Livestock in rural piedmont regions of Algeria

Abstract

A livestock survey conducted during 2013/2015 as part of a CRSTRA project in 4 villages situated at North east Biskra and south Batna in Algeria. These regions are located at elevation ranging around 250-831m asl, experiencing arid and semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Respondents of 86 families demonstrated that livestock is an integral part of the region?s mixed farming systems. Low livestock numbers per most households at present reflect the self-consumption breeding mode adapted in these regions. Currently, farmers focus on four main livestock types; goat, sheep, chicken and bee keeping in two regions, it is the case of Beni Souik and Branis , while Maafa includes beyond these types, turkey and pigeon whereas Ain Zaatout includes duck and swine beside the previous livestock types. In the same context; goat ranked first in the four regions, goat and sheep secondly then goat and poultry with goat combined to sheep and poultry in third place. Thus; most families use a combination of grazing, agriculture sub-products and industrial products for the nutrition of their livestock. Families keep livestock as source of milk, butter, wool or hair, leather and other products that are strongly used as nutritional, weaving supply or stocking covering resources for the family members or friends and in some cases for sell to seekers of animal products of indigenous territory origins. Most families use these products for family and friend consumption while a minority sell some of them on local markets.