Livestock in sub-Saharan Africa is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly enteric methane (eCH4), with emissions intensities and yield often elevated. In this region, wet-season rangeland fodder is the primary feed source for livestock. This study evaluated the effects of fodder growth stage and feed allowance on feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and eCH4 emissions in cattle. Over a 112-day period, including a 14-day adaptation and a 98-day data collection phase, ten Sudanese Fulani zebu bulls (52 ± 1.2 months of age, 195 ± 14.6 kg body weight) were fed green rangeland fodder. They were divided into two groups of five animals each: one received fodder at a high allowance level of 4.5% of body weight (BW) dry matter (DM) basis (4.5ING), while the other received 2.5% of BW (2.5ING). Voluntary intake, digestibility, and eCH4 (GreenFeed®) were measured daily across three fodder growth stages: vegetative stage (VeS), reproductive stage (ReS), and mature stage (MaS). ADG and FCR were assessed fortnightly. DM intake decreased progressively from VeS to MaS with the highest values recorded for 4.5ING (P<0.05). Digestibility was affected only by growth stage, decreasing from VeS to MaS (P<0.05). Both ADG and FCR were influenced by fodder growth stage and feed level. The lowest eCH4 yield and intensity were observed in VeS (P<0.05). Fodder level influenced eCH4 intensity (P<0.05). Intra-wet season fodder growth stage significantly affected intake, digestibility, growth, and eCH4 emissions in cattle, while feed allowance influenced performance and eCH4 intensity. Significant interactions effects were observed between fodder growth stage and feed allowance for all parameters except digestibility. The best animal performance, along with the lowest eCH4 yield and intensity were observed in 4.5ING animals during VeS. These findings suggest that optimizing feed availability at the beginning of the wet season is an effective feeding strategy to enhance productivity while mitigating methane emissions in extensive livestock systems.

Estimating the daily diet of grazing cattle from available feed resources in pastoral and mixed crop-livestock systems in tropical West Africa remains a challenge. The objective of this study was to describe the relevance of cattle diet monitoring across the seasons to better assess the livestock-resources interactions in its local environment in the region. We analyzed seasonal profiles of the diet of grazing cattle in five sites distributed along the Sudano-Sahelian climate gradient from an arid to a sub-humid bioclimate. In the five sites (ranked from the driest to the wettest: Widou, Dahra, Niakhar, Koumbia, Kolda), the feeding behavior of grazing cattle was monitored and feces were collected monthly for one year to estimate dietary intake and digestibility. All the conserved dry samples (n = 1,186) underwent near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analyses. The resulting spectral data were compared with a large set of spectral reference data (n=4,138) to predict dry matter intake (DMvi_Fnir DM; g.kgMW-1) and digestibility (dMO_Fnir,%OM) using an updated NIRS “local calibration” procedure. Daily fodder intake ranged from 38.90 ± 6.35 in the hot dry season to 83.86 ± 8.73 gDM.kgMW-1.d-1 in the late wet season. Estimated diet organic matter digestibility ranged from 53.6 ± 8.51% in the hot dry season to 74.3 ± 3.52% in the early wet season. Estimated by aggregation, the total annual intake of a tropical livestock unit (TLU, i.e. a standard 250 kg live weight animal) ranged from 1,236 ± 255 kgDM.TLU-1.year-1 in Dahra to 1,560 ± 142 kgDM.TLU-1.year-1 in Widou. This was well below the 2,281 Kg.DM annual estimate derived from a standard intake of 2.5% LW in DM. Taking digestibility into account, the summed annual metabolizable energy (ME) intake values ranged from 9,858 ± 2,077 Mj.TLU-1.year-1 in Dahra to 13,929 ± 2,345 Mj.TLU-1.year-1 in Koumbia. While important gaps appear during the dry season in some locations, this covered the annual basal maintenance requirements of a TLU, which, based on international standards, are estimated at 7,819 Mj.TLU-1.year-1 (21.4 Mj.day-1). This leaves ME at varying extend, to cover the needs for growth, milk production and reproduction. Tested in a GLM, the variations in in the dependent variables (the daily DM intake, diet digestibility, and ME intake) were analyzed in relation to the independent factors location (study site) and season, as well as their interaction. Results showed that, seasonal effects largely explained the observed variability across the five sites, while differences in herd management practices modulated these effects.

