In a context of limited access to modern veterinary care, this study aims to document the ethnoveterinary practices used by pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the province of Houet in western Burkina Faso for the treatment of animal diseases. A survey was conducted between July and October 2022 among 270 livestock farmers, using semi-structured questionnaires, individual interviews and focus groups. A total of 44 plant species belonging to 28 families were identified. The most frequently cited species were Faidherbia albida (58.1%), Khaya senegalensis (54.2%), Guiera senegalensis (43%), Parkia biglobosa (31.8%), followed by Vitellaria paradoxa and Sterculia setigera. The leaves and bark were the most commonly used parts of the species listed. The fruits (5%) and pulp (7%), which are rarely prepared, were mainly administered as food (100% and 50% respectively). The leaves are used in all kinds of recipes and administered in parallel through force-feeding, food, exposure and application. The most commonly treated pathologies were animal trypanosomiasis (19.04%), envenomation (14.28%) and parasitic infestations (12.85%). Multiple factor analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups of livestock farmers in terms of the species used and the therapeutic approaches adopted. These results confirm the importance of endogenous knowledge in local animal health and could help in the search for resilient solutions for the health treatment of domestic farm animals.

In Burkina Faso, pastoralism plays an important role in the development of animal production. However, the factors of its survival today remain insufficiently controlled. The objective of this study is to determine the important variables involved in predicting the survival of pastoralism in Sahelian countries plagued by insecurity. This study was conducted in two agroecological zones of Burkina Faso. It consisted of the selection of variables using the Random Forest package of Minitab 19.1 software to assess the importance of these variables in predicting the future practice of pastoral mobility. The results showed that the number of cattle was high among migrants with great variability (60 to 80 heads). Native herders have the highest numbers of small ruminants respectively 25 to 35 for sheep and 20 to 33 for goats. The results of the model showed eleven (11) variables strongly influenced the importance of the variables; The main variables were the village (55.48%), cattle population (14.754%), animal acquisition method (8.716%), and age (4.461%). Geographical and zootechnical factors were predominant, unlike social variables, which had little influence. In the current context of major social changes, it would be important to emphasize that a strategic approach could benefit the sustainability of pastoral farming. In order to ensure the survival and prosperity of this ancestral practice, it would be wise to carefully consider and effectively integrate the important variables.