million Domestic mar'ket 10,000 1.0 million 1,220 million Table No. () : VALUE ADDED BY THE MEAT TRADE Retail 25 % Meat: TotaLl value ,price .of -meat margin marketed by -meat trade .tons Bee f Town 100 CFA francs 25 CFA francs 2,08CI T 52 millions Beef Bush 70 CFA francs 17 CE'A fragncs 800 T 14 millions Mutton/goat Town 150 CFA francs 35 CFA francs 1.,800 T 63 millions meat Bush 100 CFA francs 25 CFA francs 60CI T 21 millions -Camel mealt Tawn 150 CFA francs 35 CF'A francs 1., 300 T 45 millions Bush 100 CFA francs 25 CFA francs 1., 000 T 25 millions 220 millions - 19 - C. 'ru'Lik P rou'uct'ion J1 Texe taub-le I' summarizes the data use' as a basis for estimating the milk production of different animal species. Table No. 11: MILK PRODUCTION Cow's milk Ewe's milk Goat's milk Camel's milk Size of national herd 2,000,000 2,600,000 4,400,000 720,000 % females 38% 50% 50% 40% Number of females 760,000 1,300,000 2,200,000 288,000 % pregnant 66% 90% 90% 50% Number in milk 502,000 1,170,000 1,980,000 144,000 Individual production 400 40 70 400 (litres) Total production 200,800,000 46,800,000 138,600,000 57,600,ooa (litres) Grand Total: 443,800,000 litres. These 4,438,000 hectolitres are worth at the farm price 4,438 million CFA francs if we estimate the value of the litre of milk at 10 CFA francs. A small part of this production is marketed. The remainder is consumed by the graziers. 52. The farm price we have given to a litre of milk may seem low. It is impossible for us to put a higher price on a foodstuff which cannot be marketed; first, because the stockbreeders give themselves first priority and then because of the remoteness of possible clients in most cases. Traide in milk properly speaking would bring in 700 million CFA francs to the pro- ducer according to the estimates of the livestock service, which would be equivalent to 70,000 hectolitres at 100 CFA francs a liter. 5. Revenue contributed by stockbreeding 53. Recapitulating the data in the foregoing table and bearing in mind that the milk trade brings in additional revenue to the producer, for it is usually his family that sells the product, we can deduce that the total revenue brought in to stockbreeders is as follows: - 20 - Tn millinns of CPA francn Cattle production 2, Sheep and goat production 2,450 ramel production 975 M4llktrade 630 f1 Total 10,931 54. We e8 t asimaet ..a a S. revenue to the producer is n the order of 4 thousand million CFA francs, distributed as follows: In millions of CFA francs Steers 1,624 Sheep - goats 1,260 Camels 450 Milk 700 Total 4,034 In addition, the value added achieved in the marketing of cattle arnd meat reaches about 1,440 rillion CFA francs. J.J. Despite the approximate nature of our estimates it will ue seen that: a. the revenues contributed by stockbreeding exceed 12 billion CFA francs, of which at least 11 directly benefit stockbreeders, essentially in the form of self-consumption, since out of this total only 4 billion comes to them in cash. A very approxi- mate estimate of resources may be made if a fifth of the revenue benefits 34 thousand families of sedentary stockbreeders and the remaining four-fifths, the 160,000 nomadic families; we can then construct the following table in which incomes are expressed in round figures: /1 Value of marketed product 700 Less price to producer - 70 - 21 - Total inconme per family Cash income self-consumption included per family Nomads 55,000 CFA franrs 22,000 CFA francs Sedent-ary Stockbreeders 6,500 CFA francs 2,300 CFA francs 56. Milk productlIon has the highest value even if we aRsign a rather low price to milk. ThLere is therefore no "under exploitation of milk" as Las soetimes been said; on the contrary, we must bear in mind that this considerable food contribution ensures the bulk of the subsistence of grazJLers. 57. The production of small meat ruminants has approximately the same vaLue of' thLat oi'L cattle.- This fact must be taken lnto accomt in dring u development programs. VI. Stockbreeding and the Public Sector 1. Budgetary resources derived from stockbreeding 58. The resources which the state derives from pastoralism come from the taxes on cattle for export and on meat intended for local consumption. The following table summarizes the receipts. Table 12: ACTUAL RECEIPT FROM TAXES ON CATTLE AND MEAT 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Taxes on cattle 26.0 25.0 33.2 25.3 17.0 15.0 Taxes on meat 24.5 20.4 21.8 22.9 23.2 32.1 Total 50.5 45.4 55.0 48.2 40.2 47.1 59. The export tax on cattle is collected before the health permit is established but it has been increased since April 1, 1965. That gave rise to good receipts in 1966 after which the franc became increasingly common and the amounts collected declined. On the other hand, the tax on meat is "paying off," for, both for steers and camels, butchers are obliged to go to the slaughterhouse and to pay the tax. - 22 - 60. These receipts do not include the cattle market taxes or slaughtering or retail sales taxes which are all collected by local author- ities (municipalities). A tax is also charged on each herd of livestock and paid in to the regional budget. We have not yet been able to obtain a figure for the amount of reveniue derived from this tax. since it would have been necessary to make a tour of all the regions to collect the necessary information. It would appear that in 1970 it nroduced 260 million CPA francs. 61. In 1969 the total receints of the regional hudgets amounted to 599,887,191 CFA francs. The cattle tax amounted to 273,161,321 CFA francs. The surcharee (centimes additisnal) to 130,190,262 rPA frAnrn. Misrel laneOni receipts produced 196,535,608 CFA francs. Most of the regional budgetary funds are derived from stovkbreedfing= The approx1maPtely 82 million entered uider surcharge are derived from pastoral activities. In start, pastoralism contributes about 345 million CFA france to the regIonal budget. 2. Ftnds avaflahle to the Aiveqtntrk Ser-cui,e 62. The furndQ assigned tot the TLivestck-^- Service by the local authorlt4es in recent years are shown in the following tables: Table 13: ACTUAL EXPENDITURE OF THE LIVESTOCK SERVICE A1FTV.R RPTTT.PM1SNT OF ACCOUNTMT (Unit M-I14lllM1 of CFA francs) 1960 1Q6t 1Q^9 1963 1964. 1,oGC 10966 ioa-7 Supplies and equipment 62 25 32 26 27 26 20 20 Total 116 78 87 82 85 79 80 88 Table 14: BUDGETARY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE LIVESTOCK SERVICE (Unit - Million of CFA francs - Round Figures) 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 Personnel 57.4 58.8 56.0 60.7 60.5 61.0 64.5 73.8 72.2 74.9 80.3 Supplies and equipment 69.2 34.5 32.8 33.0 29.5 29.0 25.5 20.8 21.4 25.3 32.8 Total 126.6 93.3 88.8 93.7 90.0 90.0 90.0 94.6 93.6 100.2 113.1 - 23 - 6A3 Th.ac. ficresc detnst-rate thep pnvertv nf the Luivstork Seruire= Whereas livestock is the mainstay of most of the inhabitants of the countiy, the flb inds allocated for its protection are paltry. Furtheor when the European Development Fund and U.S. AID made a considerable contribution (rinderpest camapaign) in high=level person-eL .-nA te^hnc4 a1 os4stane furAds Mauritania reduced its own effort. 64. Material resources have never been at such a low level as they are today: only O mll'ion ws spent ir.1966 and 1967. fC -f . T. bl1 e 13) '.Nes L Aid ULL.L.LAAJ- ,.aO 0F A~- - _JJ Sl . - * ~ J* AL ~*~ tables also show that personnel expenses have been considerably increased bJu LLal LthLa those for tLAUe pur.ose olf supp.11ies an.d e quiJ.pm entL remr.ain unchangedAAU:: the allotment in 1970 is the same as it was in 1962. 