# Livestock keepers' perception on the roles and involvement of livestock stakeholders in the N'Dama cattle-breeding program

Younouss Camara<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />,<fnref n="3" />* Nicolas Djighnoum Diouf<fnref n="1" />
Mouhamadou Moustapha Dieng<fnref n="1" /> Abdoulaye Dieye<fnref n="1" />
Mouhamadou Moustapha Sissokho<fnref n="2" />
Mouhamadou Abdoulaye Diandy<fnref n="2" /> Mouhamadou Moustapha Dieng<fnref n="2" />
Frédéric Farnir<fnref n="3" />,<fnref n="4" /> Nicolas Antoine-Moussiaux<fnref n="3" />,<fnref n="4" />

## Keywords

cattle, genetic improvement, genetic resources conservation, indigenous breeds, stakeholder analysis, Senegal

OPEN ACCESS

© Y. Camara et al., 2025 published by Cirad

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY).

Type: Research article

Submitted: 11 February 2025

Accepted: 16 September 2025

Online: 17 October 2025

DOI: 10.19182/remvt.37690

## Summary

**Background:** The participation of livestock keepers is necessary for the development of breeding programs in developing countries. This participation can be considered on several levels, from the definition of breeding objectives to the implementation of selection and the diffusion of genetic progress. **Aim:** To improve the success of these programs, it is therefore important to consider the perceptions of livestock keepers regarding other stakeholders and the collaboration between them. **Methods:** Participatory approaches were used to identify actors involved in the farmers' activities, as well as stakeholders who could play potential roles in the N'Dama breeding program in Senegal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 53 livestock keepers. **Results:** The results highlight that the actors' interventions influence the livestock keepers' choice of stakeholders to involve in the N'Dama breeding program. This perception demonstrates that the program has been successful in generating a sense of ownership among livestock keepers.

**Conclusions:** The study suggests that the sustainability of breeding programs for low-input system in developing countries may be strengthened by involving stakeholders whose actions and legitimacy are well recognized by livestock keepers.

■ How to cite this article: Camara, Y., Diouf, N. D., Dieng, M. M., Dieye, A., Sissokho, M. M., Diandy, M. A., Dieng, M. M., Farnir, F., & Antoine-Moussiaux, N. (2025). *Revue d'élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux*, 78, 37690. https://doi.org/10.19182/remvt.37690

## INTRODUCTION

The involvement of livestock keepers is considered essential for the success of animal breeding programs dedicated to low-input systems in developing countries (Haile et al., 2019; Kosgey et al., 2006; Leroy et al., 2017) both public and private. In this study, we investigated factors explaining differences in stakeholder involvement in AnGR

management across countries, based on an historical perspective and an analysis of the 128 official country reports provided during preparation of The Second Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Results of principal component analyses indicated that countries differed in the involvement of stakeholders in AnGR management, generally with greater involvement of livestock breeders and their organizations in developed countries. Developing countries tended to be divided into two groups, those with little involvement by stakeholders and those with high involvement by government/research organizations. Depending on the country, the involvement of government/research organizations versus breeders/livestock keepers organizations and commercial companies also differed, which could be linked to some extent to their historical background. The level of involvement of breeders 'associations or cooperatives was positively correlated (r=0.68). Many studies also have reported that the adaptation of indigenous breeds, involving their adoption by livestock keepers in line with their production systems, is a key condition for the

<footnote n="1">1. Département Productions Animales et Élevage (PAE), UFR Sciences Agronomiques, Aquaculture et Transformation Agroalimentaire (S2ATA), Université Gaston Berger, Saint-Louis, Sénégal</footnote>

<footnote n="2">2. Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Dakar, Sénégal</footnote>

<footnote n="3">3. Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Sustainable Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium</footnote>

<footnote n="4">4. Tropical Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium</footnote>

