LES RACES D'ANIMAUX ELEVES EN MAUIRITANIE

SUMMARYMauritania is a major livestock country with a population of 1 050 000 camels, l 200 000 cattle and 8 500 000 small ruminants. There is also an important population of equines. While the herd/flock structures and zootechnical statistics of the animal sector are not well 1<nown, there is an important annual consumption of milk (0.5 kg/inhabitant/per day) and meat ( 35 kg/ person/year). The evolution of the cattle population density and movements is conditioned by the availability of grazing and the density of watering points. The cattle belong mainly to two groups: the Peulh zebu exclusively linked to the Peulh tribes and the Maure zebu of Sahel. Both are phenotypically easily distinguishable breeds. There are three distinct sheep populations, the shorthaired Maure of the Southern Saharan region, the longhaired Maure on the frontier of Mali and the sheep kept by the shepherds of Peulh tradition. There are three distinct goat types: the very adaptable Sahel goat found all over the country (nomadic, transhuming and sedentary); the so-called Spanish goat found in small numbers in the North of the country and the smallbodied Dioungy (15–20 kg) mainly found in the Southeast. The camel population can be classified into the shorter type (1.85–1.90 m high) found in the Centre and Southern regions and the Regeuibi or Sahel Dromadaire (2.0–2.1 m high) found in the North and East. The author describes also shortly the local horses (Barbe and arab) and poultry genetic resources.