Small-scale Livestock Production Research Articles

Review: Impact of food safety on global trade.

Food safety encompasses the supply and assurance of safe, high-quality food for consumers. It is a crucial aspect of food security, gaining greater global attention due to the increasing number of widespread foodborne incidents. International trade is expanding as countries increasingly rely on each other to secure a sufficient and diverse food supply. Beyond this, concerns about food safety have become more prevalent due to various factors. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the effects of food safety-associated risks on the international trade of food and related products. A total of 37 published studies retrieved using different search engines were included in this review. This review revealed that because of rapid population growth and rising food demand in developing nations, agricultural intensification is growing. It has been found that foodborne illnesses and associated discrepancies can impede the international trade of food commodities. Trade bans due to the fear of foodborne illnesses are growing. The consequences of foodborne diseases are multifaceted and include financial losses from trade restrictions, medical costs for prevention or control, resource depletion and a decline in food production. The overall effects are increased international trade tensions and livelihood vulnerability to poverty, notably for small-scale livestock producers. Potential food contaminants include microbes, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, heavy metals and fraudulent such as improper food processing, mislabelling, poor packaging, adulteration and substitution. Hence, countries are encouraged to harmonize the rights and duties set by the World Trade Organization under sanitary and phytosanitarys to maximize their advantages in global markets. Based on this evidence, we recommend that each country develop and integrate regulations that would ensure the safety of both domestic and international food production systems. Furthermore, the global community should either revise the current functioning food regulatory and monitoring body or establish a more genuine collaborative network.

In vitro nutritional assessment and estimation of methane emissions from Kikuyu grass pastures overseeded with rye

Objective: To determine the in vitro digestibility and gas production, and to estimate the methane emissions from Kikuyu grass pastures, and Kikuyu grass overseeded with rye. Design/methodology/approach: Two pastures were assessed. One was the subtropical grass Kikuyu Cenchrus clandestinus) (KY), and the other was Kikuyu grass plus overseeding with rye (Secale cereale) (KYCEN), both associated with white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Ladino). Sample collection was in June and July 2021. In vitro digestibility of dry matter (MS), organic matter (MO), and Neutral Detergent Fibre (FDN), as well as the methane emissions were estimated. The in vitro digestibility and gas production variables were analysed with a split-plot experimental design, and the methane emission variables were analysed with a doble cross-over design. Results: There were no significant differences between treatments for dry matter (MS), organic matter (MO) or Neutral Detergent Fibre (FDN) in vitro digestibility, nor in methane emissions (P>0.05). Limitations on study/implications: The in vitro assessment of digestibility, gas production and the estimation of methane emissions of Kikuyu grass pastures and Kikuyu plus rye enable the implementation of feeding strategies for small-scale livestock production systems that do not only benefit the farmers but also the environment. Findings/conclusions: It is concluded that Kikuyu grass pastures and Kikuyu with rye are a viable feeding option for small-scale dairy systems.

Analysis of the effect of economic growth and population on the welfare of beef cattle farmers in West Java Province, Indonesia

Businesses quality in the agricultural sector that are involved in the livestock industry are particularly susceptible to negative economic or social effects. Breeders and farmers, particularly those who raise beef cattle will be affected by continues and incidentally price changes or currency exchange rates because these factors have a significant impact on the beef cattle farming industry. The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of a region changes as a result of population expansion. This study's goal was to examine how population growth and economic development affect the welfare of beef cattle breeders in West Java Province, with a particular emphasis on four (four) districts that are important hubs for small-scale livestock production: Subang Regency, Purwakarta Regency, Bogor Regency, and Sukabumi Regency. The quantitative methodology of this study analyzes numerical data modified by statistical techniques and literature review. The macroeconomic variables of population and breeder welfare are the focus of the literature review. The West Java Central Bureau of Statistics, the Office responsible for Animal Husbandry and Health Functions for Subang, Purwakarta, Bogor, and Sukabumi Regencies, as well as data from relevant journals and articles, are all sources of secondary data. Data analysis was conducted applying multiple regression analysis techniques. The study's findings concluded that the wellbeing of breeders in Indonesia's West Java Province was significantly impacted by population expansion and economic development. Keywords: Animal farming economy, beef cattle breeders, welfare, economic growth