<footnote>* Corresponding author
Phone: +221 775359122; E-mail: dr.camara@yahoo.fr</footnote>
sustainability of breeding programs (Agabriel *et al*., 2014; Couix *et al*., 2016). In this context, livestock keepers were invited to contribute to breeding programs for N’Dama cattle in Senegal and The Gambia to improve the outreach of these programs (Diop *et al*., 1993; Bosso *et al*., 2007). However, in many of the strategies developed, this involvement is limited to the definition of breeding objectives, the diffusion of genetic progress, and sometimes helping to cover the farmers’ running costs (Tibbo *et al*., 2006). Collaboration between livestock keepers and other stakeholders is critical to the sustainability of these programs (Camara *et al*., 2019a). Community-based breeding programs (CBBP) are described as being more suitable for developing countries because they are built around breeders (Haile *et al*., 2019). Indeed, in these countries, the socio-cultural roles of livestock are just as important as their economic ones, and CBBPs are being developed to take these aspects into account. The participation of livestock keepers in the choice of stakeholders and the definition of forms of collaboration could strengthen their engagement in these programs.

CBBPs can be considered to be multi-stakeholder platforms aimed at establishing long-term innovation processes that are defined collaboratively. Studies on other agricultural innovation platforms show that the quality of interactions between participants is crucial. Balanced relationships in decision-making, mutual recognition of legitimacy, and trust are key to effective interactions (Klerkx *et al*., 2010; Govoeyi *et al*., 2019). Since CBBPs consider livestock keepers as the main actors of breeding programs, this model emphasizes the need to pay attention to how these livestock keepers perceive other stakeholders. Indeed, institutional relationships built on trust have been described as determining factors in the participation of breeders in a cattle-breeding program (Camara *et al*., 2019b).

This study examines the perceptions of livestock keepers regarding the involvement, roles, and collaboration of other stakeholders in the context of the N’Dama cattle-breeding program in Senegal (Figure 1). The focus is on analysing the criteria that livestock keepers use to choose their collaborators in the implementation of a breeding program. This analysis is here proposed as critical to the participation of livestock keepers and the success of the program. Unlike the traditional paradigm where the promoters of a project identify the beneficiaries and other stakeholders, the participatory approach involves engaging with beneficiaries to develop a suitable strategy alongside relevant stakeholders (Kunda *et al*., 2018).

This work studies the N’Dama cattle-breeding program in Kolda, southern Senegal, which began over 40 years ago (Camara et al., 2020).

The genetic characteristics of N’Dama cattle in southern Senegal are described by Fall *et al*. (1982) and Gueye *et al*. (1981). Livestock keepers in this community have long benefited from various research and development activities, including the N’Dama cattle-breeding program. In addition to the livestock research activities carried out by the Livestock Research Center (CRZ, for *Centre de Recherches Zootechniques*), other actors such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), extension services, and government agencies are active in the area. Their significant exposure to aid and external interventions has likely encouraged livestock keepers to forge a particular perception of these programs, as well as expectations and structured strategies. This case study examines how stakeholder participation in community-based breeding programs designed for low-input systems in developing countries may encounter various challenges.

## MATERIAL AND METHODS

### Study area

The study was conducted in three rural districts of Kolda in Casamance, Senegal: Medina Elhadji, Sare Bidji, and Dioulacolon. All three districts are located within a radius of 50 km of CRZ, where the N’Dama breeding program is located. This region has a sub-humid tropical climate, characterised by a bimodal seasonal regimen. The predominant economic activities are agriculture, livestock, and forestry. The main livestock system is described as agro-pastoral, practicing crop-livestock integration. Animal manure is used for soil amendment, and animal power is used for ploughing. In turn, crop residues such as rice straw, millet and corn stalks, and cottonseeds are fed to animals. The most common cattle breed is the N’Dama taurine.

