Studies on the livestock of Southern Darfur, Sudan. II. Production traits in cattle.

The results of an intensive 12 months study of a number of herds in the migratory and sedentary sectors of the livestock economy of Southern Darfur are recorded. In almost every production parameter the performance of the former is superior to that of the latter but, overall, production appears to be static or declining. During 1973 the cattle population of the area is estimated to have declined 7 per cent. Meat production per kilogramme of breeding female was calculated to be 0-057 kg in the migratory sector but only 0-023 kg in the sedentary sector. Calculated calving rates are significantly higher at 65 per cent in the migratory sector than the 40 per cent of the sedentary sector. Deaths in the former sector were only 15 per cent compared with the 35 per cent of the latter. It is concluded that total settlement of the migratory sector is not the answer to the current problem of the livestock sector of Southern Darfur.