Rangeland degradation and adaptation of livestock farming in the Algerian steppe: the case of Hadj Mechri (Wilaya of Laghouat)

The Algerian steppe used to be one of the most important regions of North Africa where farming was mainly based on rangeland grazing. Since the 70s, it has faced many socio-economic and biophysical changes in part caused by recurring droughts. Ecologists and farmers concur that rangeland forage productivity and surface areas have decreased. Our analysis focuses on production systems and the adaptation of their feeding practices bearing in mind the following question: to what extent does grazing still contribute to animal feed? Our research was conducted in the town of Hadj Mechri (Laghouat Wilaya) in the heart of the Algerian steppe. Our hypothesis was that the livestock in the study area required between a quarter and a third of supplementary feed (including barley grain). Results suggest that in this area (65,270 ha), rangelands can cover the needs of animals 0.33 eq. sheep/ha/yr. As the total number of sheep is 55,940, the stocking rate of the rangeland should be 0.85 eq. sheep/ha/yr. Therefore, to release grazing pressure, farmers implement two strategies and practices: (i) they regularly adjust the size of their herds; and (ii) they provide high levels of supplementation, i.e.