PRODUCTIVITY OF TRYPANOTOLERANT CATTLE KEPT UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT CONDITIONS IN THE GAMBIA

The productivity of trypanotolerant N'Dama cattle, kept under traditio nal management conditions in The Gambia, West Africa, was assessed by the regular, monthly collection of health and production parameters in two study areas. The study areas Were selected because of differences in tsetse challenge. Performance traits were used to build up an inde x to estimate the productivity of village N'Dama cattle. The productiv ity index per 100 kg cow maintained per year varied from 37.2 kg in th e study area of Keneba village (with a low tsetse challenge) to 21.4 k g for cattle kept near the villages of Tuba and Sambelkunda, an area w hich had a high tsetse challenge. Average age at first calving was 4.5 or 5.0 years depending on the study area, calving intervals were 623 or 703 days and there was an average 12% loss of body weight in adult females during the dry season. The productivity indices of village N'D ama cattle in The Gambia compare favourably with similar indices for t rypanotolerant and trypanosusceptible breeds elsewhere in Africa, and show that even under harsh conditions and with high tsetse challenge, they are able to effectively produce milk and meat for the rural popul ation.