Livestock feeding practices on urban and peri-urban farms in Bouake (Ivory Coast)

The urbanisation of Bouake is occurring at a frenzied pace. As a result, peri-urban pastures am shrinking, and livestock farmers are struggling to provide their animals with forage. To give technical support to these farmers and better understand both their practices and the needs of their livestock, we conducted a survey of livestock feeding practices (n=53 farmers). In pastures, farmers most commonly used Panicum maximum (41%) and Andropogon gayanus (25%). Trimmed Antiaris africana, a forage tree, was also utilised (12%). Woody forage is crucial during the dry season. Cassava peels (source: crop residues or kitchen waste) are the primary food supplement (80%). The average weekly cost of food supplements per head of cattle is 114.75 XOFs if animals graze or 738.36 XOFs if animals do not graze.