Livestock Policy Research Articles

Traditional uses of dispersed trees in the pastures of the mountainous region of Tabasco, Mexico

The rapid deforestation in the state of Tabasco due to extensive livestock farming has resulted in the decrease of the original forest cover. Only 4% of the original vegetation remains and that vegetation is concentrated in the mountainous regions of the state. This destructive process continues due to support by the current government livestock policies. Under these circumstances, the traditional silvopastoral systems of dispersed trees can present an option for reversing and mitigating deforestation practices. The objective of this study was to generate information on the tree species common to silvopastoral systems of dispersed trees in the pastures for two mountainous areas in Tabasco. In the study, 64 tree species, representing 26 plant families were identified. All species were characterized as multipurpose, with at least three reported uses and a maximum of seven for each species. In total, nine categories of local uses were identified for the trees. The main category of use was fuel (firewood), followed by timber and shade for the livestock. Although leguminous species (Fabaceae) were dominant, these species were utilized for uses other than the provision of fodder. Since 12 of the total species identified were recognized as sources of food for animals; the assumption that livestock farmers do not recognize the utility of these species for improving production yields is apparent. The results suggest that there is potential need to expand research and offer further education on the subject in Tabasco.

Determination of Farmers Opinions about the Affects of Livestock Policies on Dairy Cattle Farms: Sample of Izmir Province


 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 Hayvancılık  sektöründe uygulanan politikaların etkileri özellikle büyükbaş faaliyet alanında
 üretim periyodunun uzun olması nedeniyle ayrı önem taşımaktadır. Bu
 araştırmanın üç ana amacı bulunmaktadır. İlki son dönemde uygulanan destekleme
 politikalarının süt sığırcılığı işletmeleri üzerinde yarattığı etkilerin
 üretici görüşleri dikkate alınarak ortaya konması, ikincisi üreticilerin
 uygulanan politikalardan genel olarak memnuniyet durumunun belirlenmesi,
 üçüncüsü ise, işletme ve üreticiye yönelik hangi faktörlerin memnuniyet
 durumunda etkili olduğunun ortaya konmasıdır. Araştırma İzmir ilinde yürütülmüş
 95 üretici ile yüz yüze görüşme yapılmıştır. Üreticilerin politikalardan
 memnuniyet durumu tespit edilirken, multinomial logit regresyon modelinden
 yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda üreticilerin öncelikle ithalat
 politikalarından olumsuz etkilendiği, genel olarak yeni yatırım planları
 olmadığı, kredi kullanımlarının arttığı, ancak desteklemeler olmasa da genelde
 süt sığırcılığına devam edecekleri belirlenen sonuçlar arasındadır. Destekleme
 politikalarından memnun olanlarla olmayanların oranı eşitken, multinomial logit
 regresyon sonucuna göre,  işletmecinin
 aile birey sayısı, toplam gelir içinde süt sığırcılığının payı, işletmecinin
 yeni yatırım planlayıp/planlamama durumu, 
 işletme ölçeği (sağmal sayısı), işletmecinin tarım programlarını TV ve
 radyodan takip etmesinin destekleme politikasına yönelik görüşlerde etkili
 olduğu dikkati çekmektedir.

Divergent responses of sympatric species to livestock encroachment at fine spatiotemporal scales

Livestock are a major human-induced threat to wildlife worldwide, especially in forest landscapes where livestock degrade the food and habitat of forest-dwelling wildlife. However, few empirical studies on this topic have been conducted at fine spatiotemporal scales that are crucial for wildlife-livestock interactions, in particular those involving multiple sympatric wildlife species under policy changes. Here, we demonstrate wildlife-livestock interactions through examining the interactions of several sympatric, threatened wildlife species with livestock in Wolong Nature Reserve, China, using data collected from infrared camera traps, DNA analysis of panda fecal samples and panda distribution predictive modeling along with habitat predictors. Camera trapping revealed an increase in livestock after the government implemented an incentive policy to encourage livestock production midway through the study. Three species (giant panda, red panda, and golden snub-nosed monkey) were displaced as more livestock encroached on forest habitat. In contrast, the detection rate of sambar deer was not affected by livestock encroachment, but sambar shifted the timing of visiting water sources (streams) to dusk (when livestock disturbance and other human activities were lower). The number of giant pandas detected via DNA testing of feces was relatively stable, but panda distribution modeling showed that pandas occurred across a wider area after disturbance. Our research shows that with increased livestock, different wildlife species may respond in different ways, which is likely associated with their biological traits (e.g., life history strategy and diet). Our study underscores the need for careful livestock policy making and planning.