65. For 1970 the funds (personnel, and supplies and equipment) made available to thLe '-vestock Ser-vlce account Lor only 1.35% of the total state budget. However, we must also add that fortunately the regional budgets purchase the necessary vaccines at a cost 01 4bOut mU il±l±Lun CrIA LraLIC8. Now the revenue derived from stockbreeding undoubtedly exceeds 400 million CFA francs if the licensing fees paid by tne mercnants and also the taxes levied by the local authorities are added to state taxes and the cattle tax. With respect to this tax which we estimate brings in 355 million CFA franc;, we must emphasize that, in relation to the 4 billion cash revenue, it re- presents a burden of 8.9%. 1/ 66. Because of the lack of funds to stocKbreeding we have very serious reservations about the wisdom of undertaking a program and for the followiLng three reasons: a. The present Livestock Service has no resources, especially high-level personnel, to take on the work proposed: campaiLgn based on mobile teams, application of preventive measures, reconnaissance of grazing lands, surveillance of the use of water points, of transhumances, supervision of marketing, etc. b. Tne state has so far not released sufficient funds to safe-- guard the vital investments already made. Annex 4 contains a list, of the grants made to Mauritania from external assisit- ance sources between 1960 and 1969. They total approximately 1,100 million CFA francs. The results of the programs vary. Studies of grazing lands, hydrogeology and marketing provide extremely valuable basic data which have not perhaps been fully exploited. The immunization centers and the vaccination points do a good job. Unfortunately they have not been maintalined and, during our visit to the various sectors in the bush, the persons responsible complained about the imr- possibility of keeping this infrastructure in good condition because of lack of money. The firebreaks have disappeared 1/ For a white collared worker such a tax would equal more than one month's saolary peryer - 24 - as has the equipment belonging to the maintenance centers. Wells exist but some need a complete overhaul and some need rebuilding. Lack of funds is also the cause of this situation. The rinderpest campaign was a success but it is necessary to contlr.ue the eff.ort 4n order to ensure even greater su-cess. The Kaedi slaughter house has begun operations under favorable conuLt'tLonLs. S,o far no action h1as been tfen on the Kaedi quarantine station. c. An assistance program may perhaps temporarily remedy the pre- sent situat'Lon, but 'Lt must aL oce Ue stlated ItILat provison must be made for recurrent charges in order to permit: - the Livestock Service to maintain the level of activity that external assistance will have rade possible (and not to reduce the funds granted as was done in the PC 15 campaign); - the persons responsible for public works to repair forthwith all damage to wells; - the Water and Forestry Service to maintain the firebreaks. The work the stockbreeders cannot do themselves must be done by the regional authorities or the state. A formal pledge by the authorities with respect to these problems would appear to be necessary if the program is not to be discontinued and to have lasting results. Indeed, in these fields, what matters most is steadfast action. B. MAIN DIFFICULTIES FACING LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT I. Productivity of the National Herd 67. In earlier studies, we tried to give some idea of the productivity of African herds- by calculating the production of meat per head of cattle grazed. Table 4 siaovs that the production of beef, expressed in carcass weight tons, is estimated at 27,040 tons for a total of 2 million head of cattle. Production per head of cattle grazed is therefore approximately 13.5 kilograms carcass weight, which is low compared with that of improved herds. As a matter of fact, the same calculation gives 44 kg in Greece, 45 kg in Yugoslavia, 51 kg in Spain, 51 kg in Japan, 68 kg in Sweden, 79 kg in the United States, 80 kg in France, 85 kg in Germany, and 93 kg in Belgium. 68. The possibilities of increasing production are therefore very great. To identify the most effective ways of increasing production, we must first ascertain the reasons for the present low productivity. If livestock develop- ment is allowed to proceed without interference, the probable increase will - 25 - be at the rate-o of 9 or 3% nnntiallvy nrpvided that new pasturelands are operned up in accordance with a soundly conceived water policy. In 10 years, there would be between 2,4l50,000 (assuming a 2% increase rate) or 2,700,000 head (assuming a 3% increase rate), without any change in productivity. In the foll-ing paragraphs, w hall examin the anuses of this low productivity and which of them may be influenced. a. Lack of early breeding 69. The Saheliarn Zebus have a rather late breeding age. The cows do not- d rop thei first c-alves .-til they are four yem,ars 0ld and- the m-leas dn not reach slaughter weight until they are five years old. These character- istics . 1. c:r.o be , -anA 4din a .4di,.-teavn, program, for tn An on it wuniild necessary: - to make a selection of breeds, which would require 20 to 25 years' work; - to t:.aLLK LtIh eLlvijronment a so t.at. the . ualiie eoLf improved stock can emerRe. 70. These programs should not be passed over, but they can in no way form part of activities under a Bank loan. However, it must be borne in mind that early breeding has a considerable effect on productivity. In studying a Baoule herd in which the animals are adtu't by age 2, we found that the exploitation rate could easily reach 20% instead of the 12% en- visaged here, despite poor environmental conditions. b. Low fertility rate 71. As a rule, adult females produce only two calves every three yeelrs during the fertile period of their life. This represents a 66% reproduction rate and is directly related to the rainy season cycle; the only periods of the year in which the animals find in the green pasture the nutrients that. determine their fertility. ±HJlis 'is another fLactor whi.chi; .Lt' virtually impossible to influence. The impact of this fertility rate is also very considerable. If the birth rate was comparable to tULat of impro-ved hL&erds (90% fertile cows) it would be possible, all other things being equal, to increase the number of head culled rrom 12 to 17.% of the totaL. c. Mortality rate of young animals 72. This is only a special aspect or anima; aiseases, but Lt 1 un- doubtedly the most dramatic and undoubtedly has the most telling economic effects. The mortality rate of young animais under one year of age is always high; in some cases it exceeds 60% of the births; it is almost always 40% and rarely falls below 30%. Losses of young animals were probably very considerable in 1969,, after the exceptionally dry season in which the cows did not have very much milk. - 26 - 73, A. An, at-oin tHiat will redurce mortalitv in vyung annimal will make it possible to increase productivity by: - regularly increasing the number of breeders and raising the rate of increase of the livestock; - producing more m,le animals each year which will form part of the batches that can be marketed. 74. The impact of the reduction of mortality in calves on production can be seen in the followIng ver s-ple table. If we 5asumn that, in a group of 100 cattle, the fertility rate is 66% and that in one case the sur- vival ratea a. age yearS i9 60 Y and in the other 80% the.: £ ._AO tflL U LUJ .a .L, A10 JfI ~ LA, 1. 