SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVESTOCK IN MEDIUM-SIZED TOWNS IN WESTERN CAMEROON

Abstract

The present study highlights some social characteristics of livestock in Western Cameroon medium-sized towns. To carry it out, a questionnaire was given to 300 breeders, whose 100 in each of the towns of Dschang, Mbouda and Foumbot, three studied medium-sized towns in Western Cameroon. The choice of neighborhoods in these cities, as well as that of persons to be surveyed, was based on the intensity of livestock activities. The main results showed that male breeders are significantly more numerous (60%), married (76.70%) with 26.70% of households having a size between [5-6] members. The age of the breeders surveyed varied from 10 to 89 years, the most represented age group being 50 to 59 years (20.70%), and most of them (54.30%) have a secondary school level. 60% of these breeders have already had conflicts with their neighbors, the main cause of these conflicts being the olfactory and noise pollution of the animals raised, unsanitary conditions, and the destruction of gardens by animals. Urban livestock is a source of conflicts between breeders and neighbors in western Cameroon medium sized towns.