Economics of Crop Cultivation in Himachal Pradesh: Facts from Cost of Cultivation Data

Agricultural economy plays a significant role in the rural livelihood of Himachal Pradesh as about 90 per cent the population of the state resides in rural areas (highest in country in terms of (percentages) and nearly 70 per cent of the working population directly or indirectly depends on it to eke out its livelihood. Keeping in view the preponderance of agriculture in the state economy, the present study also provide a detailed economic analysis of costs, returns and profitability of principal crops namely, Maize, Paddy, Wheat and Potato by using the cost of cultivation data for the period 2012–13 through different cost concepts developed by the CACP. The result shows that different crop systems studied in this research vary with the magnitude of inputs (land, labor, bullock labor, seed etc.) and crop output. The study highlights that family labour has predominant role in the accomplishment of various crop operations. In respect of net returns and profitability, only paddy and potato crops are bearing positive returns over cost C and in terms of net profit per quintal, all crops are bearing profits though it is too low. The production of these crops are not viable at least from farmers ’point of view. In order to make agriculture a viable and sustainable occupation, an integrated development strategy encompassing effective modern extension services, transfer of production technology & technical know-how to the farmers, use of modern inputs (certified seeds, balanced fertilizer (N+ P +K), insecticides & pesticides, improved agricultural implements and machinery), access to institutional credit, development of adequate storage and warehousing facilities, watershed management, livestock policy, linking of MSP to the costs of cultivation, creation of irrigation potential and its optimum utilization is of primary importance.

Mainstreaming Micro-Insurance Schemes: Role of Insurance Companies in Nepal

<p>Micro-insurance refers to the relatively short term insurances meant for health, accident, crop and livestock policies. The beneficiaries are the rural people who are mostly involved in agriculture which is subject to different external shocks. Along with agro insurance, the regulator is also encouraging insurance companies to insure micro enterprises such as water mills, tea shops, rickshaws and vending carts. The poor households currently need to incur huge amounts of health expenses which are over and above their current income(s) and savings and therefore, need to resort to multiple sources of financing, of which a major source is borrowing. At present, there are 25 registered insurance companies in Nepal. Of these, 8 are private commercial life insurers, 16 are private commercial non-life insurers and 1 is composite insurer. There is no scientific calculation of the crop’s yield and of livestock, which will create ambiguity in the valuation of the property being insured. </p><p><strong>Economic Literature,</strong> Vol. XI (40-46), June 2013 </p>

Proper hygiene and effective management of livestock as a panacea for agricultural development and increase in Nigeria's gross domestic product (GDP): a review.

Abstract Increased livestock production and better food security will naturally follow from proper livestock management practices. Such management practices include the application of appropriate vaccination schedule, biosecurity, feeding regimen, and implementation and sustenance of improved and feasible livestock policies. In meat production, the abattoir needs to be well equipped for antemortem and postmortem procedures, hygienic processing of carcasses, and packaging, to improve the quality and quantity of meat and meat products. In Nigeria, about 90% of the livestock industry (cattle, sheep and goats) is managed extensively (nomadic management system) or semi-intensively (animals are taken out to graze and are brought home with little or no provision at home). These systems are greatly affected by insufficient grazing reserves, lack of cattle routes, and consequently, by conflicts between the livestock farmers and crop farmers due to invasion of livestock into farms during grazing. During the dry season, livestock animals tend to become emaciated due to insufficient food, which leads to health depreciation due to declined immune status, and decline in meat production and reproduction rate. Diseases possess a great challenge to meat and egg production due to illiteracy and lack of resources for proper management of livestock. In the poultry industry, where most of the meat is produced, typically no or only some biosecurity procedures are in place at the commercial farms. The backyard local poultry are kept without any form of care; they tend to scavenge for their food and are prone to all forms of diseases, parasites and predators. The hygienic status and carcass preparation at Nigeria's abattoirs is very poor, which affects the meat industry. In general, livestock production in the country is greatly affected by poor management practices, diseases and poor meat processing strategies, which leads to the production of low-quality meat that can easily decompose, and the spread of food-borne and zoonotic diseases. Livestock policies in the country have not produced the desired economic growth due to their inadequate implementation. Also, the oil boom era relegated agriculture to the background from being the major part of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). There is need for new strategies and proper implementation of livestock policies - it is recommended to encourage stakeholders to participate and to diversify the industry into manufacturing and not just production. This study was carried out in order to assess state of livestock production, management systems including assessment of livestock policies, and challenges faced by this industry in Nigeria, and to identify the way forward for better livestock production and subsequent increase in the nation's GDP.

