Review of current knowledge in the Benin native Borgou cattle breed

Abstract

Filling information gaps is important for setting future research priorities and defining proper strategies for the improvement and conservation of indigenous breeds. This review focuses on a synthesis of knowledge on the Borgou cattle breed farming in Benin. It gathers information about its origin, its physical and ethnological characteristics. It also highlights the characterization of rearing modes, its adaptation to different farming systems, the analysis of its productivity and its genetic improvement. Studies of several authors, reports of various structures that intervene in livestock farming system in Benin have been involved in this review. It should be noted that the Borgou cattle breed is a trypanotolerant taurine breed from northern Benin. The breed has shown by its traits a remarkable adaptation to its natural environment and has the advantage of enhancing natural rangelands and especially wetlands infested with tsetse flies and hostile to zebu cattle farming. If particular attention is paid to livestock farming in rural areas, this breed has the potential to improve and increase production from cattle farming in Benin. Likewise, uncontrolled crossbreeding of this breed with other native breeds or even exotic breeds presents risks of genetic loss to the detriment of crossbreds becoming more and more vulnerable to environmental conditions