This study was conducted in the Borana zone, Oromia region, southern Ethiopia, with the aim of analysing the livelihood resilience of pastoralists’ and agro-pastoralists’ to climate change-related risks. A household survey was used to collect quantitative data, whereas qualitative data were collected via focus group discussions, expert group discussions, and personal observations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, and content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The results show that frequent droughts, rising temperatures, and reduced rainfall are the major climate change-induced risks affecting the livelihoods of pastorals and agro-pastorals in the study area. Among the parameters tested, the greatest impacts of climate change-induced risks on pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood systems were recorded for food [100%] and animal feed or pasture [99%], followed by livestock loss [95%], a decline in species dynamics [95%], and agro-pastoral land degradation [95%]. The average climate resilience index score of the Borena zone is found to be 0.328, implying that 32.8% of the respondents are resilient, with 0.163 [16.3%] pastoralists and 0.417 [41.7%] agro-pastoralists being resilient. However, all the results are below the scale of the minimum threshold [0.5 or 50%], implying that livelihoods and their households are poorly resilient. For the low resilience in Borena, limited access to basic services [0.26] and the adaptive capacity [0.29] of the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists contributed the highest share for resilience capacity compared to other major building blocks of resilience. However, of the two livelihood systems, pastoralists were found to have less resilience [0.249] compared to agro-pastoralists [0.407]. Besides the climatic factors, the resilience of pastoralists’ and agro-pastoralists’ livelihoods was affected positively and significantly by adaptive capacity and negatively and with statistical significance by the asset endowments of the households at P < 0.05. Therefore, policymakers should give pertinent attention to the reduction of the effects of climatic risks and increase the resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood systems. Furthermore, actions that focus on increasing access to water, improving the rangeland generative capacity, diversifying the income sources, and providing timely and accurate early warning information are indispensable to building resilient livelihoods among the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities.

Ethnoveterinary medicine is part of indigenous knowledge that has been used for many centuries in the world, particularly in developing countries. Owing to its history and wider utility in our society, a survey on ethnoveterinary practice was undertaken between October 2018 and December 2019, to assess and document this traditional practice in the treatment of livestock ailments in the Dawuro zone. Data on the type of herbs/shrubs and other non-plant consumables or materials were gathered from purposively selected 81 informants using a semi-structured questionnaire. Focus group discussions, participant observations, and field trips were also made. Data obtained from the questionnaire survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics and quantitative ethnobotanical methods. Samples of plants claimed to have medicinal value were collected and botanically identified. The study revealed that 92 plant species belonging to 44 families were in use. The family Asteraceae was the most frequently reported species (11.4%). Herbs (31.7%) were the main source of traditional prepared medicine followed by shrubs (31.5%). The leaves (40.5%) and roots (34.5%) were more commonly utilized parts of plants while pounding (78.8%) was the major formulation. Among the non-plant materials, bear faeces, sharp hot iron or wire/knife, and common salt showed the highest utility level (100%). Azadirachta indica was the most preferred species to treat blackleg and also with the highest use value (UVs=0.36). The study revealed that the local communities of the study areas were rich in indigenous knowledge of ethnoveterinary practices. Thus, a strong protective policy is needed to safeguard the plant species; and develop regulations in the applications of ethnoveterinary knowledge. Moreover, bioactive validation of plant chemical content, along with testing for efficacy and safety would be part of indispensable technicalities for rational utility in the future.

To determine the prevalence of lungworm, Dictyocacaulus arnifieldi and identify risk factors associated with occurrence of diseases in equines in and around Ambo town, in Oromia region, Ethiopia. Equine lungworm, Dictyocacaulus arnifieldi is a parasitic disease that affects horses, donkeys and mules, is widespread in study area. The infection is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated pasture which contains infective stage larvae of Dictyocacaulus arnifieldi. To-date, effective control program still remains to be a reality and needs to be strengthened. Purposive sampling technique was used to select study animals and performed using modified Berman technique in Ambo University veterinary laboratory technology. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression used to analyze using STATA statistical software version 9. From the total 384 equines (donkeys, n= 313, mules, n= 29, and horses, n= 42) the positive animal was 77 resulting the overall prevalence 20.1% equine lungworm. There is significance difference between Kebele (small admistrative unit), age, body condition and seasons of the study period (p<0.05). The study suggests that the community of the study area was highly affected lungworm infection, Dictyocacaulus arnifieldi. Therefore, awareness should be created to the owners regarding the management system of equine was recommended.

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