Type and frequency of wild pig-domestic livestock contacts and operator concern for disease spread

Abstract Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) can levy substantial costs to domestic livestock operations and global supply chains due to disease introduction. Producers can take defensive action to avert these costs, but the factors influencing these decisions are not well understood. We examined survey data to characterize the type and frequency of contacts between wild pigs and domestic livestock and investigated the determinants of farm operator concern for disease introduction using an ordered logit model. We found that operators with livestock kept in buildings were more concerned about disease than those with livestock kept in fenced areas or that roam free. However, the latter are at greater risk due to more frequent reported contacts with wild pigs. Results indicate that concern is significantly associated with other characteristics of farm operations, such as operation size, perceived change in wild pig populations, and respondent demographics. Developing a better understanding of the factors influencing operator concern for disease spread can contribute to the improved design of prevention policy targeting small-scale livestock producers. This could help ensure the continued safety of livestock supply chains and reduce the risk of disease-related trade restrictions, along with continued support for disease surveillance and monitoring at the national scale, and prolonged control of domestic vectors such as invasive wild pigs, specifically in regions with the most small operations.

A high level estimation of the net economic benefits to small-scale livestock producers arising from animal health product distribution initiatives.

A fundamental challenge for charities that facilitate distribution of animal health products to small-scale livestock producers (SSPs) in low and middle income countries (LMICs) is identifying the products and market mechanisms that provide the greatest positive impact for SSPs and estimating their associated impact. This paper describes a pragmatic approach to modeling the impact of market-led product distribution initiatives based on estimating the net economic benefit of administration of animal health products. The model estimates the economic impact of diseases at the individual animal level for poultry, small ruminants, and cattle. The economic impact of mortality and growth inhibition associated with disease are then estimated in conjunction with the losses averted or recovered by preventing or treating the disease. Economic benefit is estimated in 2014-2017 values and also adjusted to 2023 values. The flexible model structure allows for addition of new geographies, new products, and increased granularity of modeled production systems. Applied to the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) product distribution initiatives conducted in Africa and South Asia (SA) between 2014 and 2017, the model estimates an adjusted total net economic benefit of 139.9 million USD from sales of vaccines and poultry anthelminthics in these initiatives. Within SSA, the greatest net economic benefit was realized from East Coast fever and Newcastle disease vaccines, while in SA, peste des petits ruminants and Newcastle disease vaccines had the greatest net economic benefits. This translated to an adjusted $37.97 of net economic benefit on average per SSP customer, many of whom were small poultry producers. While the model currently estimates impacts from mortality and growth inhibition in livestock, there is the potential to extend it to cover impacts of further initiatives, including interventions targeted at diseases that impact production of milk, eggs, and reproduction.

Problems of the formation of feeding centers in territorial communities

Purpose. To substantiate the scientific and theoretical foundations of the formation of feed centers in the united territorial communities in conditions of limited resources and to solve the problem of providing the population with livestock products. Methods. The dialectical method of scientific cognition, observation, comparison, abstract-logical and statistical-analytical analysis, graphic-illustrative method. Results. The peculiarities of the development of livestock in Ukraine in modern economic conditions are determined. The problems of dairy farming under martial law in Ukraine are characterized. It is established that with a decrease in the number of cows, their productivity increases, both in large farms and in small ones. It has been determined that the level of feed supply in small farms requires improvement of the level of feed supply and the quality of diets. This problem can be solved, according to the experience of developed countries, by forming feed centers on an integrative basis within individual territorial communities. The organizational and structural structure of a feed center within a typical rural territorial community is presented. The algorithm for the formation of a complete mixed diet in a feed center for different types of farm animals is formed. The basic requirements for the organization of complete feeding of highly productive cows are outlined. Conclusions. In the context of the European integration processes of domestic agricultural production, the problem of food supply, the decline of traditional livestock industries, the migration of economically active population, in particular from rural areas, the development of small-scale livestock production is becoming increasingly important. The formation of integration formations based on cooperation will help to solve the problem of providing the population with livestock products, employment of the rural population and socio-economic development of territorial communities.

