ILCA has been conducting a long-term study on livestock production in central Mali since the beginning of 1976. This report presents results based on data collected over a 6-year period from 1978 to mid-1984. In part I the livestock production systems in the zone, management practices and herd and flock demography are described. Cattle and small ruminant productivity is discussed in detail in parts II and III and recommendations based on the results of the studies are given in part IV.

Agro-ecological zones of sub-Saharan Africa; ILCA in Africa; Important mile-stones in ILCA's history; Origins and mandate; The proposed shape of the Centre; Location of the Centre; Task forces and their reports; The early years: focus on systems descriptions; Systems research; Agro-ecological zones; Zonal research programmes; Studies in the highlands; Studies in the humid zone; Studies in the subhumid zone; Studies in the semi-arid zone; Monitoring development projects; Complementary studies; Training and information; First quinquennial review of ILCA; Systems description and component research: ILCA's programme matures; Highlands; Humid zone; Subhumid zone; Semi-arid zone; Ethiopian rangelands; Kenyan rangelands; Central research and support units; Training and information; A new focus to ILCA's research; ILCA's strategy and long-term plan; From strategy to medium-term plan; ILCA's programme, 1987-93; Cattle milk and meat thrust; Small ruminant meat and milk thrust; Animal traction thrust; Animal feed resources thrust; Trypanotolerance thrust; Livestock policy and resource use thrust; ILCA's second medium-term plan, 1994-98; Factors influencing ILCA's second medium-term plan; Developing the programme; ILCA's seven programme themes; MTP reviewed and approved; Moves towards a global livestock research institute; Livestock steering committee; Moves towards a new shape; Benefits for livestock producers world-wide.

Significance of Trypanotolerance as a control option; Trypanotolerant livestock, a sustainable option for increasing livestock production in tsetse-affected areas; Biology of Trypanotolerance; Factors affecting estimation of tsetse challenge and the expression of trypanotolerance; Field research on measurement and use of trypanotolerance criteria to enhance trypanotolerant livestock productivity; Field research on measurement and use of trypanotolerance criteria to enhance trypanotolerant livestock productivity: 1. ILCA's achievements and future plans; Field research on measurement and use of trypanotolerance criteria to enhance trypanotolerant livestock productivity: 2 recent results quantifying trypanotolerance indicators; Genetic improvement of growth parameters in N'Dama cattle in Mali; Characterization and mechanisms of trypanotolerance in Baoule cattle; Antibody responses to the surface-exposed epitoses of the trypanosome variable surface glycoprotein in N'Dama and Boran cattle; Antibody responses to invariant antigens of Trypanosoma congolense; CD5+ B lymphocytes in cattle infected with African trypanosomiasis; Comparative bone marrow responses during Trypanosoma congolense infection in N'Dama and Boran cattle; Markers for mapping trypanotolerance genes; The Orma Boran - ten years of field observations; Variation in susceptibility to tsetse-borne trypanosomiasis among Bos indicus cattle breeds in East Africa; Variations in susceptibility to the effects of trypanosomiasis in East African zebu cattle; Adoption, utilization and impact of Trypanotolerance; Promotion of N'Dama stockbreeding and extension activities in village herds in the Yanfolila area of Mali; The economics of trypanotolerant cattle production in regions of origin and areas of introduction; Cattle breed preferences and breeding practices in southern Nigeria; Salvaging the image of the N'Dama breed: productivity evidence from village production systems in The Gambia; Ecological, social and economic impacts of trypanotolerance: collaborative research in Central and West Africa; Conservation, preservation, enhancement and propagation; Characterization, conservation and utilization of indigenous African animal genetic resources - ILCA's proposed program; Progress in molecular and genetic characterization of cattle populations, with emphasis of African breeds; Multiplication of improved trypanotolerant livestock; Programme for conservation of domestic animal diversity: a food and agriculture organization contribution to conserving animal genetic resources; Breeding biotechnologies.