Scope for improvement of small ruminant production in the Sahel | Land Portal

Informations sur la ressource

Date of publication: 
décembre 1993
Resource Language: 
ISBN / Resource ID: 
handle:10568/51055
License of the resource: 

This chapter investigates the options for improving the performance of small ruminants interms of their contribution to household incomes. The characteristics of the existing production system are first sketched in order to identify the resource requirements and constraints of the system. Based on this imformation, a steady-state flock model is then developed and used to assess the impact of variation in growth, reproduction and mortality rates production. The model treats small ruminants as capital goods and the time-dependent nature of ILCA scientists from long-term studies of agropastoral systems in semiarid areas of central Mali are used to construct the model and to generate baseline solutions with which to compare the impact of proposed improvements. The model provides a device for analysing the performance of the existing system and for assessing the likely magnitude of various interventions. It can thus serve as a tool in the design of livestock research, and can provide guidance as to which of the possible new interventions are worth pursuing and which are not. The theoretical model on which the analysis is based is presented, followed by a description of the data sources. Results are presented and the chapter concludes with a discussion on the scope for sustainable small ruminant production in the Sahel.

Auteurs et éditeurs

Author(s), editor(s), contributor(s): 

Williams, Timothy O.

Publisher(s): 

CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International) is an international not-for-profit organization that improves people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.



Our approach involves putting information, skills and tools into people's hands. CABI's 48 member countries guide and influence our work which is delivered by scientific staff based in our global network of centres.

Fournisseur de données

CGIAR (CGIAR)

CGIAR is the only worldwide partnership addressing agricultural research for development, whose work contributes to the global effort to tackle poverty, hunger and major nutrition imbalances, and environmental degradation.


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