The Livestock Sector in Mauritius:

Success or Failure?

AGRI2003: Agricultural Management, Economic Extensions and Systems

Presented by:Prisha-1014955Sachin-1010856

UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUSBSc. (Hons)

Agriculture (Ssp. Aquaculture) Yr2

15th March 2012

Objectives & Contents1. History2. Introduction3. Types of

Production systems

4. Breeds by species in Mauritius

5. Poultry sector1. Meat2. Eggs

6. Cattle1. Milk2. Meat

7. Venison8. Pork9. Duck10. Goat11. Rabbit12. Heath13. Conclusion14. Referencing

History

16th Century(island:

isolation)

Dutch (1638-1710)

French (1715-1810)

British (1810-1968)

In 1639, deer and pigs

introduced.Dodo

Abundant

Mono-crop: sugarcane up

to 1970’s

1980’s: Tourism sector

bloomsDiversified Agriculture

Nowadays:Technology,

industrialisation

Enable :Education,

High standards of living, health

Introduction The livestock sector

in Mauritius: poultry (meat

and eggs) cattle (milk and

meat) Pig Goats Deer Other species

Category 1990

1999

Beef 8.48 5.97

Goat & Sheep 3.73 4.56

Pig 0.80 0.84

Poultry 14.32

17.89

Meat 4.15 4.98

Eggs 4.88 8.30

Fresh milk 10.85

6.96

Dairy Products 11.71

14.07Table1: Per capita consumption of livestock products (kg/year)- Source(Digests of Agricultural Statistics 1991 and 2000, CSO)

Types of Production SystemsIntensive(Industrial)

Semi-Intensive Backyard(extensive)

Major: PoultryMinor: Duck2000 - 40 000 headsOutput: meat, eggs

Major: PoultryMinor: Duck50 headsOutput: Live chicken and eggs

Major: Poultry

2 – 50 headsOutput: Live chicken and eggs

Major: CattleMinor: Goats100 – 1000 headsOutput: Live animals

Major: -Minor: Goats5 – 15 headsOutput: Live animals

Major: CattleMinor: Goats1 – 5 headsOutput: own consumption, milk

Major: Pig

>100 HeadsOutput: Meat

Major: PigMinor: Cattle, poultry20 – 99 headsOutput: Meat

Major: PigMinor: cattle, poultry2 – 19 headsOutput: Meat

Deer500 – 2000 headsFarm (paddocks)Output: meat & live animals

Deer400 – 2000 headsRanchesOutput: Meat

Nil

Table2: Types of production System

Breeds by species in MauritiusSpecies Breeds Systems

Cattle: • Creole• Friesian• Mixed Zebu

• Backyard• Backyard, I.S.• I.S.(Fattening)

Goats • Local• Boer

• Backyard• I.S

Pigs • Large White• Landrace

• Backyard, I.S.• Backyard, I.S.

Poultry • Local chicken• Hybrids

• Backyard• I.S.

Deer • Rusa spp • I.S., S.I.S

Rabbit

Sheep

Poultry Sector• Remarkable growth in local chicken meat production

which increased from 12 500 t in 1990 to 33 000 t in 2005.• Decrease in backyard production, diverted to commercial

I.S.• Self sufficiency exists in the poultry sector.• 120 million eggs were produced in 2005.

• Increase in demand: Improved in standard of living Change in food habits Flourishing tourisms sector No religious taboo Advertising campaigns Price competitors Cheapest meat

Poultry Sector

Poultry Sector

Poultry Sector Constraints:

Diseases (Avian Influenza) Increase in Price of Feeds and Cost of production Waste management and disposal

Future Development: Protection from diseases (vaccination) protection against dumping from low cost

producing countries

Conclusion: The poultry sector is a success

CattleMilk Production• steady decline in the number of Cattle

(9600 head in year 2000 to 5800 heads in year 2006)• Decreased in local milk production: 5 to 3.5 million L (2.2 % of the total consumption)• Rise on demand: Imports of milk and milk products (22000 t yearly, Rs 2 billion)

Milk Production Local development:• Modern pasteurization (Government)• Milk Marketing scheme• Establishment of Surat Company• Imports of live animals

Cattle

Conclusion: Milk sector is a failure

CattleMeat Production• Fresh beef supply:

Small private companies (imports)

Backyard farmers• Drastic decline:

450t in 1990 240t in 2000 72t in 2005

• Self sufficiency of 10% local consumption expected through: Fattening of 1500

imported animals 600ha of fodder

production Improved

infrastructures Loan schemes Livestock insurance Training of farmers Review of

Government policies Animal welfare

Meat ProductionConstraints:

• Unavailability of calves for fattening.• Unavailability of land.• Lack of good quality fodder and high price of

compounded feeds.• Lack of economies of scale.• Lack of financial incentives.• High cost of production.