Throughout the world, livestock grazing systems (LGS) include, and provide livelihoods for, many rural populations. These LGS are represented in a wide variety of agroecological contexts and offer a huge variety of system organization. They contribute to sustainable food systems by providing multiple products including low-cost edible proteins and energy, draft power, outputs (carbon and soil nutrient regulation, landscape and biodiversity maintenance), roles (local development support in harsh environments, contribution to the circular economy) and benefits to populations (revenue, employment, and cultural assets). These multiple functions can be described through a multifunctional conceptual model specified for LGS. Applied to cases in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, the framework enables the assessment of these systems in a holistic manner that includes four dimensions: production, social, environmental and local development. These dimensions and associated local indicators demonstrate the potential important contribution that LGS may deliver to sustainable food systems. Management of interactions and trade-offs between these functions may be improved using such a model in a multi-stakeholder approach. Some of the functions and balance between them might have been overlooked in the consideration of European food systems.

L’effet de la pâture sur l’évolution de la masse herbacée et sa digestibilité au cours de l’année a été étudié à Dahra, dans le Sahel sénégalais. Dans cette zone d’élevage la strate herbacée, base de l’alimentation du bétail, a une croissance brève pendant la saison des pluies. L’étude a été conduite pendant la saison des pluies et la saison sèche sur deux années consécutives, de juillet 2018 à juin 2020. Les mesures de phytomasse et de qualité fourragère (digestibilité in vitro de la matière organique, DMO) ont démarré dix jours après la première pluie et ont été répétées avec une fréquence de dix jours en saison des pluies et trente en saison sèche. La dynamique des herbacées annuelles se fait en trois étapes : une première de faible croissance, une deuxième de croissance rapide et une troisième de sénescence. La quantité maximale de masse sur pied sous pâture était de 1 992 ± 755 kg MS.ha-1 en 2018 et de 1 801 ± 601 kg MS.ha-1 en 2019 alors que, dans la mise en défens, elle était de 2022 ± 375 kg MS.ha-1 en 2018 et de 2357 ± 664 kg MS.ha-1 en 2019. La DMO a fortement décru au cours de la saison de végétation : de 70 % en début de saison des pluies, elle était en moyenne de 52 % en pleine saison des pluies et 30 % en saison sèche. La matière organique du fourrage a été plus digestible sous pâture que sous mise en défens. La pâture n’a pas systématiquement diminué la masse sur pied disponible de façon significative, mais en revanche elle en a amélioré la digestibilité.

Biodiversity offsets aim to compensate the negative residual impacts of development projects on biodiversity, including ecosystem functions, uses by people and cultural values. Conceptually, ecosystem services (ES) should be considered, but in practice this integration rarely occurs. Their consideration would improve the societal impact of biodiversity offsets. However, the prioritisation of ES in a given area is still limited. We developed a framework for this purpose, applied in rangelands landscapes in Kazakhstan, in the context of uranium mining. We assumed that different landscapes provide different ES, and that stakeholders perceive ES according to their category (e.g., elders and herders) and gender. We performed qualitative, semi-structured interviews with a range of stakeholders. Using the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services, we identified 300 ES in 31 classes across 8 landscape units. We produced a systemic representation of the provision of ES across the landscapes. We showed a significant link between ES and landscape units, but not between ES and stakeholder categories or gender. Stakeholders mostly identified ES according to the location of their villages. Therefore, we suggest that the biodiversity offsets should target ES provided by the landscape unit where mining activities occur and would be most interesting in the landscapes common to all villages. By performing a systemic representation, potential impacts of some offset strategies can be predicted. The framework was therefore effective in determining a bundle of ES at a landscape scale, and in prioritising them for future biodiversity offset plans.