Participatory Evaluation of the Relative Livestock Populations and the Assessment of the Status and Impacts of Newcastle Disease in Rural Communities of Two Northeastern States, Nigeria

Livestock is an important component of food security in many developing nations. However, animal diseases continue to undermine animal production and public health efforts thus widening poverty gap. Unfortunately, the conventional and what seems to be inefficient “top to bottom” disease surveillance and control policies are heavily relied upon such that negative impacts of diseases are underestimated. Participatory disease surveillance (PDS) techniques using semi-structured questioning assisted by key informants targeting focus groups were employed in 60 randomly selected villages of two Nigerian States during the years 2012 to 2014. Haemagglutination and ELISA tests to detect antibodies to Newcastle disease (ND) were conducted on 950 poultry sera. The status and economic burden of Newcastle disease and the relative livestock populations and some ethno-veterinary practices of these livestock farming communities were brought to the fore. Poultry, goats, cattle, sheep and pigs in descending order were the major livestock species kept in the study areas to which Kendalls Coefficient of Concordance (W = 0.9) agreed strongly. Accordingly, ND, lousiness, fowl pox and coccidiosis with percentage scores of ND-52%, Fowl Pox-31%, lousiness-17% and Salmonellosis-10% were important causes of poultry morbidity and mortality. ND sero-prevalence was 39%, relative morbidity; mortality and case fatality rates of 95%, 78% and 82% respectively were appraised. Again ND, coccidiosis, ectoparasitism and fowl pox were reported as seasonal poultry diseases (W = 0.6). Solanum nodiflorum and Momordica balsalmina were used to treat ND. Major livestock kept, and the ND status and effects in poultry in these livestock farming communities are here reported. Institutionalization of PDS would better inform strategic livestock policy reforms, and improve national food security and diseases surveillance and reporting system in Nigeria.

From the Editors: Communicating animal science to the public, policymakers, and students

This issue of Animal Frontiers, “Communicating the Animal Sciences Effectively,” focuses on the challenges associated with how best to communicate animal science information with policymakers, the public, and students. Communicating effectively with these stakeholder groups is critical to the future of the livestock and poultry industries. In addition, the general public gets most of its information related to food systems from the internet, family, or friends, and these sources often contain inaccurate information. It is not surprising, then, that communication about the production of meat, milk, and eggs has become increasingly difficult. The article by Johnson and Hamernik (2015) explores the reasons effective communication is important for how the public makes informed decisions. Scientists often try to educate the public with the hope that a better understanding of scientific and technical facts will enable the public to view controversial issues from the same perspective as a scientist. However, the public is also interested in the social, ethical, and economic aspects of issues. Effective communication on issues related to the management of livestock and poultry will require a commitment to building trust, shared values, ethics, and credible expertise. Glenn et al. (2015) describe the importance of sound agricultural and livestock policies in the United States to allow opportunities for animal science research, education, and extension activities that will be necessary to meet the growing demand for animal-sourced foods. Although most American politicians do not understand science, the unified voice of thousands of animal scientists as advocates for federal funding for animal science research or research friendly policies and regulations can have a tremendous, positive impact on elected officials. Federal policies and regulations in the United States are made based on emotions, trust, scientific facts, and clear and concise communication. Fraser (2015) provides a historical perspective of how science influenced Canadian policy for the welfare of farm animals. Development of national, science-based standards for farm animal welfare in Canada resulted from the timely actions of a number of stakeholder groups, including livestock producers, national producer organizations, retailers, and scientists. Each of these groups provided trusted individuals to participate in conversations and engage in debates on controversial issues associated with the welfare of farm animals. Social media, the internet, and conversations with the public and policymakers can be used to provide more information about the production of meat, milk, and eggs. This information can enhance a stakeholder’s ability to make informed decisions and to refute misinformed communications

Overview of the perceived risk of transboundary pig diseases in South Africa.