Cattle

•Conclusion:Beef sector is a failure

Venison•Deer farming has established itself as a full-fledged economic activity.•60 production units:

50 extensive system (chassees) 10 feedlots (I.S.)

•Area occupied: 15 000ha private land- 60 000 heads 10 000ha State’s forest land- 10 000 heads

• Constraints:Lack of landPoachingNon compliance to EU- limits exportLack of efficient veterinary servicesHigh land rental

Venison• Future development:

Increase production 40% (200t)

Improve slaughter facilities to standards

More feedlots systems Meat processing Strict laws on poaching Control of disease

vectors

•Conclusion:Venison sector is a success

Pork• Primary breeders from backyard system• Evolution to intensive system• 465 producers:18 000 heads (750 t)• Self sufficiency: decreases

100%: 1991 – 199264 %: 200054%: 2005 (1062 t finished products imported:

Rs 68M)• 250t (local) and 650t (imported) pig meat

processed locally

Pork• Constraints:

Poor management and feeding practices.

Poor carcass quality. Unstructured

marketing. Waste disposal

(environmental norms).

Unavailability of land.

High feed cost.

• Developments: Restructuring of

marketing system Supply of good stock

animals Efficient veterinary

services Lease of state lands Provision of loans Farmers training

•Conclusion:The Pork Sector is a failure

• Local production by private companies (Importation and fattening of stock parents)

• The Ministry promoting consumption and capacity producing 1500 ducks weekly.

• 250 t (2006) of duck meat is produced annually.

• Demand for duck meat is increasing and expected to reach 600t by 2015.

• Supply of ducklings to farmers with provided trainings.

• Conclusion: the ducks sector is a success.

Ducks

Goat• Mixture of local breed and introduced breeds :

Jamna Pari Anglo-Nubian Boer

•  However these introductions have not been successful : Unstructured breeding system exists at the

farmers level Limited introduction of new breeds

• Boer goats(breed):Negative results(failure)Problems of disease cropped up in

successive batches of imports( 1990’s)Many animals had to be slaughtered.

• Future development: This sector also is being reviewed. Importation of breeding stock to sell to farmers is

being envisaged Genetic development (Cross breeding) Increased Meat production

• Constraints:Lack of good quality fodder.Lack of proper management system. Lack of marketing system and market

structure.Inadequate veterinary support.Indiscriminate slaughter of animals.Unavailability of land.

• Conclusion: Goat sector is a failure

Goat

Sheep• Least important  compared to the goats and the

cattle.

•  Introduced breeds: Dorper, Black Head Persian, Romanov, Vendeen, Causse du Lot, Blanc du Massif Central amongst others.

• The Rodriguaise sheep from Rodrigues island was also introduced in Mauritius( without much success.)

• Sheep breeds (1980’s) :The results have not been positive. The

farmers could not manage these sensitive breeds properly.

Today the sheep population consists: Dorper, the Black Head Persian and the crosses.

• Conclusion: The Sheep sector is a failure.

Rabbit• Traditional backyard rabbit production system by

272 farmers with 3400 rabbits.• Potential success: Highest growth and reproduction

rate amongst livestock species (richest source of protein-21/100g)

• Market: Meat consumption Pet industry

• Future developments:Choice cuts and processed meatPromotion of meatIntegrated production and processing units

• Conclusion: The Rabbit sector is a success

Health Legislation and policy related to ethical

concerns regarding the use and welfare of animals: (Prevention of Cruelty to animals Act, 1982)

MSPCA is responsible to enforce the legislation.

Govern sanitary aspects, including quarantine measures. Movement of all genetic resources

(imported) is subject to control by the Veterinary Services (Quarantine Act, 1954).

Free Veterinary service and medication.

Conclusion Different components of the local

livestock industry have evolved in different directions depending on the species.

Beef and dairy sector: Failure The pig industry: Failure Goat, and sheep sectors :Failure Rabbit and venison sector: Success The poultry (Chicken & Duck)

industry :Success (Integrated Industry: from feed preparation to marketing of the poultry products)

Conclusion

Referencing http://www.areu.mu/files/pub/areunssp.p

df ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/

annexes/.../ www.fao.org/ag/againfo/resources/en/.../

sector_briefs/lsb_MUS.pdf www.gov.mu/portal/goc/moa/file/nonsug

arbrief.pdf www.gov.mu/portal/sites/ncb/sids2005/a

grix.htm www.mongabay.com/reference/country...

/mauritius/ECONOMY.html

Questions