Livestock grazing systems and sustainable development in the Mediterranean and Tropical areas - Livestock grazing systems and sustainable development in the Mediterranean and Tropical areas - Charles-Henri Moulin, Alexandre Ickowicz (EAN13 : 9782759236930)

In the dry areas of western Africa, the over-exploitation of forestry resources and the lack of tree regeneration lead to the degradation of agroforestry parklands. Such parklands could be better managed if the multiple services provided by the trees were well identified and valorized. However, there is little information on the local knowledge of' tree species regarding their functions, uses and services. Likewise, local stakeholders' perceptions of the relation between the species aptness for the above functions and uses and their functional traits is not well known. This study focuses on local knowledge of tree species in parklands of the Segou region in Mali, in order to identify specific uses or multifunctionalities that could be highlighted in improving agroforestry systems. Qualitative surveys have been carried out to identify users' perceptions of tree functions and functional traits. Findings show the possibility of classifying species by relevant functional groups, i.e. woody/timber trees, fruit/cash crop trees and trees related to livestock. Functional traits were not easily identified by farmers and the related information was difficult to analyze. Moreover, the perception of functions and traits depended on user groups (craftsmen, crop farmers, livestock farmers, traditional health practitioners, women etc.) and on agro-environmental and socio-economic contexts (activities, knowledge, means and practices). Therefore, scientific databases composed of lists of functions and traits for a given species have no generic value and must be valued depending on the context which may or may not enhance the substitutions between species for each use.

Remerciements Préface Préambule 1. Les élevages familiaux de ruminants au pâturage en zones méditerranéennes et tropicales face aux enjeux du développement durable Les élevages de ruminants au pâturage en zones méditerranéennes et tropicales Contributions potentielles des élevages de ruminants au pâturage aux ODD et controverses Un cadre général pour mener des recherches sur la contribution des élevages au pâturage au développement durable 2. Adaptation aux changements locaux et globaux des systèmes d'élevage au pâturage Évaluation multicritère de l'efficience pour rendre compte de la multifonctionnalité des systèmes d'élevage au pâturage Conclusion et perspectives 4. Des inventions et des innovations pour favoriser la contribution des systèmes d'élevage au pâturage à la transition agroécologique de l'agriculture

In Northern Senegal, traditional cattle management systems (TRAD) which depend on natural forages coexist with intensified systems (INT) which rely on periodic supplementation with crop residues and local concentrates. This study aims to estimate the effects of seasons and management systems on the methane emissions of Gobra zebu, in relation to the diet’s chemical composition and feed intake. Six Gobra zebu cows per management system were individually monitored over 10 months, diet and faeces were sampled each season and their chemical composition and dry matter intake (DMI) were predicted by near infrared spectroscopy. Each diet was fermented in vitro to assess methane production and volatile fatty acid concentration. The DMI and digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) decreased (P < 0.0001) during the dry seasons for both systems in the same range, but INT improved the crude protein of the diets (P < 0.0001). Enteric methane production (mmol.g−1 dry matter) was lower for TRAD than INT, except during the rainy season when TRAD cows experienced a higher increase (P = 0.002). The methanogenic potential (methane production in vitro × DMI) varied with the seasons and the system with more accentuated variations for TRAD (P < 0.0001). Methanogenic potential shows true reflection of the effects of the seasons and management systems. The results highlight that enteric methane emissions varied with seasonal changes and that intensifying the diet induced no mitigating effect.

La communauté rurale de Téssékéré est à 97 % peule avec comme principale activité l’élevage extensif. La transhumance est pratiquée dans cette zone sur de petites ou grandes distances en fonction de la disponibilité du fourrage. Les enquêtes réalisées auprès des éleveurs de la localité ont permis d’identifier leurs pratiques pastorales et de recueillir leur perception sur l’état actuel de la végétation et son évolution, et les facteurs responsables de cet état. L’arbre est utilisé dans cette communauté dans l’alimentation humaine (94,3 %) et animale (94,3 %), dans la pharmacopée (82,8 %), et dans les usages domestiques comme bois de service (28,6 %) et de construction (37,14 %). Pour accéder aux différentes parties des arbres, les éleveurs pratiquent souvent la coupe ou l’élagage. Les espèces les plus exploitées sont Balanites aegyptiaca (14,3 % à 88,6 %), Calotropis procera (14,3 % à 28,6 %), Sclerocarya birrea (8,6 % à 25,7 %), Adansonia digitata (8,6 % à 20 %) selon les zones et les besoins. Une majorité d’éleveurs (51,4 %), conscients aujourd’hui de l’impact de ces pratiques sur le peuplement ligneux, a abandonné la coupe et pratique l’abaissement des branches pour nourrir le bétail.

