Decisions of cattle herdsmen in Burkina Faso and optimal foraging models

TitleDecisions of cattle herdsmen in Burkina Faso and optimal foraging models
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1989
AuthorsDeBoer, WF, Prins, HHT
JournalHuman Ecology
Volume17
Issue4
Pagination445-464
Date PublishedDecember 1989
LanguageEnglish
Keywordsgrazing; herd movement; optimal foraging; pastoralism, sedentary husbandry; West Africa
Abstract

Models of optimal foraging theory are used to evaluate the decisions of a sedentary herdsman and his family in Burkina Faso concerning the movement of his cattle from pasture to pasture. Generally, such models describe exploitation at the patch level, but are inadequate at higher levels. The herdsmen in the study area are generally sedentary, and their strategy of exploitation appears to be characterized by planning at least in terms of a whole day and minimizing daily travel time among fields. In conjuction with this conclusion a modified optimization model is proposed. We conclude that optimal foraging models are useful in interpreting and understanding the rules governing the movements of traditional West African herdsmen when so modified, but that more data are needed to develop and test these models further. (author)

DOI10.1007/BF00889500
ISSN

0300-7839; 1572-9915

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