Animal recording for low to medium input production systems

摘要

A very few developing countries have established and sustained animal recording systems due to a variety of constraints identified by previous international workshops on animal recording systems. The low literacy rate of farmers, the low awareness among farmers about benefits of animal recording, the low productivity of animals and the small herd size were determined as major constraints in low input production systems. The lack of finance is frequently mentioned as the most critical factor for initiating and sustaining animal recording systems in developing countries. Many recommendations formulated by international workshops on animal recording systems had no follow up and did not generate financial backing. Livestock development is a long processand low to medium production systems are not usually well studied in developing countries. In these systems, animal recording can be used as a pivot for a complete multi disciplinary livestock development strategy. It should be emphasized that, not onlytechnical elements matters to establish animal recording systems under such circumstances but also the way these technical elements are dealt with and implemented by most of the concerned operators. A networking approach with multipurpose dimension wasdescribed for implementing animal recording systems in low to medium input production systems. Five steps (a forum, a set of options, an operating system, monitoring and evaluation and training) and two principles (simplification of recording and cost reduction) were identified in order to establish sustainable recording systems for low to medium input production systems in developing countries.