Factors Influencing Livestock Productivity

Lamy, Elsa; Harten, S. van; Sales-Baptista, Elvira; Guerra, Manuela; Almeida, André M.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-29205-7_2

Cited by 69 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…Animal diseases have great impact on food supplies, trade and commerce, and human health globally (Lamy et al, 2012). ASF and parasites are the main constraining diseases for pig production identified by our respondents in Uganda, and the same has been reported in other studies conducted in Africa (Costard et al, 2009;Roepstorff et al, 2011).…”

Section: Disease Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 54%

Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda

Dione

Ouma

Roesel

et al. 2014

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

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Section: Disease Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 54%

Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda

Dione

Ouma

Roesel

et al. 2014

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

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“…Hence, although there are diverse animal feed sources available, namely crop residues, grazing lands and woodlands, their amounts are not sufficient to meet the requirements. Feed shortage, because it significantly and negatively affects animal productivity and production (Lamy et al 2012), should be considered as an important resource-related threat (Pilling 2010) to the sustainable use and conservation of this local animal genetic resource. This threat needs to be appropriately addressed through a combination of improved management of communal grazing lands, enhanced use of crop residues and fodder development interventions.…”

Section: Production System Threats and Opportunities For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The indigenous Somba cattle of the hilly Atacora region in North-West Benin: threats and opportunities for its sustainable use

Dossa

Vanvanhossou

2015

Trop Anim Health Prod

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The objective of this study was to characterize the declining Somba cattle population in its production system context. Two-hundred-twenty-four (224) cattle farm-households were surveyed in the Boukombe district, the natural habitat of the breed in North-West Benin. Information on their socioeconomic characteristics and on their herd management practices were recorded using a semi-structured questionnaire. In addition, 15 body measurements were recorded from 102 adult cattle. Three types of breeders were distinguished: the owners-herders (54.0 %); the absentee owners (40.2 %) and the professional herders (5.8 %). The average cattle herd sizes were 4.7 ± 3.70 and 58.6 ± 22.83 heads for owner-managed and entrusted herds, respectively. Offtakes were more associated with sociocultural purposes (75.5 %) than market. While crop farming was the main occupation and income source of their owners, the Somba cattle were used for ploughing during the rainy season. In contrast to the widely accepted belief that this indigenous genetic resource is mainly threatened by crossbreeding and/or replacement, our findings suggest high mortalities due to diseases, feed and water shortages and poor reproduction management as the main causes of the decline of this cattle population. Somba cattle generally have short horns and a small body size. However, bulls have significantly (P ≤ 0.05) longer horns (21.2 ± 16.44 cm against 13.9 ± 7.21 cm), higher height at withers (99.7 ± 6.97 cm against 95.9 ± 5.76 cm) and body length (149.7 ± 12.87 cm against 146.8 ± 11.01 cm) than cows. All surveyed farmers expressed their willingness and readiness to participate in and contribute materially or financially to any program towards a sustainable use and preservation of this breed which they perceived as hardy and embedded in their culture. We therefore argue that strategies for its sustainable use and conservation should consist of simultaneously improving general herd management practices, organizing farmers and involving them in participatory breed improvement programs.

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“…The economic performance of dairy activity is directly related to the reproductive rates of the herd, and these rates may be affected by several other characteristics, such as the individuals' physiology, genetics, nutrition and general health (LAMY et al, 2012). Reproduction diseases of livestock are multifactorial, widespread throughout the Brazilian herd and caused by both infectious and noninfectious agents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infection by Neospora caninum in dairy cattle belonging to family farmers in the northern region of Brazil

Boas

Pacheco

Melo

et al. 2015

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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Neosporosis is considered a major cause of abortion among cattle worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dairy cattle and correlate them with possible risk factors on 63 small farms (family farms) in the municipality of Ji-Paraná, the main milk-producing region of the state of Rondônia, northern Brazil. For this purpose, 621 serum samples were collected from cows and were evaluated by means of the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The overall herd prevalence of N. caninum antibodies among the farms (38/63; 60.31%) showed that N. caninum are widespread among the dairy herds in this region, despite only infecting a small proportion of animals (66/621, 10.62%). Occurrences of abortion and birth of weak calves were the only variables that showed as risk factors for the presence of N. caninum. The result from the spatial lag model strongly indicated that birth of weak calves and presence of N. caninum are occurring on farms that are located close to each other, indicating aggregation of disease occurrence.Keywords: Neospora caninum, prevalence, family farming, Amazon. ResumoNeosporose é considerada uma das principais causas de aborto em rebanhos bovinos em todo o mundo. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a prevalência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em bovinos de leite e correlacioná-los com possíveis fatores de risco em 63 pequenas propriedades rurais (agricultura familiar), no município de Ji-Paraná, uma das principais regiões produtoras de leite do Estado de Rondônia, norte do Brasil. Para este propósito, 621 amostras de soro foram coletadas de vacas leiteiras e avaliadas por meio da reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI). A prevalência total de propriedades com animais positivos a anticorpos anti-N. caninum (38/63; 60,31%) indica que o parasito está difundido entre os rebanhos leiteiros da região, apesar de infectar uma pequena proporção de animais (66/621; 10,62%). Ocorrência de abortos e nascimento de bezerros fracos foram as únicas variáveis consideradas como fatores de risco para a ocorrência de N. caninum. O resultado do modelo de análise espacial indica que o nascimento de bezerros fracos e a presença de N. caninum estão aparecendo em fazendas localizadas próximas umas das outras, indicando a ocorrência de agregação da doença.

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Factors Influencing Livestock Productivity

Cited by 69 publications

References 105 publications

Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda

Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda

The indigenous Somba cattle of the hilly Atacora region in North-West Benin: threats and opportunities for its sustainable use

Infection by Neospora caninum in dairy cattle belonging to family farmers in the northern region of Brazil

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