In Northwest mountains of Vietnam, the smallholder livestock farms depend largely on natural pastures for animal feed. However, the management or improvement of grazing areas has not yet been recognized or regulated by local authorities. There is a need to provide reasonable evidence of the grassland-based livestock systems contribution for sustainable development. An ontology proposed by the AN2-GASL group was used to evaluate the contribution of grazing livestock systems in four dimensions: production, ecosystems, social and local development in the case of the Quai Nưa commune, a northwest mountain commune of Vietnam. Livestock contributed multifunction to all types of family farms. Cattle and buffaloes make an high contribution through meat for domestic consumption, sacrifices and donations, traction force, manure production and stock value as bank saving. This study provides quantified evidence of the multi-functionality of extensive cattle production at farm and communal levels. The contribution of grazing areas for meat production, but also for the creation of employment and the revenue and profit along the beef value chain was calculated at commune level. It appears that a balance between different types of farms with different roles could be a basis for local sustainable development.

The FLOTROP dataset contains numerous plant observations (around 340,000 occurrences) in northern tropical Africa (from the 5 th to 25 th parallel north) in open ecosystems (savannah and steppe). They were collected by multiple collectors between 1920 and 2012 and were managed by Philippe Daget. These observations are probably the most important and unique source of plant distribution over the Sahel area. The data are now available in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Tela Botanica website, and as maps in the African Plant Database. For the overall area involved, this dataset has increased by 40% the data available in the GBIF. For some countries between the 15 th and 21 st parallel north, the FLOTROP dataset has increased available occurrences 10-fold compared to the data existing in the GBIF.

The livestock sector contributes around 14.5 percent of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Developing mitigation strategies is a serious challenge, especially if we anticipate a rapid growth in the consumption of animal products in Low-Income (LI) and Lower Middle-Income (LMI) countries. Across the planet, livestock systems are highly diverse and the livestock sector offers many possibilities for carbon sinking that can help to reduce emissions. In particular, carbon sequestration in grasslands, rangelands and feed crop fields and manure recycling are crucial in the assessment of the carbon efficiency of livestock value chains. Supporting sustainable livestock production systems, together with sustainable animal product market chains and consumption, requires the completion of GHG inventories based on landscape carbon balances.

Deux principaux systèmes d’élevage bovin cohabitent dans le bassin de la Donga au nord du Bénin : l’élevage semi-sédentaire et l’élevage mobile. Ce bassin, situé dans la zone agroécologique subhumide de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, a subi ces dernières décennies deux changements majeurs : a) une augmentation des besoins en produits animaux et b) l’expansion des terres cultivées qui entraîne une diminution de l’accès aux ressources fourragères et à l’eau, une plus grande mobilité des troupeaux, et des conflits plus fréquents entre cultivateurs et éleveurs mobiles. Face à ces contraintes, les pouvoirs publics privilégient la sédentarisation des éleveurs mobiles. L’élevage mobile étant pourvoyeur de jeunes animaux aux élevages semi-sédentaires, la dynamique de sédentarisation crée une incertitude quant à l’approvisionnement de la région en bétail bovin et en viande par un élevage semi-sédentaire qui deviendrait largement majoritaire. Pour appréhender la question de besoins croissants en produits animaux, la production de bétail a été simulée afin d’évaluer l’effet d’une incitation des pouvoirs publics à la sédentarisation des éleveurs mobiles. Les productivités numérique et en viande ont été simulées sous différentes hypothèses d’amélioration des performances zootechniques des élevages semi-sédentaires. L’ensemble des scénarios ont été construits à partir de l’hypothèse de l’augmentation du cheptel semi-sédentaire directement liée à la sédentarisation d’une partie des éleveurs mobiles. Une simulation obtenue à l’aide du modèle de projection démographique Dynmod suggère que la sédentarisation des éleveurs mobiles romprait la complémentarité locale entre les systèmes d’élevage et conduirait à une perte de production de viande. En outre, aucun des scénarios d’amélioration explorés ne suffirait à compenser la perte de production de viande résultant de la politique de sédentarisation. Pour maintenir la production de viande bovine par les éleveurs semi-sédentaires il faudrait développer les liens commerciaux régionaux avec les élevages des pays sahéliens.