In Niger, land used for silvo-pastoral purposes has for many years been the subject of restoration work with a view to strengthening the resilience of local populations. The aim of this study is to investigate the quality of fodder species in sylvo-pastoral sites developed on plateaux. The approach consisted of sampling and analysing the dominant species. A total of 19 samples of different species were taken. The parameters determined were dry matter (DM), mineral matter (MM), organic matter (OM), fat matter (FM), total protein or nitrogenous matter (TNM) and crude fibre (CF). The fodder value (FV) and digestible nitrogen matter (DNM) were deducted. The DM, MM, OM, FM, TNM and CF content varied respectively from 95.30 to 97.17%; from 5.11 to 16.68%; from 78.02 to 94.89%; from 1.71 to 12.21%; from 4.03 to 15.41%; and from 17.68 to 37.26% of fodder dry matter. The FV and DNM values ranged from 0.35 to 0.67 F.U/KgDM and from 19.70 to 90.70 g/KgDM respectively. Poaceae, which dominate the forage, are the lowest in protein and have a high cellulose content.

Red Maradi goats from Caprine Centre of Maradi in South of Niger were used during two subsequent lactations from 2 weeks post kidding to 13 weeks (91 days) to evaluate to determine the effect of previous level of feeding on production performance of dams and their kids. For the first lactation, sixty goats were placed into six groups of 10, and randomly assigned to six treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6) with four levels of feeding (g/kg DM): T1=842, T2=T5=T6=934, T3=1079 and T4=1300 corresponding to 200 g, 400g, 600g and 800g of milk production, respectively. During the subsequent lactation, 35 lactating does and 17 kids were used. All does were given one dietary treatment (T4) to determine the effect of previous levels of feeding on preweaning performance of kids and determine the potential milk production of Red Maradi goat. At the 1st lactation, the linear effect of level of feeding increased (P<0.001) dry matter intake, ME intake and milk yield of dams. During the 2nd lactation the previous levels of feeding did not affect these parameters; however, previous levels of feeding affected (P<0.001) final liveweight and live weight change of dams. During 1st kids’ ME intakes increased (P<0.001) linearly with levels of feeding and kids’ final weight also increased linearly with feeding level of does. During the 2nd lactation, the daily ME intake of dams, and daily milk yield (mean milk yield of 367 g/day) were not affected by previous level of feeding.

A study was conducted for eight weeks (July to September 2015) in the city of Niamey, to characterize the technical conduct of ruminant farms. It involved two hundred and five ruminant farmers (small ruminants and dairy cattle), six livestock feed dealers and the five communal managers of livestock services. This study shows that almost all ruminant farmers (91.70%) are men, (90.73%) married, (48.29%) aged between 31 and 50 years. With regard to rearing diversity, seven types of herds were observed: cattle (23.41%), sheep (18.04%), goats (0.97%) cattle-sheep (19.51%), cattle-goats (10.24%), cattle-sheep-goats (20.00%) and sheep-goats (7.80%). Food used to feed ruminants consists of natural pastures, crop residues, agro-industrial by-products and kitchen by-products. Regarding the mode of reproduction, it is the free projection which predominates with a touch of artificial insemination in cattle urban dairy farming. Outside food (main constraint confirmed by 100% of respondents); these are flights 31.62%, lack of space 27.62%, diseases 30.15% and the absence of technical extension agents 30.15% which limit the development of this breeding.