SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION IN BUEA SUBDIVISION, A HUMID TROPICAL AREA OF THE SOUTH-WEST PROVINCE OF CAMEROON

摘要

The goat and sheep population in the South-West Province of Cameroon has been estimated at 106,423 and 51,983, respectively. They are owned by small scale subsistence farmers in the rural areas where they are reared on natural grass pastures derived by secondary succession after the primary forest has been cut down to create farmlands. The limited arable land available imposes a limitation on grazing land. The present study was aimed at assessing the level of small ruminant production in Buea subdivision of Cameroon, to allow for the amelioration of productivity and augmentation of income from these animals. Seven villages in Buea subdivision were randomly selected for the study. In each of these villages, 15 small ruminant farmers were randomly selected and a questionnaire administered to them. The questionnaire was designed to permit the collection of data on flock size and structure, human, nutritional and infrastructural resources, disease problems and cash returns on goat and sheep production.