Effects of pigeon pea leaves and concentrate mixture on feed intake, milk yield, and composition of crossbred dairy cows fed native pasture hay

Protein supplements are expensive and not easily accessible under small-scale livestock production systems in Ethiopia and other developing countries, which necessitates investigating the alternative protein sources for cost-effective livestock production. Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp) leaves (PPLs) are rich in protein and are well-suited for feeding small ruminants; however, the effect of inclusion of PPL in the concentrate mixture (CM) on the performance of dairy cows was not well documented. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of PPL and CM to native pasture hay-based rations on feed intake, milk yield and composition, and blood metabolites of crossbred dairy cows (Holstein × Zebu). A 4 × 4 Latin square design with three replications, balanced for carryover effects, was used for this study. The treatments included native pasture hay provided ad libitum as a basal diet, supplemented with a CM alone (T1), the inclusion of 10% of PPL in the CM (T2), 20% PPL in the CM (T3), or 30% PPL in the CM (T4). Supplements were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Total DM intake (hay + supplement intake) was similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. Hay intake was greater (P = 0.05) for T1 and T2 than for T4, while supplement intake was the least for T1 (P < 0.05). The treatment groups T2, T3, and T4, where PPL was included, had similar (P > 0.05) supplement intake. Feed intake, milk yield and composition, feed conversion efficiency, body condition score, serum total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, triglyceride, urea N, creatinine, and cholesterol were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. The inclusion of up to 30% of PPL in the CM resulted in a comparable performance of crossbred dairy cows as supplementation with CM under the conditions of the current experiment. Therefore, further study is required to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of a higher level of PPL in the concentrate mixture on the performance of lactating crossbred dairy cows.

The joint effects of terrorism and land access on livestock production decisions: Evidence from northern Nigeria

Livestock production is an integral part of the livelihoods of many households around the developing world and plays a significant role in farming households' food and nutrition security. However, conflict is a major challenge for livestock production in Africa and Nigeria in particular. We employ the Living Standards Measurement Study – Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) panel data for Nigeria with a global georeferenced conflict dataset to examine the effect of terrorism on small-scale livestock production and the role of agricultural land access. Terrorism is an important factor that undermines livestock production. We find that increase in the incidents of terrorism reduces cattle herd size but does not reduce the herd size of households that manage a larger area of land. Also, terrorism significantly increases livestock diversification independently and jointly with land access. However, higher fatalities from terrorism reduces herd size irrespective of the size of land managed by households. Our findings suggest a plausible land abandonment in areas where terrorism is severe. Curbing terrorism in Nigeria would ensure farmers have physical access to their land and sustain livestock production.

Does Small-Scale Livestock Production Use a High Technological Level to Survive? Evidence from Dairy Production in Northeast-ern Michoacán, Mexico.

Simple SummarySmall-scale dairy production is a activity in rural areas, as it generates daily income and contributes to food security. In Mexico, from the 1980s, economic policies were promoted that led to the modernisation and concentration of milk production, which caused many small-scale production units to disappear and reduce their contribution to the national supply. Some researchers report that the production units that survived were those that specialised and incorporated a high level of technology. The objective of this work was to identify the technological level and socioeconomic conditions of dairy production units in the northeastern region of Michoacán, Mexico, in order to know the strategies that have allowed them to survive. Through statistical analysis, four groups of farms with different levels of technology were identified. The clusters that predominate in this region use a low level of technology and have low productivity, finding their strengths in the diversification of activities they carry out and the use of family labour. Public policies should be directed, for each cluster, in a differentiated manner, prioritising the strengthening of the aspects that have kept them going in the present, rather than the incorporation of a high technological level in their production units.The objective of this study was to identify the technological level used by dairy farmers in the northeastern region of Michoacán, Mexico, through a characterisation of small-scale dairy production units, as well as to learn about the socioeconomic conditions that have enabled them to survive in the current context. A semi-structured interview was applied to 114 production units, chosen by stratified random sampling. The interview included technological, production and socioeconomic aspects. Twenty-eight variables were initially explored and 12 were used for multivariate analysis, which included Principal Component Analysis, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and K-means Cluster. The characterisation carried out showed that the production units that predominate in northeastern Michoacán have survived with a low technological level, having as strengths the diversification of their activities and the use of family labour. On the contrary, production units with a high technological level and high productivity are few and less diversified. This shows the need to generate differentiated public policies for each cluster, aimed at strengthening the aspects that have allowed them to survive and guaranteeing a market for their production, before promoting the use of technologies.

