Rangeland degradation and adaptation of livestock farming in the Algerian steppe: the case of Hadj Mechri (Wilaya of Laghouat)

Hammouda R.F., Huguenin Johann, Bouchareb Brahim, Nedjraoui Dalila. 2014. Rangeland degradation and adaptation of livestock farming in the Algerian steppe: the case of Hadj Mechri (Wilaya of Laghouat). In : Forage resources and ecosystem services provided by Mountain and Mediterranean grasslands and rangelands. R. Baumont, P. Carrère, M. Jouven, G. Lombardi, A. Lopez-Francos, B. Martin, A. Peeters, C. Porqueddu (eds.). Zaragoza : CIHEAM-IAMZ, 665-669. (Options Méditerranéennes. Série A: Mediterranean Seminars, 109) ISBN 2-85352-531-7 Joint Meeting of the 'Mountain pastures, mediterranean forage resources (FAO/ESCORENA - CIHEAM) and mountain cheese' networks, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 24 Juin 2014/26 Juin 2014.

Titre français : Régression des parcours et adaptation des élevages en zone steppique algérienne

Résumé : The Algerian steppe used to be one of the most important regions of North Africa where farming was mainly based on rangeland grazing. Since the 70s, it has faced many socio-economic and biophysical changes in part caused by recurring droughts. Ecologists and farmers concur that rangeland forage productivity and surface areas have decreased. Our analysis focuses on production systems and the adaptation of their feeding practices bearing in mind the following question: to what extent does grazing still contribute to animal feed? Our research was conducted in the town of Hadj Mechri (Laghouat Wilaya) in the heart of the Algerian steppe. Our hypothesis was that the livestock in the study area required between a quarter and a third of supplementary feed (including barley grain). Results suggest that in this area (65,270 ha), rangelands can cover the needs of animals 0.33 eq. sheep/ha/yr. As the total number of sheep is 55,940, the stocking rate of the rangeland should be 0.85 eq. sheep/ha/yr. Therefore, to release grazing pressure, farmers implement two strategies and practices: (i) they regularly adjust the size of their herds; and (ii) they provide high levels of supplementation, i.e. <60% of the herd feed needs.

Classification Agris : L01 - Élevage - Considérations générales
L02 - Alimentation animale
F08 - Systèmes et modes de culture

Auteurs et affiliations

• Hammouda R.F., Université de Khemis Miliana (DZA)
• Huguenin Johann, CIRAD-ES-UMR SELMET (FRA) ORCID: 0000-0002-6455-6513
• Bouchareb Brahim, USTHB (DZA)
• Nedjraoui Dalila, USTHB (DZA)

Source : Cirad - Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/574743/)

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