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peer reviewed | The feeding of ruminants in the Democratic Republic of Congo is based on the use of natural vegetation. This vegetation is characterised by grasses and rarely legumes. In addition to this, the lack of legumes in the southern part of the country means that the dry season becomes longer (over 6 months). This leads farmers with the financial means, to use commercial foods, most of which are imported. Grasses which form the basis of forage remain as straws in the dry season. They have a digestibility of less than 45%, and are very low in nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as other minerals, which further limits their feed intake (Chenost and Kayouli 1997; Jarrige 1987). The use of locally available protein banks to supplement poor foods is therefore essential. In the same region, soils are increasingly contaminated with heavy metals from mining activities. The choice of sustainable and high protein plant species should be dictated by their adaptation to environmental conditions, including high levels of heavy metals in soil. They must also be adapted to the long dry season and provide fodder throughout the year. Among the species encountered, Adenodolichos rhomboideus is the most resistant to drought and is widespread in the region (INEAC 1954). It grows on normal soil or that contaminated by heavy metals (Faucon 2009; Meerts 2008 and Tshibangu et al 2014c). Two other species, Leucaena leucocephala and Stylosanthes guianensis are durable and are used in ruminant diets, but are neither widespread nor adapted to the contaminated soil Tshibangu et al 2014ab. The objective of this study was to compare the use of A. rhomboideus, L. leucocephala and S. guianensis forage as a complement to grass hay on the growth of local goats at Lubumbashi.

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peer reviewed | For the first time, the status of cavy culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is reviewed with emphasis on Sud-Kivu province. Cavy culture, as discussed in this paper, is the raising, production and utilization of the domestic cavy (i.e., Guinea pig, Cavia porcellus) for consumption. Many sources were used in the review, but published scientific research literature is extremely scarce. Nevertheless, it can be estimated that more than 2 million cavies are kept in DRC, contributing significantly to nutrition security, especially animal protein, and income generation of some hundreds of thousands of poor rural and urban households. The largest cavy populations are in the Kivu provinces, which is probably partly due to the inclusion of cavies in ‘rehabilitation kits’ of humanitarian NGOs and in the agricultural portfolio of development agencies who seek to address the challenges of widespread hunger and malnutrition in the area. The review covers the history of cavy culture in Sud-Kivu since colonial times based on oral tradition; it describes the current ‘cavy status’ in the country and identifies research and capacity building needs. We suggest that cavy culture in DRC is likely to become more widespread and important due to the activities of a new project on ‘Harnessing husbandry of domestic cavy for alternative and rapid access to food and income in Cameroon and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’. Given the dimension, cavies should be included in livestock census as well as research and development agenda, honoring their role in the livelihoods of less endowed people, especially women.

peer reviewed | La productivité des chevreaux hybrides F1 en élevage extensif à Lubumbashi a été estimée à partir des taux de mortalité et des performances de croissance, en comparaison avec celle des chevreaux Boers «purs» et des chevreaux locaux. Le taux de mortalité pré-sevrage (0-90 jours) observé pour les chevreaux locaux, Boers et hybrides était respectivement de 14,65 % (17/116) (voir partie 2: analyse de la croissance des chevreaux locaux), 16,1 % (10/62) et 8,98 % (15/167) dans l’ensemble pour les deux sexes. Les performances de croissance des Boers étaient de 2,40 ±0,31 kg à la naissance; 6,80±0,84 kg à 1 mois; 14,2±1,59 kg à 3 mois; 17,9±1,15 kg à 6 mois et, 24,7±1,39 kg à 9 mois. La variance de poids moyen était plus élevée à 3 mois, ensuite à 9 mois. Les gains moyens quotidiens étaient respectivement de 143 g/j (0-1 mois); 123 g/j (1-3 mois); 41,1 g/j (3-6 mois) et 75,5 g/j (6-9 mois). Les performances de croissance des chevreaux hybrides étaient de 2,18 ± 0,46 kg à la naissance; 5,10±1,22 kg à 1 mois; 9,17±1,94 kg à 3 mois; 14,2±2,64 kg à 6 mois et, 21,6±2,59 kg à 9 mois. La variance de poids moyen était plus élevée à 3 mois, ensuite à 9 mois. Les gains moyens quotidiens étaient respectivement de 94,1 g/j (0-1 mois); 65,7 g/j (1-3 mois); 56,5 g/j (3-6 mois); 83,9 g/j (6-9 mois). Le gain moyen quotidien était plus élevé en saison sèche avant sevrage; après le sevrage les chevreaux nés en saison de pluies ont eu un gain moyen quotidien plus élevé que ceux nés en saison sèche. Ainsi, l’introduction de sang Boer doit s’accompagner préalablement d’une amélioration des conditions d’élevage.

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peer reviewed | A survey on the production characteristics of guinea fowl (Meleagris numida) was carried out in the Borgou department located in the soudano-guinean zone North-Est of Benin. Chicks and reproductive groups were kept either on station under improved management conditions or in rural environment. In rural environment, the birds were divided in two groups. The birds pertaining to the first group were treated against parasitic diseases, whereas those in the second one (control group) received no treatment. Under station conditions, the feed conversion ratio and the daily weight gain were 8.8 and 5.7 g/day respectively. Mean body weight at six months of age were 1151g and 1085g for males and females, respectively. Sexual maturity was reached at 36 weeks of age. For mature hens kept on station, laying rate and the mean egg weight were 37.2% (65% at the peak) and 41.1g respectively. Smothering, stress and pricking were the major constraints to the cloistering of guinea fowl. In rural environment, the mean hatchability rate was 70%. Mortality rate and adult body weight were not significantly different between groups. Mortality rate observed in the rural environment was 50% for both treated or untreated birds. Apart from the parasitic affections, the main causes of mortality were the rain, the predators, the cold and the fragility of chicks. The mean body weight at six months of age is higher for the birds raised under village conditions in comparison to the birds kept on station.

peer reviewed | Lack of appropriate animal waste management methods in many smallholder farms in the tropics often leads to environmental problems, especially in locations with high population density such as urban and peri-urban areas. On farms integrating pig production to fish farming, manure can be turned into a valuable feed source of high quality protein for fish through housefly larvae and contribute to intensify fish production and reduce cost of fish feed. Three experiments were carried to optimize operating conditions for maggot production on animal wastes and industrial byproducts found in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The comparisons were: (1) production on pure substrates (manure or brewer’s grains) or mixtures with lysine or blood; (2) exposure time to flies for the insemination of the substrates: and (3) dynamics of larvae production. Mixing brewers’ grains with Lysine or manure and/or blood more than doubled the amount of larvae that were harvested. Brewers’ grains are a good source of energy, but are probably deficient in essential amino acids to support the growth of maggots. It also appears that only the first days of laying eggs are important since no difference was observed between temporary and permanent exposure of the substrates to houseflies. The peak of larvae production was reached 6 days after exposure. The addition of cow blood in increasing doses to a mixture of brewers’ grains and manure linearly increased the production of maggots.

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