Typology of cattle farming systems in the semi-arid region of Setif: diversity of productive directions?

摘要

Thisstudy,conductedon148cattlefarmsinsemi-aridregionofSetif,aimstodeterminethroughatypology,thediversityofcattlefarmsandproductiveorientation.ThePrincipalComponentsAnalysis(PCA)identifiedsixcattlefarmingsystemsthatdifferregardingherdsizeanditsracialcomposition,inadditiontofoodsupply,foddersystemandeconomicperformance.Morethan70%offarmerspreferpreservingthemixednatureoftheirbreedingandconsiderspecializationasariskwithoutguaranteeinthefuture.Thus,theaveragesizeherdsaredairystrictorbeefmixedandlargeherdsareratherdairymixed.Incontrast,smallherdsareespeciallybeeffattening.Thislasttypeiszerograzingorwithpoorfodderareas.Localbreedsareconductedalsoingrazingdairysystem.Finally,theassociationofcattletosmallruminantsfollowsthefollowinglogicintheareamanagement;themoreimportantisthesizeofgrazingareathemorediversifiedarefarms.