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

While animal health constraints have been identified as a major limiting factor in smallholder pig production in Uganda, researchers and policy makers lack information on the relative incidence of diseases and their impacts on pig production. This study aimed to assess animal health and management p...

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Main Authors: Dione, Michel M., Ouma, Emily A., Roesel, Kristina, Kungu, J., Lule, Peter M., Pezo, Danilo A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/51612
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author Dione, Michel M.
Ouma, Emily A.
Roesel, Kristina
Kungu, J.
Lule, Peter M.
Pezo, Danilo A.
author_browse Dione, Michel M.
Kungu, J.
Lule, Peter M.
Ouma, Emily A.
Pezo, Danilo A.
Roesel, Kristina
author_facet Dione, Michel M.
Ouma, Emily A.
Roesel, Kristina
Kungu, J.
Lule, Peter M.
Pezo, Danilo A.
author_sort Dione, Michel M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description While animal health constraints have been identified as a major limiting factor in smallholder pig production in Uganda, researchers and policy makers lack information on the relative incidence of diseases and their impacts on pig production. This study aimed to assess animal health and management practices, constraints and opportunities for intervention in smallholder pig value chains in three high poverty districts of Uganda. Semi-qualitative interview checklists through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were administered to 340 pig farmers in 35 villages in Masaka, Kamuli and Mukono districts. Quantitative data was obtained during the exercise through group consensus. Results of FGDs were further triangulated with secondary data and information obtained from key informant interviews. Findings show that pig keeping systems are dominated by tethering and scavenging in rural areas. In peri-urban and urban areas, intensive production systems are more practiced, with pigs confined in pens. The main constraints identified by farmers include high disease burden such as African swine fever (ASF) and parasites, poor housing and feeding practices, poor veterinary services, ineffective drugs and a general lack of knowledge on piggery management. According to farmers, ASF is the primary cause of pig mortality with epidemics occurring mainly during the dry season. Worms and ectoparasites namely; mange, lice and flies are endemic leading to stunted growth which reduces the market value of pigs. Diarrhoea and malnutrition are common in piglets. Ninety-three percent of farmers say they practice deworming, 37% practice ectoparasite spraying and 77% castrate their boars. Indigenous curative treatments include the application of human urine and concoctions of local herbs for ASF control and use of old engine oil or tobacco extracts to control ectoparasites. There is a need for better technical services to assist farmers with these problems.
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spelling CGSpace516122025-03-19T13:11:00Z Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda Dione, Michel M. Ouma, Emily A. Roesel, Kristina Kungu, J. Lule, Peter M. Pezo, Danilo A. animal diseases animal health While animal health constraints have been identified as a major limiting factor in smallholder pig production in Uganda, researchers and policy makers lack information on the relative incidence of diseases and their impacts on pig production. This study aimed to assess animal health and management practices, constraints and opportunities for intervention in smallholder pig value chains in three high poverty districts of Uganda. Semi-qualitative interview checklists through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were administered to 340 pig farmers in 35 villages in Masaka, Kamuli and Mukono districts. Quantitative data was obtained during the exercise through group consensus. Results of FGDs were further triangulated with secondary data and information obtained from key informant interviews. Findings show that pig keeping systems are dominated by tethering and scavenging in rural areas. In peri-urban and urban areas, intensive production systems are more practiced, with pigs confined in pens. The main constraints identified by farmers include high disease burden such as African swine fever (ASF) and parasites, poor housing and feeding practices, poor veterinary services, ineffective drugs and a general lack of knowledge on piggery management. According to farmers, ASF is the primary cause of pig mortality with epidemics occurring mainly during the dry season. Worms and ectoparasites namely; mange, lice and flies are endemic leading to stunted growth which reduces the market value of pigs. Diarrhoea and malnutrition are common in piglets. Ninety-three percent of farmers say they practice deworming, 37% practice ectoparasite spraying and 77% castrate their boars. Indigenous curative treatments include the application of human urine and concoctions of local herbs for ASF control and use of old engine oil or tobacco extracts to control ectoparasites. There is a need for better technical services to assist farmers with these problems. 2014-12-01 2014-11-24T08:19:01Z 2014-11-24T08:19:01Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/51612 en Limited Access Elsevier Dione, M.M., Ouma, E.A., Roesel, K., Kungu, J., Lule, P. and Pezo, D. 2014. Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 117(3-4):565-576.
spellingShingle animal diseases
animal health
Dione, Michel M.
Ouma, Emily A.
Roesel, Kristina
Kungu, J.
Lule, Peter M.
Pezo, Danilo A.
Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda
title Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda
title_full Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda
title_fullStr Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda
title_short Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in Uganda
title_sort participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in uganda
topic animal diseases
animal health
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/51612
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