Djallonké sheep

The Djallonké sheep, also known by the misnomers West African Dwarf Sheep (WADS) (North American name) and Cameroon sheep or Cameroon Dwarf Sheep (European name), is a sheep with a thin tail reared in the southern part of West Africa up to Central Africa for its meat. It is the main sheep breed in this region and is found under various names. It is relatively resistant to stomach worms and resilient to animal trypanosomes. Although it is acknowledged for its hardiness, tick tolerance, prolificacy and suitability for year-round breeding, its slow growth potential militates its productivity. Because they are smaller and slower growing than most wooled sheep, they are not a good choice for commercial production. However, there is a strong market for their lean and mild-flavoured meat.
Origin and distribution
The breed is native to the Fouta-Djalon region in Guinea, which is why it sometimes bears the name of the Fouta-Djallon sheep and is said to have the (Ovis longipes palaeoaegyptiacus) as its ancestor. His name Djallonké comes from the Fulani language. It has spread in several countries from West Africa to Central Africa: southern Senegal, Guinea, southern Mali, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and north western Angola. Other varieties and sub-races exist in Burkina Faso and Chad. It occurs under the 14th degree of north latitude and along the coastal zone. Its name is very variable from one country to another:
* Guinean sheep, Southern dwarf sheep;
* Maroua sheep, Poulfouli (Cameroon);
* dwarf sheep from Ghana, forest sheep, Ghana Forest (Ghana);
* Kumasi, Dwarf from Nigeria (Nigeria);
* Kirdi or Kirdimi or Massa (Cameroon and Chad).
The Djallonké present in the Sudanian zone is considered to be a separate variety called Djallonké de savane (or Djallonké type Mossi).
Description
It is a small sheep, with a wither height of 40 to 65 cm. Males can reach 25-30 kg. But the females do not exceed 25 kg. The coat is short and the ram has a mane cuff around his neck. The color of the fleece is generally white or pie with the front black and the back white. But it can vary according to the tribes which breed them: red and white pie, brown with a black belly. This breed is also highly tolerant of trypanosome. This breed is thought to go into oestrus throughout the year.
Trypanotolerance
The natural ability of the Djallonke to survive and remain productive under trypanosome challenge with very low mortality and without the aid of trypanocidal drugs is considered to be the most economical and sustainable option for combating African trypanosomiasis. This trypanotolerant trait in mitigating the disease in Africa has recently been reviewed. However, because Djallonke sheep have a relatively small mature body weight between 20-30 kg, farmers often cross-breed them with the larger, but more disease susceptible, 'West African Longlegged sheep (WALLS) (Sahelian sheep)'.
Introduction to Europe and breed recognising
During the colonial era, German and French rulers exported Djallonké to France and Germany. They usually ended up in private collections and zoos. The animals selected for export to Europe were almost all of the black belly color type. The chestnut-colored pattern is not prevalent in the Djallonké, but only one of many. Today these sheep are called Cameroon sheep or Cameroon Dwarf sheep in Europe. And incorrectly regarded as a separate breed. The International Djallonké Specialist Group of the doesn't recognize what Europeans call the Cameroon sheep as a separate breed, but just a color type. It's also not recognized as a separate breed by any European national sheep organisations.
The breed is also popular in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic and the United States of America.
Population status claims
It is often claimed by international zoos and private breeders that this is a rare breed with less than 1000 heads left. This is incorrect. This is partly due to the misnomer in Europe and America. The breed is one of the most popular and widely distributed sheep breed in Africa. The population number for the Djallonké is estimated at 1.8 million (Ghana), 500000 (Guinea), 500000 (Togo) and considerable numbers are found in other Western African countries such as in Benin, Cameroon and Guinea. And the herd located in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo totals 5000 sheep. About half of which are bred on the European color variety with founder animals originating from Belgium.
Cross- and purebred sheep in Europe
Very similar to the Djallonké sheep is the larger Barbados blackbelly sheep polled in both sexes, whose ancestors probably arrived in the Caribbean with slave transports. In the 20th century, many Barbados sheep were brought from Barbados to the UK and mainland Europe. And just like the Djallonké sheep, this breed started to gain popularity. Due to the lack of mutual knowledge among hobbyists and sheep farmers, sometimes Barbados sheep are confused with Cameroon sheep. As a result, there are many crosses of these two breeds in Europe. Many crosses and pure Barbados are offered as Cameroon sheep. And these animals seem too far from the true breed standard. Far too tall and heavy large sheep that are no longer dwarf.
It is striking, for example, that in the region of Ypres in West Flanders in Belgium, in the same region as the Bellewaerde Park, many Cameroon sheep are kept. This is because in the 90s an old caretaker in the park made surplus animals from his breeding program available for enthusiasts. These purebred animals came straight from the European zoo program. Elsewhere in the rest of Belgium, the sheep seem larger. This may be the result of involuntary crossings with Barbados from the Netherlands and France. A similar situation arises around German Animal Parks. Purebred sheep are kept in Zoo Leipzig (Germany), Peak Wildlife Park (UK), Beale Park (UK), Tierpark Stadt Haag (Austria).
The opposite is happening in zoos where because of the misnomers and the erroneous breed recognition of zoos, the international zoo population is small. As a result, limited new blood and poor inbreeding have caused extreme downsizing of the sheep. These extreme dwarf forms in some zoos contrast strongly with the dwarf sheep in Africa.
Crossbreed development
It has been crossed with several other breeds to transmit its tolerance to trypanosomiasis. Thus Vogan's sheep in Togo is a breed resulting from a cross between a Djallonké and a
'West African Longlegged sheep (WALLS) (Sahelian sheep)'.. The Ghana black-headed nangue is a cross with a blackhead Persian. The Pelibüey, sheep breed from South America, descends from the Djallonké.
International studbook
The Flemish Congolese-Belgian philanthropist Jean Kiala manages the international studbook for the breed (International Djallonké Studbook-IDS) through the an African farmyard club. Both North American and European animals can be included in the studbook with an inspection.
Literature
*Fitzhugh und Bradford (eds.): Hairsheep of West Africa and the Americas. A genetic resource for the tropics. 1983
*R.M. Njwe und Y. Manjeli: Milk yield of Cameroon dwarf blackbelly sheep - Production laitière de moutons Djallonké au Cameroun. In: Small ruminant research and development in Africa - Réseau africain de recherche sur les petits ruminants. ILCA Research Report - 2, 1982, X5520/B

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