Traditional methods of harvesting termites used as poultry feed in Burkina Faso

Termites are commonly used by smallholder farmers in West Africa to feed their poultry. A survey was carried out among poultry farmers in Burkina Faso to gather knowledge on the traditional methods used to obtain termites for poultry feed, to assess which termite genera are collected with which techniques and evaluate prospects for optimising and improving the collection and trapping methods. Data were collected among 1100 poultry farmers in eight regions of Burkina Faso on the harvesting techniques, the termite species and their local names as well as on the use of residues. After the interviews, termite samples were collected with the farmers and identified in the laboratory. At least five termite species were found. Species of the genera Odontotermes, Trinervitermes and Macrotermes are commonly given to chickens and guinea fowls whereas a Cubitermes species is sometimes used to feed guinea fowls. Two categories of methods are used to obtain termites, the direct collection by breaking termite mounds and the trapping of termites in containers filled with organic matters. The harvesting method varies with the termite genus, the region and the season. Different techniques with various types of containers and organic matters are used in the country and these techniques should be tested and compared to recommend the most efficient ones. The enhancement of termite trapping methods and their integration in poultry feed have the potential to significantly improve traditional poultry farming in Burkina Faso.