4 - Asue mortalit A-S=-u.4.. mortality at 1 year: 40% at 1 year: 20% Total number of 100 head 100 head catt'le 'Lir the h'erdu ilUJ Le_ Aoc brei n4g As c wsQ A7 cattle Fertility rate 66% 66% Number of births 25 head 25 head Percentage of calves 60% 80% surviving at 1 year Number of calves 15 20 surviving at 1 year 75. It can be seen that the production of young animals (male and female) of one year of age rises from 15% in the first case to 20% in the second, merely by reducing mortality in calves by half. The 15% of survivors corresponds roughly to a possible production equal to 12% of the total num- ber of cattle in th- herd, and of a growth in the number of animals of 2% per year (for mortality in adults must also be taken into account). In the second case, a 15% production, for example, and an increase of 4% in the total number of livestock, could easily be achieved. It is therefore clear that reduction in the mortality of young animals should be given precedence, especially in the years following seasons that are particularly lethal for cattle. d. Mortality in adult cattle, bull calves and heifer calves 76. The mortality rate decreases with age. Adults are the least affected, but mortality increases as old age is reached. For the Sahel, a mortality rate of from 5 to 10% for bull and heifer calves and from 2 to 5% - 27 - for adult cattle is8fy generally accepted. Obvinusly, control of the maior endemic diseases should lower the over-all mortality rate and increase production by at least: 2 to 3% annually if a sufficient nperiont of artion in allowed for: 5 years for example. The cumulative effect of such activities is considerable, which1 ep laino- the i=,ortance of the control of mni or en- demic diseases, in particular rinderpest which "in times of yore" killed off more than 80% of young calves, bull calv.es and heifercal.l s. 77. *. It. is impor:a t. L Lo bear ir. r.4nd that t.he.eooi fr.. f tions and contagious diseases must not be expressed merely by taking into cons.Luserat'LonLL. Lte nAuLmerical 'losses or Losses .in weight recorded, Th.e ve;y sharp fall in production they entail must especially be taken into account: - Abortions which are sequelae of these diseases are frequent -when they cause physiological e-xh'Laustion; - Tle decline in milk production often results in the loss of a calf; - The death oif a cow means a reduction in the rate of growth of the herd. Indeed, the calves it would have had duri'ng Lts "reproductive life" will not be born and it will not be replaced itself. As a matter of fact, its disappearance intrinsically causes a "tgap" of several units in the herd. Finally, in the case of pleuropneumonia, certain apparently healthy animals are carriers and spread the disease in the herd. Tnerefore the use of a drug such as Novarsenobenzol, which covers up the symptoms of sick animals and makes healthy caririers out of them, must be abandoned. 78. These technical considerations show that it is extremely difficult to put a figure on the economic losses due to endemic diseases and that they are far higher than one is led to believe judging by mortality alone. In the past, when there was no such thing as animal health activities, the size of the herds fluctuated violently as a result of aggressions of all kinds. For the past 1:wenty-five years effective vaccinesl/ have been pro- duced, and sufficient funds made availabie to apply maximum preventive mea- sures and thus to minimize the incidence of the major contagious diseases. As a result of these activities, the herd numbers have been able to increase and the present exploLtation rates achieved. But efforts must on no account be relaxed in any technical assistance field, since then a return to the former situation would be inevitable. 1/ In ithe case of pleuropneumonia they are recent and at present only confer a rather short-lived immunity. - 28 - e. Low averaRe carcass weight 79. The low weight of slaughter animals results from the breeds that make up the herds and to improve it is the work of animal geneticists, which we mentioned at the beginning of the chapter. But we also noted that out of 240,000 beef cattle there were 58,000 bull calves or nearly a quarter of the production. These young male slaughter animals often give less than 80 kilo- grams of carcass meat: theoretically if they were brought to maturity or fattened- the gain in carcass weight would be in the order of 4.600 tons or a 17% increase in beef production. II. The Environment 80. The basic environmental factors that directly affect stock-breeding are the availability of pasturelands and water. 1. Pasturelandsi' 81. The Sahel, which consists of steppe land in which annuals predom- inate, hias two main characteristics: - The period of active vegetation is short, and plants which are often adapted to drought, complete their annual cycle in a very short period of time; - Burning off is not systematic, and the dry aerial part of the herbaceous cover remains on the soil after the rain. 82. Most of;the crop species are annual gramineous plants. There may therefore be considerable quantitative variations from one year to another. This was shown by the especially dry season of 1968, whose catastrophic re- sults demonstrate the extent of the risks, for the annual stock of vegetable material depends directly on rainfall. There is no way of changing this ran- dom production. The seeds fall to the ground and escape all forms of destruc- tion (brush fires-, consumption) but steps must be taken to prevent animals from completely consuming the young shoots at the beginning of their vegeta- tive cycle. There is thus a risk of pastureland be n very seriously damaged especially by sedentarization. That has happened in Senegal (Ferlo province) and in Nigeria (in the vicinity of artesian borings). Leguminous plants exist but do not represent any considerable part of the vegetation. On the other hand, aerial forage (leaves and fruits of trees) is very much sought after and makes a considerable contribution during the height of the dry season. 1/ Many of the statements in this section are from "Manuel sur les Pasturages tropicaux et les cultures fourrageres . Institut d' Elevage et de medecine veterinaire des pays tropicaux. - 29 - 83. The ideal theoretical carrying capacity of this type of pasture- land is 1 head of adult cattle per 4 hectares; however, in practice that ratio cannot be achieved because of: a. a very unequal distribution of the grass! the area around wells being non-productive; b. variations in the quality of the gramineous plants concerned; c. presence or absence of trees that can be used as forage by animals. 84. The livestock owners have stated that the present number of live- stock is the maximum number of cattle, sheep and goats the territory can carrvy. without overloadinQ the range._? The estimate is for an area of 300,000 km2 to the south of the 18th parallel (corresponding to 200 mm rain- fall belt) with the fn1lowing utilization! 2,300,flOfl cattle at 8 heetares per head 1R4,000 km2 _ 6.700.000 sheep and goats at 1.6 hectares per head 107,000 km2 _ 300,000 donkeys at 6 hectares per head 18.000 km2 310.0 km 85. This estimate is obviousaly very theoretical. No account is taken: of,4 44tn-. fact - 4.1 - .,,t 4,nc-,4An.-U.hL -at ,,F 44,, ,n-+-,1 4,, - J of. thelf. ct.. ~that a n.ot -nconsiderc:ble p at of the .attle ir. Mauritania move into Senegal and especially into Mali during the dry season; = th8~LLat `e acc:eptable J_i capciy in the trans..ar.ce areaD along the river Senegal is certainly greater than that usually envisaged; - that, on the spot, one co..es to realize that, at the height of the dry season, very considerable tracts are not used. In the Aio el At.ouss, Kiffra, andA Scellibaby regions, *loca L notabJles told us that 40 to 60% of the pasturelands were not used by th,e h-erds. L.LL~ 1LUO 86. ~A choice has to b-e m.a-e between these two v"lews; on tChe one h-andl, %jU LI %LLUULLc 'AlU L.U & LbU.A U~ _Lw~ L.L~ 1 W. .1~*LLI LL AL ALU maximum utilization; and, on the other, possibility of practically doubling the nurl,lker of animaIls. Ln our opiLnLion thilere Lai a very reaL possibiLLlLy Uof maintaining more livestock, since so far there are no signs of overloading ,/ CompItes econoliques de la RIM-Mademoiselle Etienne - 30 - in Mauritania. Nevertheless, the aftermath of the 1968/69 hecatomb shows that under present watering conditions the pasturelands now being exploited are carrying their maximum load when because of a particularly severe year forage production is very low. 2. Water 87. Throughout the Sahel, the availability of water in the dry season determines the possibliities of life both of livestock and of men. Mauritania must solve the difficult problem of developing its water resources as quickly as possible. That calls for an awareness on the part of the authorities and a determination to find rational solutions that take precedence over the poli- tical aspect of things. 