These districts are inhabited by diverse ethnic groups: the Fulani, who are essentially pastoralists; the Mandingos, who practice agriculture associated with breeding some animals; and the Diolas and the Balantes, whose activities are agriculture associated with pig farming and forest exploitation.

### Sampling and data collection

The survey comprised a participatory rural appraisal (PRA), a method that encourages the inclusion of respondents in research to gain a better understanding of the socio-economic determinants of the subject being studied (Chambers, 1994). It was used here to conceptualise the methodology, identify livestock keepers, and collect their perceptions

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1:** The N’Dama breeding program scheme (Camara et al., 2019) /// Le schéma du programme de sélection (Camara et al., 2019)</figcaption></figure>
of how they relate to the livestock program. All livestock keepers currently taking part in the program (n=12), as well as those who have left (n=15) the program, were included. These livestock keepers selected 26 other livestock keepers who had never taken part in the program. This selection of livestock keepers to be surveyed allowed a balanced analysis between program participants (n=27) and non-participants (n=26). The livestock keepers were selected following a dual sampling approach, using first a purposive then a respondent-driven sampling. The 27 livestock keepers who were collaborating or had collaborated with the CRZ of Kolda were identified from the CRZ database (purposive sampling). These first respondents introduced us to livestock keepers who had not collaborated with the CRZ (respondent-driven sampling). In total, 53 livestock keepers were surveyed. The invitations to participate in the survey stated that decision makers about cattle would be interviewed. Only men came to participate, as they are regarded as the primary decision makers on cattle, including decisions about breeding programs. No women were included in the sample because no cattle-holding woman-led households were identified in this study (Camara et al., 2019c).

Two data collection methodologies were mobilised. First, face-to-face interviews were conducted with each livestock keeper to collect information on the frequency of intervention and perceived impact of stakeholders. The livestock keeper was asked to first list the stakeholders who intervened on his farm, and then to quantify their impact on a 5-point Likert score from 1 (low impact) to 5 (high impact) according to their importance in improving the livestock keepers' livelihoods and the interactions they have. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) then were organised in the three districts (two in Dioulacolon, one in Medina Elhadji, and one in Saré Bidji). The FGDs were conducted to identify the stakeholders involved at the community level, and not just at the private level for the livestock keeper, and who can play a role in a N'Dama breeding program. Through their extensive background in conducting surveys, the livestock technicians facilitating the FGDs helped to achieve a consensus regarding the choice of stakeholders based on their different identifiers and roles. These technicians administered the questions in Fulani (the language spoken predominantly in the area).

## Data analysis

For data on the frequency and impact of individual interviews, descriptive statistics (minimum, maximum, median and mean) were calculated with R software (version 3.5.1) (R Core Team, 2024). The

Kruskal-Wallis test was used to make a statistical evaluation of the scores attributed by livestock keepers to different stakeholders. The consensus level between ratings was measured through Kendall's concordance coefficient test (package vegan, function Kendall.global and Kendall.post) with the correction for ex aequo scores (Legendre, 2005). The Kendall tau (W) ranges from a value of 0, indicating the total absence of agreement, to a value of 1 that translates into a perfect consensus. A p-value under 0.05 was considered as statistically significant for both tests.

The results of the FGDs were analysed textually by extracting the interventions of stakeholders at the livestock keepers' level and their perceived roles in the N'Dama cattle breeding-program. The latter were encoded in an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Office 2016) to group the listed elements by theme and to progressively constitute classes.

## ■ RESULTS

### Actors in the livestock keepers' area

Data from individual interviews reveal that the livestock services for all species were the most frequently cited by livestock keepers (87%), followed by NGOs (72%) and the CRZ (49%) (Table I). The N'Dama breeders' cooperative (CASE N'Dama, 30%) and government and international agency projects (21%) were the least cited. Among the NGOs, Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF), World Vision and Gune were the most frequently cited. International agencies that were mentioned as intervening in the area were mainly the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the French cooperation agency (Agence Française de Développement, AFD).

