Challenges and Opportunities of the Mediterranean Indigenous Bovine Populations: Analysis of the Different Production Systems in Algeria, Greece, and Tunisia

Aziza Mohamed-Brahmi, Dimitrios Tsiokos, Samia Ben Saïd, Sofiane Boudalia, Samir Smeti, Aissam Bousbia, Yassine Gueroui, Ali Boudebbouz, Maria Anastasiadou and George K. Symeon
Additional contact information
Aziza Mohamed-Brahmi: Laboratoire de Durabilité des Systèmes de Production dans la Région du Nord-Ouest, Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture du Kef, Université de Jendouba, Boulifa, Le Kef 7100, Tunisia
Dimitrios Tsiokos: Research Institute of Animal Science, HAO-Demeter, 58100 Giannitsa, Greece
Samia Ben Saïd: Laboratoire de Durabilité des Systèmes de Production dans la Région du Nord-Ouest, Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture du Kef, Université de Jendouba, Boulifa, Le Kef 7100, Tunisia
Sofiane Boudalia: Laboratoire de Biologie, Eau et Environnement, Département d’Écologie et Génie de l’Environnement, Université 8 Mai 1945, Guelma BP 4010, Guelma 24000, Algeria
Samir Smeti: Laboratoire de Productions Animales et Fourragères, INRA-Tunisia, Ariana 2049, Tunisia
Aissam Bousbia: Laboratoire de Biologie, Eau et Environnement, Département d’Écologie et Génie de l’Environnement, Université 8 Mai 1945, Guelma BP 4010, Guelma 24000, Algeria
Yassine Gueroui: Département des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Université 8 Mai 1945, Guelma 24000, Algeria
Ali Boudebbouz: Laboratoire de Biologie, Eau et Environnement, Département d’Écologie et Génie de l’Environnement, Université 8 Mai 1945, Guelma BP 4010, Guelma 24000, Algeria
Maria Anastasiadou: Research Institute of Animal Science, HAO-Demeter, 58100 Giannitsa, Greece
George K. Symeon: Research Institute of Animal Science, HAO-Demeter, 58100 Giannitsa, Greece

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: The indigenous cattle populations are threatened by extinction in many countries of the Mediterranean area. The objective of this study is the analysis of local cattle breeds’ production systems in Algeria, Greece, and Tunisia and the identification of their future challenges and opportunities. A total of 385 surveys were conducted in these study areas: central and northern Greece (43); northern and northwestern Tunisia (167), and northeastern Algeria (175). Data collected concerned socio-economic parameters as well as the production system’s functionality, constraints, and opportunities. Results revealed an average farmers’ age of 52.6 years old. The illiteracy rate is high, especially in Algeria (39%) and Tunisia (44%), where the farm size is relatively small with an average of 14 and four animals per farm, respectively. In Greece, much higher numbers were recorded (89 animals/farm). The average cultivated feedstuffs’ area is larger in Greece (12.07 ha) and smaller in Algeria and Tunisia (6.11 and 2.88 ha, respectively). Feeding resources are based on rangelands. Farming systems are traditional extensive and complemented when needed. Milk and meat marketing vary throughout countries and are not well valorized. The main constraints are high feeding costs, low milk and meat prices, and absence of labeling. Local and local-crossbred bovine populations could be valorized based on their good adaptation criteria when applying convenient genetic and development strategies.

Keywords: indigenous; cattle; Mediterranean; opportunities; challenges (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/6/3356/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/6/3356/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3356-:d:770078

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().