Moroccan Journal of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2025): (March 2025)
Animal Production and Health

Demographic parameters of camel herds (Camelus dromedarius) in Mourtcha department, Chad

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  • Abakar TOUKA,
  • Mian-Oudanang KOUSSOU,
  • Issa YOUSSOUF
Abakar TOUKA Institut de Recherche en Élevage pour le Développement, Université de N'Djaména, Tchad
Mian-Oudanang KOUSSOU Institut de Recherche en Élevage pour le Développement, Université de N'Djaména, Tchad
Issa YOUSSOUF Institut National des sciences et Techniques d'Abéché, Tchad

Published 2025-02-22

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Abstract

In order to determine the demographic parameters of camel herds, 183 heads of households were surveyed in May 2022 in the department of Mourtcha, Ennedi Province in Chad. The surveyed heads of households mostly belong to the Gorane ethnic group. The average size of a herd was 51camels. The herds were composed of 75% adult females, which shows the breeding character of the farms. The abortion and birth rates averaged 6.8% and 21.3% respectively.  The mortality rate was on average low (7.4%) with higher mortality of sub-adult females (26.9%). The average exploitation rate, which was 24.6%, reflected a strong exploitation (sale and slaughter) of sub-adult and adult males. The study highlighted the poor demographic performance of camel herds in the Mourtcha department.  This result is to be linked to the limited availability of pastoral resources that characterizes the environment in which camels are raised. This performance can be improved if feed supplements are provided during difficult times.

 Keywords: Dromedary demographic parameters, Mourtcha, Chad

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References