### Livestock actors' interventions in the livestock keepers' area

The interventions made by livestock actors that were cited by the livestock keepers during individual interviews can be classified into two categories (Figure 2). The first consists of interventions on the livestock. This includes veterinary actions such as vaccination and deworming, the distribution of supplementary feed, the introduction of fodder crops, and herd monitoring for performance control. The other type of intervention may be categorized as one that acts on the farming context. These interventions focus on capacity building (training and institutional organisation), construction of

<table><caption>**Table 1:** Scores attributed on a scale from 1 (low impact) to 5 (high impact) to evaluate stakeholders' impacts on the livelihoods of cattle keepers /// Notes attribuées sur une échelle de 1 (faible impact) à 5 (fort impact) pour évaluer l'impact des parties prenantes sur les moyens de subsistance des éleveurs</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Stakeholders</th><th rowspan="2">Number of citations<br>(frequency %)</th><th colspan="5">Stakeholders' impacts (scores)</th><th rowspan="2">P-Value<br>(Kruskal-Wallis's test)</th><th rowspan="2">Kendall test<br>(W)</th></tr><tr><th>Min.</th><th>Median</th><th>Max.</th><th>Mean</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Livestock service</td><td>46 (86.8)</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>3.2</td><td>0.4<sup>NS</sup></td><td>0.3<sup>NS</sup></td></tr><tr><td>NGOs</td><td>38 (71.7)</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>4</td><td>0.01<sup>***</sup></td><td>0.3<sup>NS</sup></td></tr><tr><td>CRZ</td><td>26 (49.0)</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>2.9</td><td>0.2<sup>NS</sup></td><td>0.5<sup>**</sup></td></tr><tr><td>CASE N'Dama</td><td>16 (30.2)</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>2.5</td><td>0.9<sup>NS</sup></td><td>0.5<sup>**</sup></td></tr><tr><td>Projects and agencies</td><td>11 (20.7)</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>0.6<sup>NS</sup></td><td>0.4<sup>**</sup></td></tr></tbody></table>

<footnote>NS Not significant, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001</footnote>

<footnote>%: percentage of livestock keepers naming the stakeholder</footnote>

<footnote>CASE N'Dama: Organisation of N'dama cattle breeders /// Coopérative des Agroéleveurs Sélectionneurs du Bovin N'dama</footnote>

<footnote>CRZ: Livestock research center /// Centre de Recherches Zootechniques</footnote>

<footnote>NGOs: Non Governmental Organisations /// Organisations non gouvernementales</footnote>
infrastructure (wells, cowsheds, dairies, development of rangelands), financing income-generating activities, and providing social assistance (food and animal feed) to livestock keepers. NGOs and the CRZ are mentioned as intervening in both categories, whereas the livestock services restrict themselves to direct actions on livestock. The other actors mentioned (breeders' organisations such as CASE N'Dama, government projects and international agencies) are limited to the training and financing of livestock keepers to develop additional income-generating activities.

## Livestock actors' impacts

The appreciation of the impact that livestock actors have on improving livestock keepers' livelihoods, as assessed during individual interviews, varied substantially between livestock keepers and between stakeholders. The scores varied from 1 to 5 for all stakeholders (Table I). Although livestock services have a high citation rate (p = 0.4), the median score assigned to them is lower than that of NGOs (p < 0.01) (Me = 3 vs. Me = 5, respectively). The perceived level of impact of CRZ (p = 0.2) was similar to that attributed to livestock services (Me = 3). However, the ratings of the impact of NGOs and livestock services were lowly shared between the livestock keepers (Kendall, W = 0.3). The agreement level was higher regarding CRZ (Kendall, W = 0.5, p < 0.05). In addition, livestock keepers agree that the activities of farmers' organisations (p = 0.9

and international development agencies (p = 0.6) do not have a significant impact on improving their living conditions (Kendall, W = 0.5, W = 0.4, p < 0.05 respectively).