88. Indeed it seems that theoretically there must be enough wells in the country: if a circle representing the area accessible to cattle is drawn around each water point, the whole area of usable pasturelands is covered. On the spot, however, you learn that sometimes 60% of the tracts are deserted because of lack of water. It is the same dilemma as in the case of pasture- lands, where theoretical estimates and on-the-spot findings are completely contradictory. 89. The problems of pasturelands and water in the dry season cannot be considered_separately. Bremaud and Pagot* rightly point out: "For optimum returns from a water development scheme it should never be forgotten that a well sliould only be sunk if the grazing land around it will feed the amount of livestock that can be watered from it. Otherwise there is the risk of simply converting waterless pastura e into fodderless wells." 90. In Mauritania there are about 3,000 permanent wells (without counting those of palm groves which number approximately 2,000) but many of them are damaged. if not unusable, as a result of lack of maintenance. Many wells built with external assistance funds have been very badly sited, not the slightest attention having been paid to grazing possibilities although the desires or demands of private individuals and local notables have been taken into account. The sinking of certain wells has probably led to the abandonment of water holes or modest water structures. We also noted that in certain areas regarded as "rich in water" no programs have been undertaken. Further knowledge of the actual conditions on the spot would make it possible to considerably improve stock-raisinR conditions by developing all suitable areas none of which should be rejected before a very thorough survey has been made. The overriding criterion for defining the priorities of the water dev- elopment program must be the number of animals occupying the region. Wells must no Innger be sunk for the benefit of local notables but for the largest possible number of users. * Grazing lands, nomadism, and transhumance in the Sahel in "The Problems of the Arid Zone". Proceedings of the Paris Symposium, UNESCO, 1960. - 31 - 3. Conclusionso4 0 nrPnina pasturelands and water development 91. The possibil4t4es of 4ncreastng the nu.mber of livsptnork are cleal directly dependent on increasing the extent of the dry season grazing lands well pro-vAded wi.h water and well protected againrat fire. NoT any aCtv1ittT whose purpose is to increase production will inevitably result in an increase 4i n t1e nu1e o4 animals. it is thereff_or t-oF41 en - , . r1 hp rae LL *IL, S,L,*IflCl.LO a - n o - usable area of good grazing land with water. The entire plant cover must be useUdfa a res ULC-Sult of more or less large-=scale t.ra-. Cnumman.ee fl' which alone make it possible to achieve a realistic and rational utilization of grazirng lands. Bearing irn mind the state of man,y of the wells, the first priority of such a program will be the maintenance of existing wells, the overhaul. Or L[lose Liiai. can ue LrparLLeU, aLLU, f.iLLL1.LAy, LhLC si.kin. of U ew wells. 92. Such a program is possible because, despite appearances, Mauritania has consideraDie water resources and, from the hydrological standpor.nt, th country is well explored (prospecting for ground water will shortly be under- taken tirder a UNDP project). III. Animal Diseases 93. We referred to the economic aspect of cattle diseases in the first paragraph of this chapter dealing with the difficulties facing the stock breeders. We must now go into the detail of these problems. Although range improvement based on a consistent water development policy will increase the carrying capacity of the land, it must be borne in mind that the most efficient way of increasing the number of cattle is to control the diseases that decimate them. 94. A distinction must be made in animal diseases between the maior endemic diseases and diseases of young animals; and it should be borne in mind that the steps to be taken to motivate stockmen are the same in both cases, using mobile teams of technical advisors. A joint rinderpest control program (Program P.C. 15) was undertaken with dramatic results. The table below shows the evolution of the number of outbreaks. In 1969 three foci reapneared (in Aioun at the end of the year). Table 15: OUTBREAKS OF RINDERPEST. 1964-1969 Year Number of Morbidity Mortality Outbreaks 1964 52 922 594 1965 57 572 242 1966 86 706 347 1967 43 451 357 1968 3 5 5 1969 3 66 63 - 32 - 95 I Tt iQ nowj necessary t ttake protectlve ..easures both be.. .e the diesease is a "social disease"* connected with stock-breeding conditions and be cause aI t 4I aim- to m roC 4 1r 1' to nIa 4l g A_ r l 1 -r { A a 4 m e a r 1 ev e nI ve a a- sures. In view of the susceptibility of young cattle to this disease, it is essential to ensure compA,lete overage of the count.ry each year by m.eans of. regular vaccination campaigns. Modern vaccines are very efficacious and con- fer long-ten. immunity. 29. In the case of pleuropn-eumonia thle problerm 'L rmuchi r,Iore U.LLL±cult, since the vaccines available only provide immunity for up to six months. Provision rtust thierefore ue made for two ilnnoculatLons a year. To contro'L this disease, nationwide coverage is also essential since only vaccination can give definitive results; in addition, rigorous controls must be intitu- ted over the movement of animals and markets in the regions in which out- breaks occur. Provision snouid aiso be made for tne early and erfective tagging of diseased animals and then for their slaughter, and credits for that purpose snouid be reieased by the local authorities (tnis expense will in large part be recovered since the slaughter animals can become part of local meat supply). 97. It must also be borne in mind that other contagious diseases cause heavier losses than rinderpest and pleuropneumonia. Botulism, for example, is alone responsible for the greatest numDer of deaths according to the re- search work in the IEMVT laboratory who investigated the cause of this mor- tality. Finally, the disappearance in the first year ot a very large number of bull and heifer calves results in a marked decline in productivity. We have seen that an attack on this problem would be the most effective way of increasing livestock production. Gastro-intestinal parasitic diseases and malnutrition, especially during weaning, are the main causes of death in young animals. To remedy this situation it will be up to livestock owners to take over the necessary treatments; but initially it is essential to undertake control campaigns demonstrating the methods to be used and the results that can be obtained with them. 98. Mention must also be made of diseases of small ruminants. Sheep and goats for slaughter bring in for the stock-raiser as much as his cattle. The diseases of these animals vary, but they have one common characteristic: their exceptional s&4-io;xsness. Gastro-intestinal parasitic diseases can, during certain especially wet seasons, cause considerable losses (up to one- quarter of the herds). To deal with this problem the same measures must be adopted as in the case of parasitic diseases in calves. 