Impact of prophylactic measures and the use of local food resources on the viability and growth of pre-weaning lambs in Djougou, in the northern region of Benin

Abstract

This study is an assessment of the impact of hygiene and the utilization of local food resources on the viability and growth of pre-weaning lambs raised on the farm of the National Advanced School of Agricultural Sciences and Techniques of Djougou, Northern Benin. Daily cleaning of the barn, prophylactic measures and food supplementation with peanut and cowpea tops, yam and cassava peels, sorghum and rice bran, led to a viability rate of 100% and a daily average weight gain of 100 ± 10 g to 130 ± 10 g during the first three months of neonatal Sahelian lambs. These interesting findings could help breeders improving the viability rate of lambs, preventing lamb weight loss and allowing expression of zootechnical performances across seasons. At the macroeconomic scale, increase in sheep meat production and its subsequent urban consumption will likely favour adoption of such production strategy.