## Stakeholders' roles in the N'Dama breeding program

Analysis of the qualitative data from the group discussions reveals two main groups: roles directly related to breeding activities, and those that can be considered as supporting roles for the development and sustainability of the breeding program (Figure 3). The first group of roles includes sire selection, management of the breeding nucleus, and coordination of the breeding program, which are assigned to the CRZ. This group also includes activities related to the management of the multiplication herd and the dissemination of genetic progress, which are assigned to livestock keepers through CASE N'Dama. The second group of roles includes veterinary and feed support, dissemination of innovations, and the financing of the breeding program and breeders' activities, which are assigned to NGOs and financing institutions. The activities of the livestock services in the breeding program will essentially be to safeguard animal health, but also to serve as an intermediary between breeders, the government, and other development aid partners. It must also ensure, in collaboration with researchers, the training and strengthening of the institutional capacity of livestock keepers.

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

**Figure 2:** Main actions carried out on farms by external stakeholders according to the farmers (mean percentage of farmers naming) /// *Principales actions menées dans les exploitations agricoles par des acteurs extérieurs selon les agriculteurs (pourcentage moyen des agriculteurs ayant donné leur nom)*

CASE NDama: Coopérative des Agroé-leveurs Sélectionneur du Bovin Ndama (Organisation of Ndama cattle breeders); CRZ : Centre de Recherches Zootechniques (Livestock research center); NGOs : Non Governmental Organisations

**Figure 3:** Stakeholders' roles in the N'Dama breeding program according to farmers' perception identified by focus group discussions (number of citations per focus group) /// *Rôles des parties prenantes dans le programme de sélection selon la perception des agriculteurs identifiée lors des discussions de groupe (nombre de participants par groupe)*

CASE NDama: Coopérative des Agroé-leveurs Sélectionneur du Bovin Ndama (Organisation of Ndama cattle breeders); CRZ : Centre de Recherches Zootechniques (Livestock research center); NGOs : Non Governmental Organisations

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>
## ■ DISCUSSION

### Methodological approach

The decision to supplement the data from the individual interviews with data from the focus groups was taken to reduce biases associated with the characteristics of each livestock keeper (current program participants, former participants, and non-participants) and his relations with various stakeholders. Indeed, a previous study on the determinants of livestock keepers' participation in a breeding program found that these determinants were also linked to the privileged or conflicting relationships between livestock keepers and other stakeholders (Camara et al., 2019c). Moreover, to build a sustainable program like the CBBP model, the stakeholders to be integrated must have a community dimension in addition to any personal relationships they may have with each livestock keeper (Wurzinger et al., 2013). A methodology based on a combination of individual and group interviews was used to highlight these dimensions (individual and community intervention).

### Livestock keepers' perception of the roles of livestock actors to improve their livelihoods

This study shows that the most frequently observed livestock actor in the field may be the least important in improving the livelihoods of livestock keepers. The regular presence of livestock services among livestock keepers is essential for maintaining epidemiological surveillance and ensuring the health of livestock across all districts of the country. However, since the privatisation of veterinary medicine in 1993, this activity is no longer limited to the livestock services, which may also explain its low impact compared to that of NGOs. In addition to their veterinary activities through the training of para-veterinarians, NGOs intervene in all of the social and economic sectors that support livestock keepers (infrastructure, education, social assistance and distribution of food against hunger, etc.). The relative importance given to these actors is due to their role in introducing many innovations to livestock keepers (Camara et al., 2019b). Paradoxically, the CRZ, which is often at the origin of the production of these innovations and knowledge, is perceived as less important by the livestock keepers. This research position limits direct contact with livestock keepers, which benefits intermediaries like NGOs and the livestock services in their efforts to disseminate and implement technologies and knowledge to beneficiaries.

