A questionnaire survey on diseases and problems affecting sheep and goats in communal farming regions of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Abstract

A questionnaire of 15 questions was completed by four categories of respondents with the aim of establishing the experience and opinions of these groups on the constraints including animal health problems for communal, small-scale sheep and goat farming in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The questionnaires were completed independently and categories were representative of the areas investigated. Analysis of responses was done by means, ranges, votes and clusters of responses. Comparisons between the responses of the four categories were made to identify similarities or contrasts. The results revealed that of non-veterinary concerns, stock theft was the major problem for these farms. Nutrition was a further major constraint. A third area of significant concern was the provision or availability of facilities like fences, water troughs, dips and sheds. Lack of marketing and business skills were also seen as important deficiencies to be rectified so as to promote profitable farming. Of the most important veterinary problems identified, the provision, availability, cost and care of drugs and vaccines were seen as major stumbling blocks to effective disease control, as well as lack of access to veterinary services. The most important diseases that constrain small-ruminant livestock farming in the farming systems investigated were sheep scab and other ectoparasites, heart water, enterotoxaemia, internal parasites and bluetongue. A lack of knowledge in key areas of small-stock farming was revealed and should be rectified by an effective training and support programme to improve the contribution of small-ruminant farming to livelihoods in these communities.

Access to Veterinary Drugs in Sub-Saharan Africa: Roadblocks and Current Solutions

“…Various papers underline how limited access to veterinary services is a major problem for livestock producers in sub-Saharan countries: see the issues of the OIE review dedicated to Veterinary institutions in the developing world: current status and future needs with a special focus on SSA countries in 2004 and the issue Good governance and financing of efficient veterinary services in 2012; as well as the recent review of Abakar et al ( 32 ) on the status of veterinary services in the Sahel over the last 20 years. Other studies focus on a specific country or group of countries such as Kenya and Uganda ( 47 – 50 ), Tanzania ( 51 ), Central Africa ( 52 ), South Africa ( 53 , 54 ), or Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia ( 55 ).…”

Production Characteristics and Management Practices of Indigenous Tswana Sheep in Southern Districts of Botswana

“…A structured questionnaire and visual observations were used to investigate and collect information on the production and management systems applied to indigenous Tswana sheep from a total of 105 households in the four districts of southern Botswana namely; Kgatleng ( n = 30), Kweneng ( n = 27), southern ( n = 24) and south–east ( n = 24). The questionnaire was a slightly modified version of those designed and recommended for livestock breed surveys in Africa [ 11 , 12 ]. The questionnaire included socio-economic parameters (demographic) (e.g., gender, age, marital status and education level of indigenous Tswana sheep farmers), breeding management and methods of watering sheep, feeds and feeding management of the sheep, selection criteria and major production systems of each respondent in each district.…”

Socio-Economic Characteristics and Present Scenario of Sheep Farmers at Sherpur District In Bangladesh

“…Hossain et al, (2018) found that lack of technical knowledge and training, pasture land and high cost of vitamin mineral supplementation of selected farmers in their studied areas. Bath et al (2016) showed that average lack of information for famers, lack of training and lack of expert assistance were 9.70, 9.20 and 8.80, respectively.…”