Sustainable Management of Globally Significant Endemic Ruminant Livestock of West Africa

The overall goal of the project is to ensure sustainable populations of targeted endemic ruminant livestock breeds in four West African countries, in order to improve rural economies and to ensure the conservation of these breeds and their globally unique genetic traits. The specific objectives of the project are: a) Establishment of effective models for community based management of endemic ruminant livestock and their habitat at project pilot sites; b) Enhanced productivity of purebred species through selective breeding and production improvements; c) Implementation of incentive schemes to foster optimal valorization of endemic livestock, improved marketing and distribution channels for dairy products and crafts, and increased off take and exports of endemic purebreds to neighboring countries; d) Harmonized sub-regional policies for livestock management, including transhumance (herd movements); e) A system of regional information sharing, cooperation and exchanges relevant to endemic ruminant livestock.