### Livestock keepers' perception of the roles of stakeholders in the breeding program

Livestock keepers perceive the livestock services as playing a weak role in the development of the N'Dama cattle-breeding program, despite their frequent presence in the field and the moderate impact these services have on their livelihoods. The high frequency of intervention of the livestock services is due to its decentralisation, as it is present in each district through the local veterinary offices. This characteristic could appear as a criterion for choosing the livestock services as an important stakeholder in the breeding program. Indeed, studies have reported the important role of decentralised livestock services in the sustainable development of breeding programs in developing countries (Kahi et al., 2005; Mueller et al., 2015; Leroy et al., 2017; Mudavanhu et al., 2024). The livestock keepers' perception of the weak role of the livestock services in the N'Dama breeding program may be related here to the nature of their interventions among the livestock keepers. The livestock keepers interviewed viewed these interventions as being strictly oriented around animal health, through vaccination, deworming and veterinary care. They did not associate these interventions with animal breeding activities. This narrow view of the livestock services seems to be influenced

by the primary role assigned to them since the colonial period, i.e., the fight against major epizootics such as rinderpest and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (Ly, 1989). Furthermore, since 1993, the privatisation of veterinary practices has blurred the role of the livestock services as the primary reference point for livestock keepers. This might have led the latter to even further downplay the potential role of the livestock services in the breeding program.

NGOs, considered the second most active stakeholder, are perceived by livestock keepers as important stakeholders for the sustainable development of the breeding program. As highlighted in the proposed typology of the breeding program activities, NGOs appear to intervene in the two groups of activities: animal breeding activities (role in the dissemination of genetic progress), and support of the breeding program (funding and subsidies granted to breeders). These results are in line with a study of the opinions of experts on the respective roles of stakeholders in breeding programs. The experts consider that NGOs play an important role in supporting the breeding program and the dissemination of innovations developed among breeders (Camara et al., 2019a). NGOs are also recognized in the same study zone as the first external agents to introduce innovations to livestock keepers (Camara et al., 2019b). The dual intervention of NGOs, acting directly on livestock and supporting livestock keepers, would have thus guided N'Dama cattle keepers to recognise their importance for animal breeding programs. Interestingly, other studies emphasize the synergy between livestock services and NGOs as pillars of sustainable breeding programs in developing countries, following the CBBP model (Kahi et al., 2005; Wurzinger et al., 2013; Mudavanhu et al., 2024).

Research institutions, such as CRZ, and the breeders' association, CASE N'Dama, are recognised by livestock keepers as the primary stakeholders in the sustainable development of the N'Dama cattle breeding program, despite their limited frequency of intervention and low perceived impact. This perception may be explained by the fact that CRZ initiated the N'Dama breeding program, while CASE N'Dama was created with the aim of setting up an institutional framework to facilitate the participation of livestock keepers in the program. As a result, the livestock keepers interviewed tended to recognise the technical legitimacy of the researchers, considering the breeding program to be a research activity. The breeders' association appeared legitimate because it was established by researchers to meet the needs of the program. The experts interviewed in a previous study also share the livestock keepers' point of view regarding research and breeders (Camara et al., 2019a).

### Livestock keepers' perception of the interaction between stakeholders in the breeding program

Livestock keepers described the organisation of breeding activities as a clear division of roles. In their view, the management of the breeding nucleus is the responsibility of the research team (CRZ), while the breeders (CASE N'Dama) focus on managing the multiplication of herds. Both stakeholders share the central management of the breeding program, while other stakeholders play supportive roles. This support includes the provision of logistics, financing, and subsidies to livestock keepers (Camara et al., 2019a).