Pig production is one of the most important animal agricultural activities in South Africa, and plays a definite role in providing food security for certain population groups in the country. As with all animal production systems, it is subject to the risk of outbreak of transboundary diseases. In the present overview, evaluations of the perceived risk of selected transboundary animal diseases of pigs, as collated from the willing participants from the provincial veterinary services of South Africa, are presented. A scenario tree revealed that infected but undetected pigs were the greatest perceived threat. The provincial veterinary services, according to participants in the study, face certain difficulties, including the reporting of disease and the flow of disease information amongst farmers. Perceived strengths in surveillance and disease monitoring include the swiftness of sample despatch to the national testing laboratory, as well as the ease of flow of information between the provincial and national agricultural authorities. The four factors were identified that were perceived to most influence animal health-service delivery: transport, access, livestock policy and resources. African swine fever was perceived to be the most important pig disease in South Africa. Because the decentralisation of veterinary services in South Africa was identified as a potential weakness, it is recommended that national and provincial veterinary services need to work together and interdependently to achieve centrally controlled surveillance systems. Regionally-coordinated surveillance activities for certain transboundary diseases were identified as needing priority for the southern African region. It is proposed that an emergency preparedness document be made available and regularly revised according to the potential risks identified on a continuous basis for South Africa.

Shift in herders’ territorialities from regional to local scale: the political ecology of pastoral herding in western Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, livestock sedentarization programmes are still at the top of policy makers’ agendas and at the heart of their discourse, despite huge changes in land cover, land use and territorialities in rural areas. This paper contributes to the literature on the impact of livestock policies targeting the sedentarization of pastoralism in sub-Saharan Africa by specifically highlighting the territorial consequences of such policies. This paper suggests that policies directed at improving livestock governance in a context of climate change and changes in land cover and land tenure need to focus on securing pastoralists’ reticular territories, which are made up of corridors and numerous areas of pastureland, rather than on creating disconnected state ranches.

National Livestock Policy of Nepal: Needs and Opportunities

This paper describes Nepal’s national livestock policies and considers how they can be improved to help meet the pressing national challenges of economic development, equity, poverty alleviation, gender mainstreaming, inclusion of marginalized and underprivileged communities, and climate vulnerability. Nepal is in the process of transforming its government from a unitary system to a federal democratic structure through the new constitution expected by 2015, offering the opportunity to bring a new set of priorities and stakeholders to policymaking. Nepal’s livestock subsector comes most directly within the purview of the National Agricultural Policy 2004, Agro-Business Policy, 2006 and Agricultural Sectoral Operating Policies of the Approach Paper to 13th Plan, 2012/13–2015/16 policy instruments. We systematically review these and other livestock-related national policies through analysis of their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT). We conclude with the need to formulate a separate, integrated national livestock policy so that Nepal can sustainably increase livestock productivity and achieve diversification, commercialization and competitiveness of the livestock subsector within the changing national and international contexts.

Smallholder farmers' attitudes toward the provision of drinking water for dairy cows in Kagera, Tanzania.

Agriculture's large share of Tanzanian GDP and the large percentage of rural poor engaged in the sector make it a focus for many development projects that see it as an area of attention for reducing rural poverty. This paper uses a case of the Kamachumu community, where a dairy cow loan project was implemented using the heifer-in-trust (HIT) model. This study finds that productivity is limited by how the cows are being managed, particularly with many animals not having ad lib access to drinking water. The paper explores reasons why farmers do or do not provide their cows with unlimited access to drinking water. The study concludes that there are many barriers farmers face, including water accessibility, education and training, infrastructure, simple negligence, and security. These results suggest an increase in extension services and national and local livestock policies that consider the specific realities of small-scale dairy farmers.

Policy analysis and advocacy for livestock-based development: The gap between household-level analysis and higher-level models

The dichotomy in approaches to policy analysis for developing countries’ livestock sectors is presented. Substantial experience and information generated from a large number of household-level studies is not being utilised by macro- and aggregate models which fail to recognise heterogeneity, dynamics and fundamental drivers of change in livestock systems. Household-level studies are not standardised and rarely identify and characterise key drivers and mechanisms for exploiting heterogeneity in policy analysis. The paper provides an overview of a set of six papers contained in a special edition which define and address this gap in analytical approaches and identify aspects of the way forward. Evidence is presented of inconsistencies and practicalities which emphasise the gap, but all papers present evidence of integrative progress and list opportunities for accelerating it. Constraints on the subject matter are outlined and a challenge to livestock policy analysts is made.