99. In conclusion, it may be said that the only way of increasing livestock production (which can only be considered if the area of grazing land is increased) is to control all cattle diseases throughout the territory. After a particularly harsh period, which has led to the disappearance of a great number of animals of which, unfortunately, the majority consists of young and very young female breeding animals. it is absolutely essential to adopt a policy of replacing as soon as possible the "female breeding cattle" thar determinp animnl nroduition * as is pleuropneumonia - 33 - IV. Herding (social aspect of stockraising) 100. Stockraising is virtually the only means of livelihood for the 820-000 inhabitants oiF Mauritania (Moors or Peuls). They adapt their mode of living to the needs of their animals and undertake long and harsh trans- himannPsi inn nrtipr tn swnfPezunrd their liveatock. Cattle therefore occupies an essential place for these nomads and if some of them feel the need for qpetentair-i 7zatIo,fl a need whirh in felt thrnuahotit the countrv after this catas- trophic year, they nevertheless do everything necessary to ensure that these age-old transhumannces myv continue By reason of their milk nroduction, the herds enable stockcraisers to live; indeed, milk is the basic foodstuff and is often even a mnuann of exchange for obtaining millet The self- consumption of meat, especially of small ruminants, provides an important part of po 4ei in the de4t. 101i In the first part of this report, we estimated thnt atnockraing brought in to each nomadic family about 69,000 CFA francs a year, of which 25,000 in cash. Th .is i8 a .m.Aodest incom.e but it is the onil one possible in this region and it can be stated that in the pastoral area of Mauritania (h is4-. h,-e wh-ole counnt-r;, except- the Senegal rivar valley) there woudl not "U,,aL 1B ULS I*L~J A .JLL L . Ian..0 . .. W~.- - -A.&..J- _SC be any population if there were no stockraising. Any program whose aim is t-o -Improve the Living cor,ditions of these graziers. m,--tt therefore be dessigned1 Lt Uj A. VC L.LL .L.AL .L ~ LULLA.L LA.tJ* gneLlO Laj~c *&4 ~l.l.~J to increase the livestock (at least at the same rate as the population in- creases.? a,d to ir.crease its productivit.y '. L. La le av±erage, not significant, IU~. IL1e ±LnU.LV.LUda1 er~lus are veriy smIal.l. ~& A.L~~ AJ 0t1&.±.LOI calculaited on the basis of over-all statistics, is as follows: 2,000,000 - 12 oxen per family and 7,UU,UUV -44 it.eep per Lar.A.y 160,000 These fLgures cannot lbe taken as accurate, since there are families of servants that do not have any livestock; however, they do show that large herds can only be the exception. Now the stock breeders do not interfere with th,e livestock except to take milk and culls (a true cropping), do not. provide them with feed, and therefore do not take any productive action. Under these conditions, we find that a very unusual number of animals that have not reached slaughter weight are sold; in particular, a large number of bull calves that are slaughtered when they weign only half of what tney could. - 34 - 103. These practices directly influence: -the structure of the herd, in wlhich there are very few adult males (bulls or steers); -productivity, which is obviously low; -the farm price of the animals, whiclh cannot be defined on the basis of the cost of food or of work, hut which is established by what the consumers' markets can pay. It is obviously difficult to influence these factors; only the modern- ization of certain channels of trade and a fundamental change in the behavior of stock breeders can modify this situation. 104. It therefore follows that at the crux of the problems raised by livestock development is the stock breeder hims elf. In the event, -raziers have remarkable qualities since they have made it possible to maintain and increase a large natlional herd -in a particu'larly *favora-ble environme.t. But at the present stage in the development of the country, nothing can be done to 4ncrease productl on without the active partl.cipatio of the stock- breeder and without a gradual change in his behavior towards his herd. He must progress fron "cropping" to a miiore developed stage in which more will be given to young animals, and more attention paid to the diseases of adult e.LLJ.IiL- . AL a ,ilore adva.,ced stage , le grazier soud r avo produce heavier animals and to feed working animals and milch cows. C. M-ArjrEA'LS OF A DE'v'LPETI PDvIXD Aj I. General 105. An examination of current production and of its value br'ing out three basic facts: 1. There is -onsiderable dairy farming, considering the poor qualities of the dairy cattle. Relatively speaking, goats and camels are better producers; 2. Small ruminants account for a preponderant part of the pastoral resources; 3. Almost the entire cash income of graziers comes- from slaughter animals. It should be borne in mind that there is a heavy demand for meat in all the neighboring countries and that it is bound to increase in years to come. - 35 - 106. In the case of cattle, all efforts should therefore be centered on meat; milk production will at the same time increase proportionately to the number of cows. For the time being, there is no other way of improvinE milk production because the introduction of highly productive animals, re- quiring the abundant dlistribution both of water and of food, is not realistic under present conditions. On the other hand, the Sahelian environment is particularly suited fc,r producing cattle. In a rational program the young male animals should subsequently be fattened in an area where there is con- siderable agricultural production and meat consu-,rption is high. 107. At nresent- there is no such ecological region in Mauritania. On the other hand, if the! programs for the development of the Gorgol are carried out- the nroduction of fat stock must be undertaken. Indeed, rice and sugar cane by-products will enable the fat stock to supply a meat distribution ghannpl- Theprp mAn be no nuestion of fattening stock to sunnlv the nresent: traditional markets, since animals moving on the hoof would lose the weight: they had gained at great oRst. 108. In the case of cattlp- then, attention must be focused on imnroulng the breeding potential.; the same applies to small ruminants. The program tharvfnr-e ,nnalntc An far sQ thoe animAls: Are onnrerned. tn eontrnllino the various diseases that decimate the herds. This program will increase productivity a.nd will m,,ake possible a cr.nasideraIDble increaa in numbers in particular of female breeding animals. In order to maintain the increasing n,uu n ner of li4vestock, new gra-ing 'ands be-m4 --saA beoer up- n accorar.c -4i-a a rational water development policy. The two aspects of a livestock develop- net polic%-y areL therefore: -control of ariul de s and -illprovemlent O'L th'e water ar.d grazing resources avalabIle. .Lill VlltLL. Li. L1L W~t LU ~~L L t J LLO a L.LdiJ.Lt II. Control of Animal Diseases 170. 'In A,.riLca airL,aIl diseases are a sertious probJLem. LLJWevr, th Le living conditions of cattle are not as bad as all that in the Sahel, for ar.imals call sUbsisL LLItUUoghLUL Lith year wit.hout any LUUU supple,-,,LLLn, WitL- out particular care, and without shelter. Because of this natural equili- urium with th[1e enviEronmerit surviLval iB porssiblue, as is a 1-odIIU; operatio and even a slight increase in the number of cattle when rinderpest can be UroughLt w-.Uer control. I 10. To achieve a substarntiLal increase i1n produuction, animal Udiseases must be really brought under control as a whole and throughout the territol. We have always found th[t when resources are li-mited or when actiLon i8s J.iLt.t- ed to only one. aspect of the problems, the efforts made are in vain and the results are short lived. On the other hand" if coordinated programs are set up and provided with sufficient technical advisory resources, then when a certain threshold has been reached, every undertaking becomes profitable aid JU every disease control operation becomes a paying proposition. We believe that this concept of a threshold of resources to be exceeded in order to in- stitute an effective program is essential. 