Out of concern for sustainability, experts, on the other hand, view the management of the breeding program as a shared responsibility between the government and the breeders (Camara et al., 2019a). However, these viewpoints may be considered congruent because the farmers interviewed initially regarded CRZ as a state entity. In addition, based on the nature of the interventions of the livestock services, NGOs, and CASE N'Dama, livestock keepers envision that these actors will collaborate in the production and dissemination of genetic progress.
This typology reflects that the opinions of livestock keepers are framed by the current nature of interventions carried out by these stakeholders in their area. Contrary to experts (Camara et al., 2019a), livestock keepers do not establish a clear dissociation between breeders' associations and researchers, which are often jointly mentioned in narratives. This is interesting because it shows that the program under study has successfully established a sense of legitimacy and ownership among the participating livestock keepers. This is tied to the intended and recognised role of breeders as initiators of the N'Dama breeding program, hence a direct consequence of the program's design. Livestock keepers perceive the multi-stakeholder involvement in breeding activities as a tool for sustainability, providing support to a central partnership between them and researchers. This organisation of breeding activities corresponds to the CBBP model (Haile et al., 2019, Wurzinger et al., 2013). Some researchers propose that extending this form of organisation through the inclusion of value chain actors is particularly needed in the case of cattle breeding programs due to the strong interaction between livestock keepers and other stakeholders throughout the value chain (Kahi et al., 2005). The current sense of ownership appears to be specific to the cattle sector, rather than being solely a result of program design. This observation suggests the need for further comparative studies involving programs in other animal species.

## Livestock keepers' perception is framed by trust and relationships

Livestock keepers limited the potential stakeholders to those who are already intervening in their activities. The absence of stakeholders such as the private sector (banks and industries) and consumers therefore would indicate that this choice on the part of livestock keepers is based on actors whom they know, who intervene on their farms, and/or who engage in direct activities in the livestock sector. In contrast, experts' opinion considered a wider array of stakeholders, disregarding their present involvement in on-going programs (Camara et al., 2019a). A similar call to widen the involvement of stakeholders situated along a value chain may be found in the literature (Kahi et al., 2005; Tindano et al., 2017). For such an involvement to occur within the framework of a potential CBBP, the results of the current study indicate that it is essential to first consider the existing relationships between stakeholders and how these relationships contribute to building trust among livestock keepers, as emphasised by Kahi et al. (2005).

This analysis builds on a previous study conducted in the same study area which highlights trust and relationships between stakeholders as key factors for breeders' participation and the sustainability of the program (Camara et al., 2019c). Indeed, a lack of trust between stakeholders could cause the network of actors to malfunction (Skardon, 2011). According to the prevailing principle of reciprocity of trust (Kahan, 2003; Belleghem, 2013), livestock keepers would only acknowledge the involvement of stakeholders with whom they share a history of fruitful direct collaboration. This is consistent with the idea that the development of an agricultural program must be based on actors in the field who are in contact with producers (Oosting et al., 2014).

## ■ CONCLUSION

This study showed that livestock keepers base their views of the stakeholders of the breeding program on how often they interact with them, as well as the nature and impact of the stakeholders' contributions to improving their livelihoods. Their opinion also appeared to be framed by the history of the program and the overall history of collaboration between actors. The N'Dama breeding program

therefore has been successful in fostering a sense of ownership among livestock keepers, who view themselves as close partners with the researchers. According to these observations, the involvement of multiple stakeholders in the breeding program may be directly sought if this is based on stakeholders who are currently trusted by livestock keepers. Otherwise, a stage of trust building should be considered before involving any new stakeholders who are not yet known to the livestock keepers.

## Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the following organisations and individuals for their participation in the study: Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research for hosting and funding the study; Wallonie-Bruxelles International for funding field activities and the stay in Belgium; University of Liege for the research stay and data analysis; The livestock keepers for their availability; and the researchers involved for their commitment.

## Funding

This study was funded by the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research through the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program and Wallonie-Bruxelles International.

## Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

## Declaration of authors' contributions

YC, MMS and NAM participated in the design and planning of the study; YC, MAD and MMD collected the data and drafted the first version of the manuscript; YC and NAM participated in the planning of the study; YC, FF and NAM performed the statistical analyses; NDD, MMD, and AD revised the manuscript.

