Husbandry and breeding features of Fulani sheep in the Chari-Baguirmi and Mandoul provinces of Chad

A cross-sectional and retrospective survey was conducted from September 2021 to January 2022 in the provinces of Chari-Baguirmi and Mandoul (Chad) aiming at analyzing the husbandry and breeding features of Fulani sheep. A total of 144 sheep keepers owning the Fulani sheep breed were surveyed on the basis of their willingness to freely participate. Results show that the respondents belong in majority to Arab and Fulani ethnic groups. Youths and adults were the major groups of keepers (74.98%) followed by the group of above 50 years old (25%). The majority of respondents were married (98.1%). Monogamous families were more represented (63.19%) followed by polygamous families (34.72%). Large majority did not attend formal instruction level (61.80%), followed by 38.20% (either in Arabic or in French). Small family to medium family sizes were more represented (73.91%) compared to larger family size (27.07%). The main activity was livestock husbandry (91.66%), followed by crop production (69.44%) as a secondary activity. Inheritance and purchase constituted the mode of acquisition of Fulani sheep. Mobility was largely based on transhumance (95.48%) for pastoral lands (61.80%) and water sources (40.97%). About 93.75% of sampled herders were homeless and about 6.24% of them stock their flocks in paddocks made up of thorns. Natural carbonate soda source known as “Lime” was used as a mineral supplement in the rainy season by 45.76% of respondents (August-September). Groundnut cake (23.3%), cereal bran (18.21%) and cottonseed cake (11.86%) were used during the lean season (March-May) as supplementary feeds. Combined prophylaxis (vaccination and deworming) and deworming was practiced respectively by 55.54% and 15.6% as opposed to 26.48% who were reported to be without prophylaxis. Keeping the Fulani sheep was provided by family labor 54.5% followed by permanent employees who were mostly Fulani shepherds (29.72%). In terms of exploitation, reproduction (85.02%) was the main source to maintain flocks, where sales (40%), mortalities (29.4%) and slaughtering (19.5%) were the main factors affecting decrease in flock size. This study provides a better perception on the farming and breeding practices of the Fulani sheep of Chad. Thus, the sustainable use and enhancement of this sheep genetic resource require a better understanding of both phenotypic and molecular characteristics.