Effect of cutting height on non-structural carbohydrates, biomass production and mortality rate of pigeon peas

Inadequate nutrition limits small-scale livestock production by smallholder farmers in South Africa but can be addressed by the introduction of woody fodder species. Cutting woody plants to harvest fodder affects their productivity and thus it is necessary to determine the optimum cutting height. Cutting affects the productivity and survival of woody plants because it alters concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates, which are used to support their recovery. Since pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is not widely grown in South Africa and is not managed as a pruned hedgerow, there was a need to investigate the effect of cutting height under local conditions, especially in areas that experience frost. The trial was established in November 2016, ran over two growing seasons (2016/2017 and 2017/2018) and concluded in August 2018. The treatments comprised three silvopastoral systems with Panicum maximum planted between pigeon pea hedgerows that were cut at 60 cm and 90 cm above the ground, or left uncut and sole P. maximum. Over the two year period, the pigeon pea plants cut at 90 cm above ground produced significantly more leaf, twig and total biomass than the plants cut at 60 cm. Cutting height also had a significant effect on the percentage twig, with pigeon pea plants cut at 90 cm having significantly higher percentage twig than those cut at 60 cm (P 0.05). In July 2018 there were a number of days with temperatures below 0 °C. Prior to this no mortalities had been observed, but the frost events resulted in die-off. The mortality rates were determined in August 2018 when it was clear which of the shrubs had clearly died. The shrub mortality rates were higher for pruned relative to unpruned shrubs, but the effect was not significant (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the choice of cutting height is important for maximising browse production. Future research should consider the effect of pruning on non-structural carbohydrate concentration and total pool in the roots to better understand the reasons for reduced production and shrub mortalities.

Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among one-hampered camels (Camelus dromedarius) in AL Butana plain, Sudan

Sudan is the second largest camel populated country in the world. Samples were collected at Great Butana (part of five states) from four sites: two camel markets: Tamboul and Wadnimir (Gezira state) and two Small-scale livestock production (semi-intensive management): Showak (Gadarif state), Girba (Kasala state). Six hundred camels of different breed, gender and age were examined during the three seasons to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis. Hematological method by latex agglutination test was used to examine the venous blood samples. The overall prevalence [180 infected animals (30%)] was higher in the two camels' market additionally, high prevalence was reported in old animals group. Seasonality has no significant variation however, higher prevalence incidence was in autumn. Gender's effect reported high prevalence in females than males. It could be concluded that such results can aid in updating such disease epidemiology. However, further studies are required for better and continual evaluation of such disease occurrence and management.

Are pandemics associated with intensive livestock production?

Covid-19 has awakened the world to the importance of infectious diseases. However, it also affected several people, including researchers, as well as some organizations to blame the pandemic on intensive livestock production. Several factors contribute to the fact that the next pandemic is less likely to come from intensive livestock farming than from wild animals and traditional small-scale livestock production. However, there are also the facts that support the role of intensive production in spreading of diseases. One Health - the interaction between the health of humans, animals and the environment has received a lot of attention. Livestock production plays a role in these interactions, but is not a primary driver for the development of new pandemics.

