Analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle: A case study from the Gambia

Data on approximately 4,000 head of N'Dama cattle kept in 60 herds under traditional management systems in The Gambia were analysed to estimate annual herd offtake rates during a 5 year period (1986-1990). Farm-gate sale prices and weight at sale of 428 cattle were analysed by least-squares ANOVA to...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Agyemang, K., Clifford, D.J., Barrow, A., Corr, N., Dwinger, R.H.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1998
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29294
_version_ 1855529791398084608
author Agyemang, K.
Clifford, D.J.
Barrow, A.
Corr, N.
Dwinger, R.H.
author_browse Agyemang, K.
Barrow, A.
Clifford, D.J.
Corr, N.
Dwinger, R.H.
author_facet Agyemang, K.
Clifford, D.J.
Barrow, A.
Corr, N.
Dwinger, R.H.
author_sort Agyemang, K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Data on approximately 4,000 head of N'Dama cattle kept in 60 herds under traditional management systems in The Gambia were analysed to estimate annual herd offtake rates during a 5 year period (1986-1990). Farm-gate sale prices and weight at sale of 428 cattle were analysed by least-squares ANOVA to determine factors influencing prices. Similarly, pre-slaughter and carcass characteristics data on 1,724 N'Dama cattle collected from the national abattoir, Abuko, in 1989/90 were analysed. Results from the analyses showed very low animal off take rates (<7 percent). Prices during the years following the devaluation of the local currency were higher than those charged during the pre-devaluation year. The asset value of cattle, even for those considered unproductive, increased higher relative to cash savings that would have accrued had the animals been sold prior to the devaluation. Analysis of the carcass data showed high reproductive wastage through slaughtering of pregnant cows in response to dry season feed shortages. This action was considered economically sound as the alternative was death of the stock. It was concluded that the reluctance of traditional stock owners to sell animals may in part stem from economic consideration and that when faced with production constraints such as shortfalls in feed supplies, farmers do sell animals readily. However, stock sold in emaciated conditions as observed in this study are not likely to meet the requirements of importers or attract good prices at the local markets.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace29294
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 1998
publishDateRange 1998
publishDateSort 1998
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace292942023-02-15T10:02:48Z Analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle: A case study from the Gambia Agyemang, K. Clifford, D.J. Barrow, A. Corr, N. Dwinger, R.H. cattle trypanosomiasis disease resistance marketing marketing techniques Data on approximately 4,000 head of N'Dama cattle kept in 60 herds under traditional management systems in The Gambia were analysed to estimate annual herd offtake rates during a 5 year period (1986-1990). Farm-gate sale prices and weight at sale of 428 cattle were analysed by least-squares ANOVA to determine factors influencing prices. Similarly, pre-slaughter and carcass characteristics data on 1,724 N'Dama cattle collected from the national abattoir, Abuko, in 1989/90 were analysed. Results from the analyses showed very low animal off take rates (<7 percent). Prices during the years following the devaluation of the local currency were higher than those charged during the pre-devaluation year. The asset value of cattle, even for those considered unproductive, increased higher relative to cash savings that would have accrued had the animals been sold prior to the devaluation. Analysis of the carcass data showed high reproductive wastage through slaughtering of pregnant cows in response to dry season feed shortages. This action was considered economically sound as the alternative was death of the stock. It was concluded that the reluctance of traditional stock owners to sell animals may in part stem from economic consideration and that when faced with production constraints such as shortfalls in feed supplies, farmers do sell animals readily. However, stock sold in emaciated conditions as observed in this study are not likely to meet the requirements of importers or attract good prices at the local markets. 1998 2013-06-11T09:23:05Z 2013-06-11T09:23:05Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29294 en Limited Access OAU/STRC Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa;46(1): 37-45
spellingShingle cattle
trypanosomiasis
disease resistance
marketing
marketing techniques
Agyemang, K.
Clifford, D.J.
Barrow, A.
Corr, N.
Dwinger, R.H.
Analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle: A case study from the Gambia
title Analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle: A case study from the Gambia
title_full Analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle: A case study from the Gambia
title_fullStr Analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle: A case study from the Gambia
title_full_unstemmed Analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle: A case study from the Gambia
title_short Analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle: A case study from the Gambia
title_sort analyses of herd offtake and marketing of live and dressed trypanotolerant cattle a case study from the gambia
topic cattle
trypanosomiasis
disease resistance
marketing
marketing techniques
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29294
work_keys_str_mv AT agyemangk analysesofherdofftakeandmarketingofliveanddressedtrypanotolerantcattleacasestudyfromthegambia
AT clifforddj analysesofherdofftakeandmarketingofliveanddressedtrypanotolerantcattleacasestudyfromthegambia
AT barrowa analysesofherdofftakeandmarketingofliveanddressedtrypanotolerantcattleacasestudyfromthegambia
AT corrn analysesofherdofftakeandmarketingofliveanddressedtrypanotolerantcattleacasestudyfromthegambia
AT dwingerrh analysesofherdofftakeandmarketingofliveanddressedtrypanotolerantcattleacasestudyfromthegambia