Socio-Economic and Health Analysis of Donkeys (Equus asinus) in Dakoro and Bermo in the Region of Maradi, Niger

The aim of the present study was to analyze the socio-economic and health aspects of donkey breeding in the departments of Dakoro (agricultural and agro-pastoral zone) and Bermo (pastoral zone) in the Maradi region of Niger. A total of 788 heads of household were surveyed sampling using multi-stage cluster. SPSS version 20 software was used for data analysis. The results show that older farmers own more donkeys than younger ones. The pastoral zone is much more densely populated with donkeys (p<0.05), with an average per household of 12.05±8.54 and a proportion of 72% females in relation to the total number. Among the ethnic groups present in the area, the Peulh have the most donkeys (p<0.05), with an average per household of 11±8.24. Overall, donkeys are used for transporting drinking water and for water drainage. In agricultural and agro-pastoral areas, they are followed by cart traction. In pastoral areas, the donkey's role as a mount and as a gift to the bride from her family of origin is also important. The study also showed that the donkey suffers from many ailments throughout the year. Among the most prevalent are internal parasitism (25%) and colic (21%). To treat these ailments, farmers make extensive use of traditional pharmacopoeia and do the treatment themselves. This is the case for the treatment of digestive parasitosis with Cucumis prophetarum (the Haoussa name for N'yamanya), practiced by 56.7% of the breeders we met. The donkey's socio-economic role makes it a key component of the rural production sector. However, health care needs to be improved to make the most of the comparative advantages offered by donkey breeding.