Invasive cattle ticks in East Africa: morphological and molecular confirmation of the presence of Rhipicephalus microplus in south-eastern Uganda

BackgroundRhipicephalus microplus, an invasive tick species of Asian origin and the main vector of Babesia species, is considered one of the most widespread ectoparasites of livestock. The tick has spread from its native habitats on translocated livestock to large parts of the tropical world, where it has replaced some of the local populations of Rhipicephalus decoloratus ticks. Although the tick was reported in Uganda 70 years ago, it has not been found in any subsequent surveys. This study was carried out to update the national tick species distribution on livestock in Uganda as a basis for tick and tick-borne disease control, with particular reference to R. microplus.MethodsThe study was carried out in Kadungulu, Serere district, south-eastern Uganda, which is dominated by small scale livestock producers. All the ticks collected from 240 cattle from six villages were identified microscopically. Five R. microplus specimens were further processed for phylogenetic analysis and species confirmation.ResultsThe predominant tick species found on cattle was Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (86.9 %; n = 16,509). Other species found were Amblyomma variegatum (7.2 %; n = 1377), Rhipicephalus evertsi (2.3 %; n = 434) and R. microplus (3.6 %; n = 687). Phylogenetic analysis of the 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene sequences of R. microplus confirmed the morphological identification.ConclusionsIt is concluded that R. microplus has replaced R. decoloratus in the sampled villages in Kadungulu sub-county, since the latter was not any longer found in this area. There is currently no livestock movement policy in force in Uganda, which could possibly limit the further spread of R. microplus ticks. Future surveys, but also retrospective surveys of museum specimens, will reveal the extent of distribution of R. microplus in Uganda and also for how long this tick has been present on livestock without being noticed.

Small-Scale Livestock Production in Nepal Is Directly Associated with Children's Increased Intakes of Eggs and Dairy, But Not Meat.

Animal source foods (ASF) provide nutrients essential to child growth and development yet remain infrequently consumed in rural Nepal. Agriculture and nutrition programs aim to increase ASF intake among children through small-scale animal husbandry projects. The relationship between livestock ownership and children’s consumption of ASF, however, is not well established. This study examined associations between livestock ownership and the frequency with which Nepali children consume eggs, dairy, and meat. We analyzed longitudinal 7-day food frequency data from sentinel surveillance sites of the Policy and Science of Health, Agriculture and Nutrition (PoSHAN) study. Data consisted of surveys from 485 Nepali farming households conducted twice per year for two years (a total of 1449 surveys). We used negative binomial regression analysis to examine the association between the number of cattle, poultry, and meat animals (small livestock) owned and children’s weekly dairy, egg, and meat intakes, respectively, adjusting for household expenditure on each food type, mother’s education level, caste/ethnicity, agroecological region, season, and child age and sex. We calculated predicted marginal values based on model estimates. Children consumed dairy 1.4 (95% CI 1.1–2.0), 2.3 (1.7–3.0) and 3.0 (2.1–4.2) more times per week in households owning 1, 2–4 and >4 cattle, respectively, compared to children in households without cattle. Children consumed eggs 2.8 (2.1–3.7) more times per week in households owning 1 or 2 chickens compared to children in households without chickens. Child intake of meat was higher only in households owning more than seven meat animals. Children’s intakes of dairy, eggs, and meat rose with household expenditure on these foods. Small-scale animal production may be an effective strategy for increasing children’s consumption of eggs and dairy, but not meat. Increasing household ability to access ASF via purchasing appears to be an important approach for raising children’s intakes of all three food types.

Spatial and seasonal patterns of FMD primary outbreaks in cattle in Zimbabwe between 1931 and 2016

