The Pastoral Committee, coordinated by the Directorate of Livestock through the Pastoral Division, has published its Pastoral Information Bulletin No. 48, covering the second half of August 2025. The document highlights major challenges for livestock farming: pasture deficit in some areas, poor filling of ponds in the North, resurgence of animal diseases including rabies, and an increase in livestock theft.
Weather Conditions
The bulletin reports that the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) forecasted for September 1–15, 2025, indicates moderate heat stress (75–80) in Ranérou, Koumpentoum, Tambacounda, and Goudiry. Conversely, the rest of the agro-silvo-pastoral zone will face severe stress.
Rainfall is expected to decline sharply from September 2–8, before gradually resuming from September 9–15, particularly in the South-East (Kédougou, Kolda, Tambacounda), where extreme rainfall is forecast.
Pastoral Resources
A timid but uneven improvement has been noted. The Vegetation Index (NDVI) shows normal vegetation growth nationwide, with significant improvement in Saint-Louis region. However, Dagana and Guinguinéo remain well below the historical average, while Matam is approaching normal levels.
Late August rains promoted the growth of young grasses and legumes, beneficial for grazing but carrying health risks (grass tetany, frothy bloat, enterotoxemia). The best pastures are located in the Central, Southern, and South-Eastern regions of the country.
A notable incident occurred in Fanaye (Podor): 102 small ruminants died on August 20 following a violent storm and water runoff.
Water Access and Ponds
The agro-silvo-pastoral zone has 1,363 boreholes, of which 64 are out of service, yielding an overall availability rate of 95%. Goudiry recorded the highest rate (98.6%) and Tambacounda the lowest (89.7%).
Ponds are generally well filled except in Dagana and Podor, which remain poorly supplied.
Livestock Movements
The second half of August was marked by return transhumance, particularly in Darou Mousty, Nabadji Civol, and Gainthe Kayes.
In the North, livestock concentrations remain low, but in Nabadji Civol, density has reached a critical level, signaling a risk of overgrazing and resource degradation.
Animal Health
A red alert has been issued for rabies and Rift Valley fever; a total of 499 animal disease outbreaks were reported nationwide, with 8 samples collected.
Rabies was confirmed in Kaolack (Sibassor) and Kolda (Thietty). Rift Valley fever was detected in Louga (Loboudou, Keur Momar Sarr municipality).
Suspicions also concern CBPP, ovine listeriosis, and other pathologies.
The five dominant diseases are: pasteurellosis (89 outbreaks), botulism (39), peste des petits ruminants – PPR (32), distomatosis (31), and foot-and-mouth disease (31).
In the sylvo-pastoral and transit zone, 202 suspected outbreaks affected nearly 28,767 animals, with 1,831 disease cases and 455 deaths (1.58% mortality).
Security
Livestock theft has increased, with 98 cases of small ruminants and 36 of large ruminants reported, mainly in Kaolack, Louga, Matam, and Saint-Louis.
Pastoral authorities recommend strengthening community surveillance, securing transhumance corridors, and intensifying cross-border cooperation to curb the circulation of stolen livestock.
Livestock Markets
A strong demand was recorded in Touba; the Magal of Touba greatly boosted livestock demand in the Diourbel region:
333,238 cattle presented at livestock fairs,
4,217 in religious compounds,
31,704 sheep, 2,014 goats, and 4,749 camels recorded.
Despite this strong supply, a drop of 10,811 cattle was noted in markets, while numbers in religious compounds increased.
Recommendations
The Pastoral Committee recommends strengthening awareness campaigns on rabies and Rift Valley fever, supporting the destocking of available forage seeds, and intensifying the fight against livestock theft.
Babacar Sène – Agropasteur Journal