Gender, smallholder livestock production, improvement and conservation in Africa

Policy makers, developmental agents and researchers are now aware of the need to incorporate gender issues in smallholder livestock production planning and development in order to improve livestock productivity in Africa. This discussion attempt to explore the role of gender in smallholder livestock production,genetic improvement and conservation.Strategies to improve livestock production and conservation within the smallholder livestock sector will not be successful unless gender related issues are taken into account.Ownership of different livestock species by men and women in smallholder livestock production sector has been documented, often cattle and larger animals are owned by men, while goat keeping and backyard poultry production are largely women's domains. Therefore, it is assumed that taking cognizance of gender differentials in smallholder livestock production intervention programs will result in effectively implementation of livestockdevelopment programs ensuring more optimal outcomes. The rationale for gender integration in livestock improvement and conservation is driven by the fact that different household members typically hold different livestock responsibilities; they also may have different livestock priorities and livestock production constraints. Gender sensitive livestock policy initiatives such as training women in livestock improvement and conservation in smallholder livestock production sector should be adopted in order to address specific concerns and priorities of women as major stakeholders in livestock production.Gendered asymmetries in access to livestock and services not only do a great disservice to women and men livestock smallholder farmers, but they also stifle the potential for more sustainable and effective actions along a given livestock improvement program. In most cases , where livestock improvement and conservation programs are being carried out, the lack of gender consideration constrains the development of holistic approaches to achieve desirable goals

The potential contribution of Iivestock to food and nutrition security: the application of the One Health approach in livestock policy and practice.

Animal products are critical to the nutrition,food security, livelihoods and resilience of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. Livestock accounts for 40% of worldwide income from agriculture. Demand for animal products is set to continue increasing in the next three decades, as is their market price. If not carefully managed, a worldwide increase in the production of animal-derived products would increase pressure on natural resources (particularly water and land), significantly raising levels of dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the risk of people contracting zoonotic diseases. These realities are informing governments as they encourage the managed intensification of livestock production. They seek to do this in ways that take account of poorer people's contributions to the growth of rural economies. They look for ways to link together work on agricultural productivity, efficient food systems; infrastructure development; access to energy, water and affordable health care; and the sustenance of environmental services (including the mitigation of any further stimuli for changes in the global climate). Managed intensification of livestock production would also require long-term application of a One Health approach with its focus on mitigating health risks at the interfaces between animals and humans in different ecosystems. It will stimulate the joint working of multiple interests in pursuit of a common goal - ending hunger and malnutrition. The authors would like to see the One Health approach being incorporated within all nations' animal, environmental and public health policies and into the educational agendas of medical and veterinary undergraduate students. It must also be incorporated into preparedness, contingency planning, desk-top exercises and on-site simulations to get ready for the next mega disaster - no matter how improbable it might seem.

Issues and concerns in smallholder livestock genetic improvement programs in Africa.

Improvement of smallholder livestock genetic resources is of vital importance to agriculture, food production, rural development and the environment on the African continent. Inconclusive considerable debate on smallholder livestock improvement strategies and utilization of local livestock genetic resources has been going on since the past two decades. This has been necessitated by the realization of the need to reduce poverty and enhance food security and produce more animal products to feed the ever increasing national populations in Africa, which seen more compelling than ever. It has been acknowledged that partly the overall continental increase in livestock productivity can be achieved through appropriate and support of the smallholder livestock improvement programs. It is believed that within the smallholder livestock production systems which is characterized by a generally low input-output system, the sustainability of animal breeding efforts to improve animal productivity becomes a dominant factor. Smallholder livestock improvement is not achieving the expected increase in livestock productivity to meet the growing demand for animal products for several reasons, including poor infrastructure, investment environment, financial resources and lack of local expertise and scientific research in addition to poor livestock support services. There is perceived need for improved livestock production in the smallholder areas, however livestock productivity has remained very low, but indigenous livestock are numerous which makes them attractive as potential tool for poverty reduction and improvement of family food security and livelihoods in smallholder farming in Africa. Changes in the demand for livestock products will be largely be driven by human population growth, income growth and urbanization, however the production response in different livestock production systems to meet this demand will be associated with livestock improvement thrust which take into account the modern science and technology in livestock improvement. This discussion attempts a rapid summary of some issues and concerns perceived important in promoting smallholder livestock improvement programs, in relation to recent and previous outcomes, coupled with a brief assessment of some of the challenges faced in implementation of smallholder livestock improvement programs. Some of the challenges and opportunities such as unfavorable livestock policies, dilapidated infrastructure and limited livestock research and characterization of local livestock populations are highlighted. Genetic improvement of livestock indigenous to Africa for targeted performance characteristics of economic benefit for smallholder farmers is necessary for effective selection for both use in straight breeding and crossbreeding. In future, livestock improvement programs are likely to be increasingly characterized by differences between developed and developing countries, and between highly intensive production systems on the one hand and smallholder livestock production on the other hand. How smallholder livestock improvement programs will be implemented in the coming decades is highly uncertain, however, of the many uncertainties, one seem over-arching. Can future demand for livestock products be met through sustainable intensification of smallholder livestock improvement programs on the African continent? With the right institutional and financial arrangements, government, research institutions and donor agencies support can assist in successful implementation of smallholder livestock improvement programs on the continent, improving the capacity of smallholder livestock resource poor farmers to contribute significantly to individual national economies.

