COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PASTORALS PRODUCTIONS SYSTEMS OF ANTHROPOGENIC PLAIN OF MAGA LAKE AND THE NATURAL FLOOD PLAIN OF WAZA-LOGONE (FAR NORTH OF CAMEROON)

The floodplains of Far North Cameroon form the major areas of pastoral production. These basins belonging to the pure extension type are characterized by a drastic decrease in fodder production and pastoral yield. This study aims to characterize the systems of pastoral production in the “Yaéré” or natural plain of Waza-Logone compared to that of “Ndiyam Shinwa” (NS) or anthropogenic plain of Lake Maga. Zébu breed cattle were evaluated in the both plains. Semistructured interviews were carried out with 57 shepherds, chosen on the basis of their availability, in situ observations made on the 57 herds of shepherds interviewed and body measurements were collected on 60 adult and juvenile cattle each. It emerges from this study that the average height of calves in the herds, the calving rate and mortality rate of cattle do not show any significant difference between the both sites whatever the period. However, the body condition score (BCC) of cattle degrades faster in natural plain than in anthropogenic plain. The percentage of cache tic cattle (M-) in the anthropogenic plain changes respectively to 0.0%; 0.3% and 4.2% in November, March and May in NS against 0.0%; 1.5% and 4.3% in a natural plain. Fatty cattle (G-) are only observed in November, 2.4% in anthropogenic plain against 3.5% in natural plane. The average live weight of juvenile cattle (104.1 ± 16.8kg in May and 92.5 ± 24.0kg in November) and adults (163.0 ± 21.2kg in May and 158.9 ± 24.8kg) in the natural plain differ significantly from those in the anthropogenic plain: 98.7 ± 16.4kg in May and 86.1 ± 17.3kg in November for juvenile cattle and 149.1 ± 12.3kg in May and 157.0 ± 16.6kg in November for adults. The permanent availability of drinking water in the natural plain would be at the origin of the better performances of the cattle and the improvement of fodder quality. Bromatological studies would provide more response to this study.