IN-VILLAGE STUDIES OF THE USE OF WORK OXEN IN CENTRAL MALI

Amongst 186 farmers interviewed in 1986 in central Mall 95% declared h aving used oxen for at least some part of their crop production activi ties. Most of the users (98%) had exploited oxen for soil preparation, but only 66% had used animal-drawn equipment for weeding. Only 21% of respondents attributed problems with field operations to deficiency i n oxen work-capacity. On average oxen undertook 22 days of primary cul tivation and II days of weeding in 1989. All the work observed was car ried out using oxen harnessed in pairs. Soil preparation consisted pri ncipally of ridging with a single-fun ow plough (16 days work) and thi s was carried out at an average working speed of 0.74 m.s.(-1) with an average draft force of 778 N. Inter-row weeding was generally made wi th a duck-foot harow working at 0.77 m.s.(-1) at an average draft forc e fo 610 N. The average work load in primary cultivations was 138 N . 100 kg(-1) liveweight and for weeding 120 N . 100 kg(-1) liveweight. L iveweight and size of oxen had no evident effect on working performanc e. Energy consumption in work was estimated at 144% and 136% of mainte nance requirement for primary cultivation and weeding respectively.