Valuing breeders' preferences in the conservation of the Koundoum sheep in Niger by multi-attribute analysis.
Issa Hamadou, Nassim Moula, Seyni Siddo, Moumouni Issa, Hamani Marichatou, Pascal Leroy, Nicolas Antoine-Moussiaux
Author Information
Issa Hamadou: Department of Animal Production, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Niger, P.O. Box 429, Niamey, Niger.
Nassim Moula: Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Sustainable Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium. ORCID
Seyni Siddo: Department of Animal Production, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Niger, P.O. Box 429, Niamey, Niger.
Moumouni Issa: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy, Abdou Moumouni University, P.O. Box 10 960, Niamey, Niger. ORCID
Hamani Marichatou: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy, Abdou Moumouni University, P.O. Box 10 960, Niamey, Niger.
Pascal Leroy: Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Sustainable Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
Nicolas Antoine-Moussiaux: Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Sustainable Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
This study characterises farmer's preferences for breeding rams and tackles their willingness to contribute to the Koundoum sheep conservation programme through their quantified appreciation of the main phenotypic features of the sheep breed in the region. The Koundoum is the main wool sheep of Niger and shows a remarkable adaptation to the environment of the Niger River valley. In Tillabéri region, i.e. the Koundoum sheep's area of origin, the proportional piling tool is first used in 11 focus group discussions of breeders to determine the main selection criteria of breeding rams. The multi-attribute analysis method is then applied with 168 sheep owners. The econometric estimation of the utility function of breeders is conducted with a conditional logit model and the marginal willingness to pay is calculated. The results reveal a strong rejection by the breeders of characteristics like wool and black-coloured coat and thus shows the poor acceptability of an in situ conservation programme. Few breeders with a particular concern for the breed's conservation for cultural motives may nevertheless join such a conservation programme that should mainly be based on ex situ strategies.
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