Perception and farming practices to mitigate fluorosis in sheep in three communes of the province of Khouribga-Morocco

oleh: B. El Amiri, A. Rahim, M. Sibaoueih

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: National Institute of Agronomic Research "INRA" Morocco 2021-12-01

Deskripsi

The  aim  of  this  study  is  to characterizethe  perception  of  farmers,  sheep  farming practices  and  fluorosis  mitigation  strategies  in  three rural communesin  Khouribga province,  Morocco (M’Fassis, El Foqra and OuladAzouz).  Individual  surveys  and workshops were carried out in the three communes from June to August 2018. Farmers agree that the three communes were affected by fluorosis, but with variable degrees. Fluorosis had a negative impact on the saleprice of animals which is depreciatedby 20  to  40%.The  most  involved  factors  in  fluorosis  were  the  richness  of  the  soil  in phosphate,  the  dust  released  into  the  air  and  contaminated  plants.  Whereas, the drinking water andthe camp site (El mergued) were not involved in this intoxication. Flock's rearing practices are traditional and consist of raising all categories in a single herd without anyprophylactic programwhatever the category or a physiological stage was. The unique adopted  strategy  by  farmers  to  cope  with  the  harmful  effects  of fluorosis was the sale of young animals at 6-12 months and the purchase of rams and ewes (older than 24 months) from fluoride freeareas. In conclusion, even if the farmers in the south of Khouribga consider that fluorosis doesnot represent a problem for their flocks, it remained a real handicap to sheep farming. The animal trade was the only strategy adopted by breeders to cope with fluorosis.