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is an important livestock disease impacting mainly intensive production systems. In southern Africa, the FMD virus is maintained in wildlife and its control is therefore complicated. However, FMD control is an important task to allow countries access to lucrative foreign meat market and veterinary services implement drastic control measures on livestock populations living in the periphery of protected areas, negatively impacting local small-scale livestock producers. This study investigated FMD primary outbreak data in Zimbabwe from 1931 to 2016 to describe the spatio-temporal distribution of FMD outbreaks and their potential drivers. The results suggest that: (i) FMD outbreaks were not randomly distributed in space across Zimbabwe but are clustered in the Southeast Lowveld (SEL); (ii) the proximity of protected areas with African buffalos was potentially responsible for primary FMD outbreaks in cattle; (iii) rainfall per se was not associated with FMD outbreaks, but seasons impacted the temporal occurrence of FMD outbreaks across regions; (iv) the frequency of FMD outbreaks increased during periods of major socio-economic and political crisis. The differences between the spatial clusters and other areas in Zimbabwe presenting similar buffalo/cattle interfaces but with fewer FMD outbreaks can be interpreted in light of the recent better understanding of wildlife/livestock interactions in these areas. The types of wildlife/livestock interfaces are hypothesized to be the key drivers of contacts between wildlife and livestock, triggering a risk of FMD inter-species spillover. The management of wildlife/livestock interfaces is therefore crucial for the control of FMD in southern Africa.

Access and Use of Veterinary Services by Livestock Farmers in Western Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

This study examined the access and use of veterinary services by small scale livestock farmers in the western agricultural zone of Nasarawa state. Two Local government areas (Karu and Keffi LGAs) were purposively selected from the zone for the study based on their popularity in small scale livestock production. Ten villages were randomly selected from each of the two selected LGAs to give a total of 20 villages. Six (6) livestock farmers were randomly selected from each of the 20 selected villages giving a total of 120 respondents. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule. Data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and a multiple regression model using SPSS software. The results show that the majority (75.2%) of the respondents were male. Their mean age was 35years which implies that the livestock farmers were mostly young people. Their average year of farming experience was 10 years. Half (50%) of them had tertiary education, indicating the enhanced capacity to access and use veterinary services. The major veterinary services adopted by the respondents were treatment of sick animals (93.3%), vaccination (87.2%), castration (65.0%) and Sanitary/Fumigation practices (41%) among others. The regression analysis showed that four variables had a significant effect (1%) on the level of use of veterinary services by the respondents. These were gender (p ≤ 0.417), level of education (p ≤ 0.603), number of extension visits (p ≤ 0.607) and membership of social organisations (p ≤ 0.670). Lack of money to acquire vaccines and drugs (X = 2.3), high cost of veterinary services (X =2.3) and far distance to veterinary centres (X =2.0) were the major constraints to use of veterinary services. It was recommended that extension agents should encourage the farmers to join cooperative groups to enhance easy access to credit to procure veterinary inputs.

Detection and Molecular Identification of Salmonella Virulence Genes in Livestock Production Systems in South Africa.

Livestock are an important source of protein and food for humans, however opportunistic pathogens such as Salmonella spp. turn livestock into vehicles of foodborne diseases. This study investigated the prevalence of virulence genes in Salmonella spp. isolated from livestock production systems in two provinces of South Africa. During the period from May to August, 2018, a total of 361 faecal (189), oral (100), environmental (soil (36) and water (27)) and feed (9) samples were randomly collected from different animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks and chickens) that were housed in small-scale livestock production systems from Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces in South Africa. Salmonella spp. were isolated and identified using microbiological and DNA molecular methods. Salmonella spp. were present in 29.0% of the samples of which 30.2% belonged to the Salmonella enterica species as confirmed by the positive amplification of the species specific iroB gene. Virulence genes that were screened from livestock-associated Salmonella were invA, iroB, spiC, pipD and int1. Statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were established between the virulence genes, sampling location, animal host as well as the season when samples were collected. Furthermore, statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations were observed between most of the virulence genes investigated. This is one of the recent studies to detect and investigate livestock-associated Salmonella spp. in South Africa. This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and surveillance for pathogenic salmonellae. It also demonstrated the detection and prevalence of virulent Salmonella spp. harbored by livestock in South Africa. This study demonstrated the potential risks of pathogenic Salmonella enterica to cause foodborne diseases and zoonotic infections from farm-to-fork continuum using the global one-health approach.

Molecular analysis of human- and pig-derived Ascaris in Honduras.

