(a) Give four reasons for rearing goats in West Africa. (b) List three advantages and three disadvantages of the extensive system of rearing goats in West A...

(a) Four reasons for rearing goats in West Africa:

1. They provide meat (chevon) which is a valuable source of animal protein.
2. They provide milk, skin (hides for leather) and manure.
3. They are a source of income and a form of savings/wealth to farmers.
4. They are small, cheap to acquire and easy to manage, and they can feed on a wide range of vegetation and thrive under harsh conditions.

(b) Extensive system of rearing goats.

Three advantages:

1. It is cheap, requiring little capital, housing or equipment.
2. The animals feed themselves on natural range/browse, so feeding costs are low.
3. It requires little labour and management, and the animals exercise freely and are generally healthy.

Three disadvantages:

1. The animals are exposed to predators, theft, accidents and bad weather.
2. Diseases and parasites spread easily and are difficult to control.
3. Feeding, breeding and record-keeping cannot be controlled, so growth and productivity are low.

(c) Six general characteristics of West African cattle breeds:

1. They are generally small to medium in body size (dwarf types are small).
2. Many are trypanotolerant (resistant to trypanosomiasis) and adapted to the humid zone.
3. They are hardy and well adapted to the local climate and poor feeding.
4. They are mostly of the humpless (taurine) type such as the N'Dama and Muturu, though zebu (humped) types occur in the north.
5. They are dual-purpose (kept for meat and, in some, milk and work) but are generally low in milk yield.
6. They mature slowly and have relatively low meat and milk productivity, but resist local diseases well.