Agroaldea
Thus explained in the day “Use livestock in arid areas. Experiences in the Northwest of Africa and Brazil".
The good adaptability of majoreras goats to areas with extreme conditions, with temperatures exceeding the 45 degrees Celsius, It increases the possibilities of export of the goats from the archipelago, as it was today revealed in the day “Use livestock in arid areas. Experiences in the Northwest of Africa and Brazil".
In this meeting were presented the results of the work carried out by Canarian researchers in Senegal, confirming that animals of this breed are productive habitats outside the archipelago in these circumstances.
This initiative, organized by the Department of agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and waters of the Canary Islands, through the Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA), in collaboration with the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, It is part of the Ganafrica transnational cooperation project, a programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), which aimed to increase food production in Africa, in order that nomadic peoples who are being affected by the drought as a result of climate change may have tools to produce food, as a way of self sufficiency.
In the session, with the participation of experts of the Canary Islands, Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania, In addition to cattlemen, technicians and members of NGOs related to the development, as public, the final conclusions of this project were presented, involving four partners, the ICIA as head of rows, the Cabildo of Tenerife, the Senegalese Institute of agricultural research (ISRA) and the University of Thiès (Senegal)
Exchanges of research methodologies and pilot experiences carried out in the framework of this programme of cooperation for the introduction of goats majoreras in Senegal and for the improvement of livestock feed and its production of milk and meat through intensive forage production, they have allowed to observe that goat Fuerteventura race is perfectly suited to the conditions of Senegalese regions where works have been conducted.
This feature, along with high milk production of these animals in difficult circumstances conditioned by aridity and high temperatures, It makes countries of Northern Africa and South America such as Cape Verde and Venezuela are interested in buying goats of this breed, what it means new business opportunities for the livestock of the Canary Islands export-oriented.
In relation to the actions related to the feeding of the animals, the researchers have observed goats object of study have adapted well to the forages and byproducts local, However, due to problems of power that presents the population in these Senegalese regions, They highlight the need for planting forages that are valid both for human consumption as animal.
On the other hand, actions of training of farmers and technicians in production of goats, that has been carried out both in Senegal and in the Canary Islands, they have allowed Canary to consolidate itself as a reference in this livestock for African countries, and the prestige of the scientists of the Islands are secure. This will serve to give continuity to the participation the researchers of the Islands, very actively, in other international research programs of different nature.