111. It is only by pooling resources and incorporating them into well- coordinated operations that success will De achieved, not buy working piece- meal and with insufficient resources. To undertake such activities among pastoralists, support must necessarily be obtained from the local livestock service whose present situation is so precarious that the development pro- gram proposed to the IBRD has sometimes been called the "Livestock Service Rescue Operation". 1. Situation of the Livestock Service 112. Everybody recognizes the gradual deterioration of the Livestock Service, which, as is well-known, can no longer meet all its obligations. The present status of the service is as follows: a. Personnel 113. The greatest shortage is in high level personnel. In Mauritania there are only five Veterinarians. Three are at Nouakchott, but: the first is no longer working, the second is to take charge of the laboratory, but unfortunately he has been on leave for more than a year with a long illness, the third is the present Director of the Livestock Service and the only one really working at Nouakchott. The others are serving outside the capital: one,a fisheries expert is the Governor of the Nouadhidou province, the second is the Manager of the Kaedi slaughterhouse, which assignment is fully justifiable. In a nutshell, there are only two veterinarians practising in Mauritania and they are helped by a colleague from the French Technical Assistance Mission. 114. It is a matter of regret that several young men who in recent years have qualified as ,:terinarians are at present practising in France. At present there are two students in the first year of the new veterinary school in Dakar; they will qualify in 1975. 115. The situation as regards higher administrative personnel capable of undertaking activities is therefore catastrophic and cannot be quickly imnroved. As a matter of fact, twelve veterinarians would be needed: one for each region, one at the Kaedi slaughterhouse, and th ree to administer -he Livestock Service of which one for the laboratory.. The Nouadhibou veterinarian must be a fisheries specialist. 1/ Without taking into account the teaching needs (Kaedi, Regional Veterinary School: - Dakar; etc.) - 37 - I 16 rddLUU.Le staff cor8i. 8 oLfo. L pers. onsLULAO Lho.LU.LLg tIhe elementary certificate. They include: 5 engineers for livestock projects graduating from the Bombey School (Senegal), and 21 iivesiock assistants trained at the Bamako (Maii) inter-state school. 117. T ney are poEsted as sector chiefs and regionai inspectors in tne provincets of the country, with the exception of the seventh (Nouadhibou-Adrar) and the eignth (Tiris-.Zemmour) provinces. Tne livestock administration in-- tends to continue to liave staff trained by the Bamako school at the rate oi one assistant a year,-:/ until the strength is brought up to 35 and then to make provision for replacements. 118. Executive personnel consists of veterinary orderlies holding the certificat d'etudes. They number 76 and are assisted by 10 vaccinators. This number is sufficient. There is no point in increasing it until higher level personnel are available to direct them. The orderlies are at present: trained at Kaedi, in the Agricultural Training and Extension Center. Future plans provide for gracluating classes of ten every two or three years, which calls for the recruitmlent of four or five agents each year merely to ensure replacements in a group of 90 persons. Finally, the Livestock Service em- ploys one secretary and 30 drivers. b. The Infrastructure 119. In all the regions there are more or less recently established immunization centers. They all suffer from a lack of maintenance. The samne applies to the building of the Livestock Service in Nouakchott. Under these circumstances it is a foregone conclusion that, if buildings are increased, the resources cannot be released locally to maintain them in a good state of repair. In our opinion, it is essential at the present time to increase resources and not to overload the infrastructure. Bearing in mind their functional aspect, about a dozen immunization yards could be established providecl they are strategically sited. 120. The investment program of the livestock administration provides for: at Nouakchott, the construction of offices for the administration, drug depository. lodgings; 16.5 million CFA the construction of 10 immunization centers; 90 the fitting out of the Nouakchott laboratory; 25 " the construction of 20 vaccination yards. 35 TOTAL 166.5 1/ Gnaduatinn nf 2 Litidentq everv 2 nr I yenvm ccording to %need - 38 - Wi.L LL exception oj. the LNIouak'.IchLott laboratoLy, whlich w 'lL bUe the responsibility of FAC, no source of financing for these projects appears to I&UVtz Ut:t:I LUUIIU. c. Supplies - medicaments I 2I. ILr. thi respect th'Le poUverty oU t hle Li-bvsLUUM 3eLVr± Lb alanUIUng. bLne vehicles are a;lmOSt all in a pitiful condition, most of them being "survivals" of the joint rinderpest control program. The mobile teams cannot use these vehicles for transportation. More serious still is the need for essential supplies: there is sometimes a lack of syringes, needles, and basic medicaments in the bush, and they are only very charily replaced. With the funds provided for in the budget, it is impossible to meet the basic needs of a service with sucn responsibilities. In conclusion, to attempt to institute a disease control program, it is essential to increase the resources of the Livestock Service beyond the minimum necessary for success. 2. Control of endemic diseases 122. The only possible measure to be used against major contagious diseases is mass control based on regular vaccination campaigns and measures for the prevention of outbreaks. The bulk of the work is carried out by mobile teams that have the means for storing unstable vaccines and for moti- vating graziers to vaccinate the herds. 123. If we bear in mind that the aim is to reduce mortality as much as possible regardless of the cause of death, there is no point in undertaking activities confined to one or two diseases. On the contrary, it is more realistic to use the resources available to carry out as many activities as possible. Several activities can be undertaken during the same visit: i.e., vaccinations or treatments. In the case of vaccination, provision must be made for inoculations against rinderpest, pleuropneumonia, and botulism in the infected areas and anthrax (both symptomatic and bacterial). As for pleuropneumonia, according to our present knowledge, two vaccinations a year must be given, and the use of Novarsenobenzol for the treatment of sick ani- mals must be immediitely forbidden. For the control of botulism, which certainly causes more deaths than rinderpest and pleuropneumonia, vaccination must be supplemented by the distribution of salt licks. Other types of vac- cination do not pose any particular problem. 3. Control of various parasitic diseases 124. Action must be taken against parasitic diseases of young cattle. In association with malnutrition, they are responsible for the heavy losses recorded when calves are weaned. Mortality in sheep is also due to passive gastro-intestinal parasitic infestation. Bearing in mind the importance in the revenues of graziers, of the stockraising of small ruminants, campaigns for the rontrol of narasites must be undertaken. Trvrnanosomiasis and mange - 39 - nre t-hp mTnin di4eenR.e of the nack camel that deserve attention. Regular campaigns for the control of all these parasitic diseases must be undertaken duirincg thp touirs of the mobile teams for vaccinations. t25. We have ntC.d t-hnt- for saeural years, nlesronnetnmonina will un- doubtedly require two inoculations each year. It is therefore perfectly reaesonable dend(n4n o rn then mo -rn or less fmi,avn, la aanc^n for wn,m treat- ment, to associate various vaccinations and anthelminthic treatments. All it would take would be the ,.dica.r.ts used, the * taken, and the esta- blishment of a systematic organization. 