Ascaris sp. is a soil-transmitted helminth (STH) significantly affecting the health of human and swine populations. Health inequities and poverty, with resulting deficiencies in water, sanitation and hygiene, are directly associated with Ascaris lumbricoides prevalence in humans. Resource constraints also lead to small-scale livestock production under unsanitary conditions. Free-ranging pigs, for instance, are exposed to a number of infectious agents, among which Ascaris suum is one of the most common. Under these conditions, close proximity between people and pigs can result in cross-contamination; that is, pigs harbouring human Ascaris and vice versa. Moreover, the potential interbreeding between these two Ascaris species has been demonstrated. The present study analysed Ascaris worms obtained from children and pigs in Honduras. Adult worms were collected from stool samples of children after pharmacological treatment, and from pigs' intestines after slaughter for commercial purposes at a local abattoir. A nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digested with a restriction enzyme in order to separate putative human- and pig-derived Ascaris isolates. PCR products were also sequenced, and cladograms were constructed. All parasites isolated from children showed the typical human-derived genotype of Ascaris, whereas 91% of parasites from pigs showed the expected pig-derived genotype. Cross-infections between hosts were not demonstrated in this study. Nine per cent of pig-derived worms showed a restriction band pattern highly suggestive of a hybrid human-pig Ascaris genotype. These results contribute to the understanding of ascariasis epidemiology and its zoonotic potential in a highly endemic region.

English

The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of small-scale livestock production systems in some communal areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The parameters surveyed include sex, age, educational and marital status of the farmers, types of livestock raised and production system practiced. The study revealed that mixed crop-livestock production systems were dominant in the study area. Majority of the respondents (72.4%) were male and approximately 59% of the older male farmers were more than 70 years old with the highest mean flock size of 86. A total of 62% of these farmers had basic education and a mean family size of 5.9±3.0. Most of the sheep farmers (70.9%) bought their foundation stock, but 6.5% of them obtained theirs through bride price (lobola). Generally, livestock species owned by the respondents were sheep (71.8%), poultry (12.9%), cattle (7.7%), goats (4.4%), dogs (1.3%), pigs (0.6%) and others (1.3%). Family labour is mostly used for animal management and herding, being done by men (65%) and boys (30%), respectively. The natural veld provides highest feed resource base for the animals and almost all the respondents provide night shelter for their sheep, in the kraal that is adjacent to the main family house. The prevalence of gall sickness was ranked the highest (22.1%) among the diseases and parasites affecting sheep. While 80% of the respondents treated their animals with stock remedies, a very low proportion of them (3.4%) adopts an integrated approach of using commercial drugs and local herbs or call animal health technicians to treat sick animals. Key words: Gall-sickness, herd size, characteristics, sheep farming.

Animal Husbandry Practices and Perceptions of Zoonotic Infectious Disease Risks Among Livestock Keepers in a Rural Parish of Quito, Ecuador.

Small-scale livestock production plays an essential role as a source of income and nutrition for households in low- and middle-income countries, yet these practices can also increase risk of zoonotic infectious diseases, especially among young children. To mitigate this risk, there is a need to better understand how livestock producers perceive and manage risks of disease transmission. Twenty semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with small-scale livestock producers in a semirural parish of Quito, Ecuador. Interviews explored livestock-raising practices, including animal health-care practices and use of antimicrobials, family members' interactions with livestock and other animals, and perceptions of health risk associated with these practices and activities. Interviews were analyzed for common themes. Awareness of zoonotic disease transmission was widespread, yet few study participants considered raising livestock a significant health risk for themselves or their families. Several study households reported handling and consuming meat or poultry from sick or dead animals and using animal waste as a fertilizer on their crops. Households typically diagnosed and treated their sick animals, occasionally seeking treatment advice from employees of local animal feed stores where medications, including antimicrobials, are available over the counter. Despite a basic understanding of zoonotic disease risk, this study identified several factors, such as the handling and consumption of sick and dead animals and purchasing medications for sick animals over the counter, that potentially increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission as well as the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.