Adapting cattle farming to climate change in the dry and sub-humid tropical zones in Benin: how adaptation strategies affect productivity

Abstract

Cattle farmers are developing adaptation strategies to deal with the effects of climate change. Understanding how adaptation affects livestock productivity is, therefore, essential in order to identify and prioritize the optimal strategies. Yet, few studies have addressed this issue. This study aims to fill the gap, by assessing how the adaptation strategies developed by cattle farmers in Benin affect livestock productivity. We conducted surveys with 360 cattle farmers and monitored 30 farms in Benin’s dry and sub humid tropical zones. We collected data on the socio demographic characteristics of cattle farmers, their adaptation strategies and herd productivity. We carried out a multiple correspondence analysis, followed by an ascending hierarchical classification to establish the typology of the cattle farmers’ adaptation strategies. We tested data on livestock productivity using an analysis of variance with the generalized linear model procedure of R.3.5.1. software. The results revealed three groups of adaptation strategies: integrating livestock with crop production; use of supplemental feeding and fodder crops; pastoral mobility. The choice of strategy significantly affected livestock productivity. Animal mortality rates were lower on farms that adopted supplemental feeding (2.7%), and integrated crop/livestock systems (3.3%), compared to farms with pastoral mobility (5.2%). Supplementary feeding improved calf weights at birth and at 6 months and increased daily milk offtake. Based on the results obtained, we recommend that farmers adopt supplemental feeding and integrated crop/livestock strategies in the study zones to improve herd productivity.