126. These activities for the control of gastro-intestinal parasites are al th r,r vaube sirce when co-ltd the coul be1_-_ -.n over and carried out by the stockraisers themselves. This is not the case for vacci.natiOnS. , forL VIC)h are o.f no va1lue n.less a"' or at lesast thle great5 majority of the animals are covered. Thus, for a considerable time, these vaccinations will continue to bUe comuulsor-y, f-eD atInd adUHLLniLte.ed hyth Livestock Service. 127. On the other hand, worm treatments will undoubtedly be a success W.LtLL grqzierb (tLLhoe Ue.L.Lg laU L LIL; t Le LL LpLreen Ut. o Ln L: lreLUes i Mada== gascarii prove it). Therefore, after several campaigns, stockraisers can well be expected to purchase the drugs and distribute them themselves. Th:Ls system has already been used in Mauritania itself in the 1950's for camel mange and parasitic diseases or sneep (witn muxcn iess active treatments than those used today). the Livestock Service was the $rug depository and very simple, very stylized, and very efrective postersz' were used to encourage stock breeders to purchase these products. Unfortunately, this program has not beern continued. It could be resumed, after demonstration campaigns usLng the same methods. The most important thing is to use highly effective pro- ducts whose economic effects will be obvious to stockraisers. 4. Difficulties involved in such a program 128. The institution of such a cattle disease control program poses very great difficulties. In the first place, because the present Livestock Ser- vice is not in a posit:ion to carry it out. This operation calls for perfect organizastion, the coordination of operations in each region, a permanent "maintenLance and supp]y service" for all kinds of materials, vehicles, ice factories, vaccines, medicaments, campaign materials. In view of the scanty resources of the country no wastage can be tolerated. For example vehicles must not be used for purposes other than those for which they are intended. Not only will the Livestock Service have to undertake a much bigger activity but the regional administration will also have to help, with all the means at its disposal, to set up the operation. 1/ Campaigns being undertaken by the Institut d'Elevage et de Medecine veterinair-e des pa-ys tropicaux. 2/ Some of them are still to be seen in field centers. - 40 - 129 Finally; higyhlyv nialifidi nperqnnnPl mliit he Rtatinned on the snnt to ensure effective supervision of program execution and must be capable of taking the emeroency measures called fnr by unfnreseen events and ronsequently of indicating the changes to be introduced into the initial program. In con- clusionn the greatest tprhni4al ediffiriilt y will be in thp rational control of pleuropneumonia, which calls not only for one or two vaccinations a year, hut alsn fnr cercive mpmasiran in f.-if in .mnvleat-a and in trado atock. 130. Acrount mniat also be- takecn of t-h vrecurrent- mhanvoa that cue-h an operation will entail if it is not to be merely a "flash in the pan". The vinlnt trinAlornoen rant r, ^ .wnnn4 an ms.t ho fin1 1 .lar sun f-r r -oannoh-in -hlrJ nA of time by a maintenance phase. The same will apply to the program at pre- sent sunder consideration: a s..- t4ned and prolonged effort w111 be essent4al to maintaining at an effective level the activity of the Livestock Service, the motivai-4on of stockraisers, and fielA operations wi,.4hout whi.h the efforts of several years might be lost. In fact it is merely a matter of putting the LieToc Service bac in iAt fome plc An Am1_ab 4nti-n - AA_1- at A level4A A|1 tA VG;7 ttJt. .405 V|t_ 00 UCOE%. *L A. L O ttV 1. SO L aLX n.AU 11s |& flI.L L La *LL , v L5 A. t. a.. C. V= L commensurate with the pastoralism of the country. III. Water Development of Grazing Lands 131. Water is a vital problem in Mauritania. Rapid solutions to a cer- tain number of difficulties will make it possible to Lincrease thle nat'ouial herd under satisfactory conditions and to enable an increasing number of graz'ers' faralies to live better, since their income is directly related to the number of livestock they own. Throughout the world the search for water and the installation of equipment is a permanent problem. It is therefore not possible to attempt to resolve all the problems in the course of a single program. Nevertheless, account must be taken of the present situation: many structures constructed in the last 20 years had been abandoned by gra- ziers because they are damaged, in a bad state of repair, or unusable. Some- timesP even wells in good conditions are not used because there is not suf- ficient pasture in the vicinity, or it has sometimes been destroyed by fire. Now, it should not be forgotten, that the only purpose of establishing water points is to open up new pasturelands. 132. Before any decision is taken either to re-establislh a former well or to sink a new one, a thorough on-the-spot examination must be made to ascertain whether the available grazing land justifies the operation and whether the well will be used by a sufficient number of graziers. Every decision to sink or to repair a well should therefore be based on the opiniot of a qualified agent of the Livestock Service or of a range ecolo- gist.1! The enquiry should not consist of a mere visit but of a proper study including collection of samples, determination of the density of 1/ A young Mauritanian range ecologist is at present being trained at the Institut d'Elevage et de medecine veterinaire des pays tropicaux. More must be trained. - 41 - e= UU r-e .,s, of a t re- a WV 74 1 nhia nof t-hea nprPan r nr absenre of temDorarv water points :Ln the area, and whether or not they are already occupied by 1_ T~ 1 ---1 k.-A #h1. vh t-h e ,ma lum rnrmi sC:4. hi l na radius Llerds. Lt~ MLLVU.L U ~ vc - cw a - - l- - - - mr around a water point :Ls 12 kilometers and that a radius of 1 kilometers must be considered ,he upper 4ts that cannot be exceeded._/ W hou not e begun unless th the study are ve r favorable; i.E it appears that a considerable outlay is required to Obtaain a medioc:re returLn, t L .e operat-ion shlou-; t,. ,s oq B n , in mind the deplorable condition of most of the wells, the program will have to: -give priority to the repair of wells that are damaged but are well sited; and -construct or ren1ovate structures using the methOds best adapted to the way in which wells in the country are used. 134. Indeed, it is no longer possible to sink more wells while a con- siderable number of them are unused and nothiing is belng done to maLntaiL them: for, otherwise; there may merely be an increase in damaged structures. Stockraisers could incdeed maintain, sometimes with many risks, the shallow traditional wells (water holes) or the very deep wells with only a casing of branches. But they cannot do the slightest work on cemented structures. Therefore when the filter is damaged or the casing is broken, the graziers simply abandon the well. The first thing to do, to improve water resources therefore should be to make provision for well maintenance teams furnished with sufficient resources. 