Smallholder Cattle Research Articles

Sero-epidemiological investigation of bovine toxoplasmosis in traditional and smallholder cattle production systems of Tanga Region, Tanzania

In view of the worldwide importance of Toxoplasma gondii and the fragmented information on the seroprevalence of the disease in animals in Tanzania, a study, using the modified Eiken latex agglutination test (LAT), was conducted from May 2003 to January 2004 to determine the prevalence of antibody to T. gondii in 130 randomly selected farms comprising 655 cattle. The overall seroprevalence of T.gondii antibodies in cattle and farms were 3.6% and 13%, respectively. Risk factors for animal and herd-level toxoplasmosis seropositivity were tested using multivariable logistic regression to control for confounding factors. Cattle managed under traditional husbandry practises were more likely to be seropositive than those managed under smallholder practises (48% versus 4.7%; p < 0.01). Herd size of > or = 9 cattle were at greater risk of acquiring infection than herds holding fewer animals [< or = 9 cattle], (odd ratio [OR] = 3.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97-16.48; P = 0.001). We concluded that seroprevalence at herd level was high and relatively low at animal level, possibly due to the reduced susceptibility of cattle to T.gondii infection as compared to goats and sheep. The high seroprevalence in animals managed by traditional husbandry practise suggests that the parasite is widely distributed in the environment and could pose a public health threat to the people living in those areas.

Livestock keeper perceptions of four indigenous cattle breeds in tsetse infested areas of Ethiopia

Four cattle breeds indigenous to western and south-western Ethiopia--Abigar, