Analysis of dairy production and access to agricultural and agro-industrial by-products in cattle farming systems in the rice area of the Senegal delta river

Abstract:

In the Senegal river delta area, milk production is low, confined to the rainy season and atomized. The objective of this study was to identify the constraints to increasing milk production linked to the accessibility of animal feed. It was carried out in the Laiterie Du Berger’s (LDB’s) milkshed. Regarding the diversity of the livestock keeper producing milk, the survey was conducted on a representative sample of 323 dairy producers through stratified random sampling. The data were analysed through a multifactorial varied analysis. We identified nine types of breeders involved in dairy production: (1) four fully oriented into dairy production; (2) and five more oriented on livestock production. In the population of dairy producers studied, the level of milk production decreases and the cost of a liter of milk increases during the dry season with a general tendency to hoard surplus income in the form of live cattle. Concerning the typology of rice farmers, the survey was conducted on a representative sample of 422 rice farmers through the combination of 3 sampling methods then, a multifactorial varied analysis based on qualitative and quantitative segregation criteria identified nine types of rice farmers. The availability of rice by-products for livestock is directly linked to crop intensification practices, yield (4.11 ± 2.86 t / ha on average) and to the low percentage of rice straw burning at farm level. The majority of the rice producers (86.97%) consider that rice production doesn’t produce sufficient incomes, however guaranties a minimum level of food security of households. The analysis of feed inputs for livestock feed was carried out through the supply chain approach. It revealed four periods of price fluctuation during the 2018-2019 season. This price instability slows down dairy specialization. This study showcases the limits of local dairy development actions which, to be effective, must consider: (1) the wide diversity of production strategies int the area; (2) the use of local by-products whose availability depends closely to crop yields; (3) the reduction of milkshed radius and increasing fodder storage capacity at farm level in order to tackle milk costs production and milk prices over the year.