135. The damage to structures has been caused either by the users or by the infiltrations: 1. When the height of the free water at the bottom of the well is too great, the users have thrown into it branches, boughs, etc., so as to recover their sheep or goat skin bags which sometimes fall to the bottom. This practice often breaks the filters, hence the fall in the output and even the silting up of the well. If the wells sunk have a large amount of water at the bottom, it is advisable to add gravel, so as to leave less than a meter of free water. 2. The superstructures of wells we saw are badly suited to local customs. The cement protection around the lip of the well is narrow; also the drinking troughs for the cattle are too close to the well and the overflow filters under the superstructure and undermine the casing which buckles and breaks. 1/ P. Receveur, Definition d'amenagement, hydro-pastoraux dans la zone sylvo-pastorale. - 42 - 136. For the construction of new wells (and the overhaul of old ones): 1. The drinking troughs will be placed at least 20 meters from the well and connected to spillway by conduits in which the water cannot overflow; 2. A circular pavement at least 10 meters in diameter will protect the lip of the well and will be encircled by a low wall to prevent the immediate surroundings from becoming a quagmire; 3. Rather large basins will be arranged on the pavement where the women can easily fill their waterbags. Excess water will be returned to the well. 137. Tf nossible; it is essential to Drevent the formation of a quagmire and, even if this is inevitable around the water troughs, then it should be pllshed back as far as possible from the structure which is likely to be dam- aged by infiltrations. 138. When the structures have been built and their maintenance is en- suredi by sherniR1ized teams, it is still necessary, if the area is to be used to the best advantage without the likelihood of damage, for the graziers to submit to a rIgorou collective discipline Indeed, to conserve pasture land, to prevent overloading in the years when rainfall is light and to pre- vent damage to the structures, it is up1t to the gra7ier to e,ihmi t to commun- ity rules. Yet we feel that it is difficult to get nomads to accept the necessa.r; contraints. 139. T-o points in particular deserve attentlnn hbea..se, often, for theoretical reasons, the actual conditions on the spot are left out of ac o un t: l. The building of definltive structures has often ca Qei traditlonal wells or water holes to be abandoned. Where this happened, the area ofL pastLure'landus or grasslands opened up has som.etimes been smaller than that previously used. One of the precautionary steps to b)e takLen ther, 's to consUidUer al. L the water possibilities of a region and to make use of all of them. It may be just as advan- tageous to develop an area around a water IIoULe as to establs deep wells. Very often, temporary water points make it possible to delay transhnumance towards a permanenit well and thus to preserve intact as long as possible the pastureland which will be needed during the height of the dry season. 2. Priority has been given so far to areas reputed to be "poor in water" and this method was perfectly justified when one began to deal with the problem, but, if a closer look is taken, it will be seen today that in certain regions classed as well provided with water, large areas of pastureland remain unused at the end of the dry season yet the livestock has suffered. Further study of needs is called for, and no livestock region, not even among those which seem the best shared, should be neglected. - 43 - 140. The provid ion of watet-1. even abundant water 6upply, should oever have as its purpose the sedentarizatton of catt'-.. Even if regions can be equipped with bore holes, as ia . en-nal or eve-r artesian borings, as in Nigeria, that policy should not be folluwed. '.i those countries, indeed, what at f4rst appeared to be a develo"metnt pos8ibility has turned into a virtualLy insoluble problem because of the sedentarization of the graziers. The stockralsers who have not changed their age-old patternr of behavior. have rulned enormous areas of pastureland; there hls been no increase in the nu-1ber of- cale; and new diseases are decks-n- -.f.n: them. The- use of such water points should be paralleled by a change in stockraising methods, in- cluding th-Le distributon of feed .nd the creation of fodder reserves bv graziers. 141. It must be remembered that a water point is of no value unless the rarnge surro-unding iL can support the nu:,r-er of animals w.atered. N.- it so happens that uncontrolled brush fires dest:noy thousands of hectares of pas- turelands . I'LI'Ls scourge can be prevntcd. by m,esns of firebreaks. qkdr economic- justification is of the "all or nothing" type. Either the wells constru,cted at great expense will Ue frequently Visited, or they will not be used at all because they are surrounded by a desert. 142. It has been observed that more than 3,000 kilometers of firebreaks existed in 1960. Because of lack of ma'ntenance, they have co4Sletely dls- appeared today. As with wells, it is not enough to provide the structure, it is essential to ensure tnat they are regularly maintained and to persis= tently and doggedly keep an eye on the condition of firebreaks, which can, moreover, serve as tracks in certain areas. We noted on the list of exterr.al assistance provided by FAC in 1963, mechanical equipment for the maintenance of these firebreaks: we could find no trace of it. 143. We believe it is our duty to emphasize, and this holds true Lor all the livestock development programs, that the essential thing in all activities is tenacity, resolution, and painstaking supervision. We nave had the feeling that many activities considered complete were not carried out and forgotten. - 44 - D. THE FUTURE OF STOCKBREEDING 144. A program is but one step forward. It should be designed to reach a certain stage and to nrenare the around for the future. It cannot solve all problems, and it is up to the Mauritanian authorities to take thie essen- tial derisionse One thing is ertain, and iuRtifies a livestock policy: the country and the people are devoted to stockbreeding. The conditions are good; the graziprs have no other meann of livelihood: and the meat markets in the neighboring countries are rapidly expanding. 145. To enable the livestock service to play the essential part assigned to it in this development, it is extremely important to rapidlv direct a dozen or so secondary school graduates into veterinary studies and to assign them in all the regions to the essential tasks of the rcountryside. 146. * The human development of stockbreeders m,",-t be achieved through the improvement of their production. This result will not be achieved by sen'ULng th.e youths to prima.r. school. ODn the contra the usual result of such education is that the peasants lose their roots. Graziers can only Ile educateA dlur-ing the d- ry saoarud th el.T-his education mixit interest both the grown-ups and the children, for, among nomads, knowledge is passedu on lby the el L ers. It s impossle for the yot.g to clhange anLthinL… without the cooperation and agreement of their family. 147. Among the programs that might be studied (in addition to those mentionea in 'lhapter C') area -the possibilities of intensive cattle fattening in the Kaedi region when the Gorgol project comes into being; -the possibilities of developing the branches of the river Senegal in the Delta, provided that an in-depth range ecology study indicates the value of developing the region. Rather extensive areas could be opened up; -the place of livestock in the agricultural development of the ri'ver Senegal valley. That is where Mauritania should create a "new stock farm" where animals will not be bred (that requires too mucn room) but where the bull calves produced by the nomads will be used. This use will make it possible to produce not only draught animals but also slaughter animals through additional feeding.