Ceva Santé Animale looks back on the key factors that led to a successful livestock breed improvement programme in Burkina Faso.
In a Sahelian country where livestock are predominantly raised extensively, meeting the nutritional needs of a population of 18 million poses a challenge. In Burkina Faso, local backyard chickens, known as ‘Poulet bicyclette’ due to them being transported by bicycle, are favoured by farmers and consumers alike for their appearance, taste, and ease of rearing. However, low hatching rates, extended maturation periods, and disease susceptibility limit their potential contribution to local nutrition. To address these challenges, the ‘Poulet du Faso’ project was initiated.
With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ceva Santé Animale collaborated with Sasso between 2016 and 2021 to develop a solution. Sasso chickens, being dual-purpose and well-suited to extensive production systems, were chosen for their adaptability. The project aimed to create a new crossbreed, retaining the desirable traits of local chickens while incorporating the reproductive advantages of Sasso breeders. The resulting Poulet du Faso, produced by crossing local male breeders with Sasso females – a novel approach for traditional poultry farming – matured faster while maintaining local characteristics.
Key to the project’s success was extensive communication and capacity-building efforts among farmers, supported by a local hatchery and distribution network established by Ceva. A limited liability company, Anipole Faso, facilitated the transition to more intensive rearing practices and provided technical support to farmers. By project completion, the distribution network and selection centre were financially independent, ensuring the sustainability of Poulet du Faso production.
The project ended in 2021 but the positive impacts continue. In 2024, Poulet du Faso production continues and has expanded despite challenges such as political instability. Coq du Faso Selection Centre and Fadima hatchery sustain production, with Anipole Faso overseeing distribution and providing technical support. Poulet du Faso has become a trusted brand in Burkina Faso and has expanded to other countries in the region. Data indicates improved production parameters post-project, with reduced mortality rates and faster maturation times. Economic returns have been favourable, with Coq du Faso and Anipole Faso achieving profitability. Lessons learned from the project underscore the importance of prioritizing local needs, flexibility, and building sustainable business models.
The success of Poulet du Faso offers transferable lessons, as evidenced by Ceva’s pilot program, Vache du Faso, aimed at improving dairy production through cross-breeding indigenous cows. Both projects emphasize the significance of local adaptation, capacity building, and sustainable business practices.
In collaboration with Ceva, SEBI-Livestock have prepared two case studies summarising lessons learned from these two initiatives. These case studies were undertaken through SEBI-Livestock work on Monitoring & Learning of livestock investments.
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SEBI-Livestock supported Ceva Santé Animale to undertake monitoring and learning in these projects, which helped generate valuable insights and learnings.