Evaluation of the Forage Potential of Harvest Residues in Cotton Farms in Western Burkina-Faso

On cotton farms in western Burkina Faso, draught cattle, which play a vital role (energy, manure, and others) in the sustainability of the farming system, are more affected by the fodder deficit in the dry season. Crop residues from cereals grown mainly in rotation with cotton can play an important role in coping with this situation. This study analysed the availability of cereal stalks for optimal use in animal feed. The study was conducted in nine villages in the Mouhoun and Tuy provinces of Burkina Faso’s western cotton-growing zone and involved 72 cotton farmers, livestock breeders, and agro-pastoralists. Data collection consisted of household surveys and biomass measurements of the main maize, millet, and sorghum plots, using 522 plots of 25m2. The nutritional value of the crop residues was estimated using near-infrared spectrometry. The results showed that the average area sown for maize, millet, and sorghum were 3.8 ± 3.7, 2.9 ± 2.3 and 1.7 ± 1.4 hectares, respectively. Biomass yields were 3.2 ± 1.4, 2.5 ± 0.9 and 4.9 ± 2.6 tons of dry matter per hectare, respectively, with respective animal carrying capacities of 2.0 ± 0.9, 2.0 ± 0.9 and 3.0 ± 1.6 tropical cattle units (TCU) per hectare. The seasonal fodder balances recorded for farmers’ stockbreeders and agro-pastoralists were 0.68, 22.59, and -2.24 TCU, respectively. The average metabolisable energy content (7.55 MJ/kg of dry matter) and in vitro digestibility (46.89 ± 2.57%) of sorghum residues were respectively higher than those of millet (6.56 ± 0.35 MJ/kgDM et 41.83 ±0,88 %) and maize (7.10 ± 0.58 MJ/kgDM et 44.40 ± 0.86%). The total nitrogen content of the cereal stalks was low. They were between 3.16 ± 0.27% and 4.64 ± 0.81% for sorghum and maize harvest residues, respectively, which highlights the need for protein supplementation in the use of these harvest residues on cotton farms. If producers focused more on sorghum, this could improve the supply of fodder and strengthen the integration of agriculture and livestock farming, and hence the sustainability of the production system.