Veterinary medicine's increasing role in global health.

Veterinary medicine's increasing role in global health.

Household-level effects of China's Sloping Land Conversion Program under price and policy shifts

This study examined how agricultural households involved in China's Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP) could respond to expected changes in environmental and livestock policies and changing commodity prices. We calibrated a farm household model using 2009 survey data collected in northeast Gansu Province, China, and examined the responses of four different household groups. Household groups were distinguished based on the resources they possessed for either cropping, livestock husbandry or off-farm employment. We also calculated the opportunity cost of converting sloping land from grain crop production to perennial grass production and included the net value of the replacement crop in these calculations. Our model simulations indicated that subsistence-oriented households were most likely to participate in the SLCP, and that SLCP payment reductions could have large negative income effects for this group. Reductions in SLCP payments increased income inequality among households in the study area. Migration- and cropping-oriented households have fewer incentives to participate in the SLCP. With rising commodity prices, SLCP payments need to rise to avoid that subsistence-oriented households reconvert their land from perennial grasses to annual grain crops. Local government policies related to livestock production are being devised in Gansu as a method to lift incomes, and these policies could also have positive environmental benefits by increasing grass production on sloping land. The introduction of these livestock promotion policies had modest income effects but did not alter the area grown with grasses under the SLCP.

Livelihood strategies and the role of livestock in the processes of adaptation to drought in the Coastal Zone of Western Desert (Egypt)

Analyses of the roles of livestock in household livelihood in the context of global change and the different stresses triggered by such changes are not rare. However, the many changes that threaten the actual functioning of the systems and trigger many uncertainties concerning capacities to adapt to external shocks require new research approaches. In this paper, we explore the links between capital assets, risk perception, measure of income, and livestock adaptation using a typology value based on multiple factorial analyses. We examine the specific role of livestock in the processes of adaptation to a 15-year drought. The study is based on a farm survey of 182 Bedouin families in the Coastal Zone of Western Desert of Egypt in 2011. Our results show that livestock is still a core component of Bedouin society with a significant typology value. However, for Bedouin families located inland, livestock is mainly an economic safety net in the case of drought; whereas for family members who recently moved to town, livestock is a social safety net vis-à-vis the traditional society which enables them to cope with economic hardship and participate in social events. How livestock is managed during drought events and the role of livestock in the process of adapting to drought depends less on the size of the herd before the drought in the rain-fed zone and more on traditional social and official networks. Consequently, limiting the impact of drought in this zone requires paying more attention to the management of collective action, including livestock policies and feed subsidies.

Participatory Methods in the Profiling of Livestock Diseases in the Jos-Plateau, Nigeria

This study was conducted with a view to collecting epidemiological data based on farmers’ understanding of livestock diseases in the rural communities of Plateau State. In typical developing nations, animal diseases seem to pose the greatest challenge to human and animal health and welfare. Unfortunately, most of such nations rely so much on inefficient “top to bottom” disease surveillance and eradication policies, as such, negative impacts of diseases are common. Participatory disease surveillance recognizes farmer opinion for timely disease control. Using various tools of participatory epidemiology, the occurrence of important livestock diseases and indigenous traditional knowledge were investigated. In 2009/2010, livestock diseases profiles and ethno-veterinary practices were evaluated in 90 randomly selected villages in Jos-Plateau. Endemic livestock diseases continued to cause significant economic losses to farmers in the Plateau. Institutionalization of participatory disease surveillance would better inform strategic livestock policy reforms and improve national diseases surveillance and reporting system in Nigeria.