## Ethics approval

During data collection, respondents were informed of the study's objectives and the importance of anonymity, and were given the opportunity to give their explicit consent to continue the interview. No animals were harmed or killed during this study.

## Data availability

The data were not deposited in an official repository. The data that support the study findings are available from the authors upon request.

## Declaration of Generative AI in the writing process

The authors did not use any artificial intelligence-assisted technologies in the writing process.

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Résumé

Camara Y., Diouf N.D., Dieng M.M., Dieye A., Sissokho M.M., Diandy M.A., Dieng M.M., Farnir F., Antoine-Moussiaux N. Perception des éleveurs sur le rôle et l'implication des acteurs de l'élevage dans le programme de sélection du bovin N'Dama

**Contexte** : La participation des éleveurs est nécessaire au développement des programmes de sélection dans les pays en voie de développement. Cette participation peut s'envisager à plusieurs niveaux, depuis la définition des objectifs de sélection jusqu'à la mise en œuvre de la sélection et la diffusion du progrès génétique. **Objectif** : Afin d'améliorer la réussite de ces programmes, il apparaît important de prendre en compte la perception qu'ont les éleveurs des autres acteurs et de la collaboration entre eux.

**Méthodes** : Des approches participatives ont été utilisées pour identifier les acteurs impliqués dans les activités des éleveurs et ceux pouvant jouer un rôle potentiel dans le programme de sélection du bovin N'Dama au Sénégal. Des entretiens semi-structurés ont été menés avec 53 éleveurs. **Résultats** : Les résultats mettent en évidence l'influence des interventions des acteurs de l'élevage sur la perception des éleveurs de leur implication potentielle dans le programme. Cette perception montre que le programme a réussi à susciter un sentiment d'appartenance chez les éleveurs. **Conclusions** : L'étude suggère que la durabilité des programmes de sélection des systèmes à faible niveau d'intrants des pays en développement peut être renforcée en impliquant des parties prenantes dont l'action et la légitimité sont bien reconnues par les éleveurs.

**Mots-clés** : bovin, amélioration génétique, conservation des ressources génétiques, race locale, analyse des parties prenantes, Sénégal

Resumen

Camara Y., Diouf N.D., Dieng M.M., Dieye A., Sissokho M.M., Diandy M.A., Dieng M.M., Farnir F., Antoine-Moussiaux N. Percepción de los ganaderos sobre el papel y la implicación de los actores del sector ganadero en el programa de selección del ganado N'Dama

**Contexto**: La participación de los ganaderos es necesaria para el desarrollo de programas de selección en los países en vías de desarrollo. Esta participación puede considerarse a diversos niveles, desde la definición de los objetivos de selección hasta la aplicación de la selección y la difusión del progreso genético.

**Objetivo**: Para mejorar el éxito de estos programas, parece importante tener en cuenta la percepción que tienen los ganaderos de los demás actores y de la colaboración entre los mismos.

**Métodos**: Se utilizaron enfoques participativos para identificar los actores implicados en las actividades de los ganaderos y aquellos que podían jugar un papel potencial en el programa de selección del bovino N'Dama en el Senegal. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a 53 ganaderos. **Resultados**: Los resultados ponen en evidencia la influencia de las intervenciones de los actores de la ganadería en la percepción de los ganaderos sobre su implicación potencial en el programa. Esta percepción muestra que el programa ha conseguido suscitar un sentimiento de pertenencia en los ganaderos. **Conclusiones**: El estudio sugiere que la durabilidad de los programas de selección de los sistemas con bajo nivel de insumos de los países en desarrollo puede reforzarse implicando a las partes cuyas acción y legitimidad son reconocidas por los ganaderos.

**Palabras clave**: ganado bovino, mejoramiento genético, conservación de recursos genéticos, raza indígena, análisis de las partes interesadas, Senegal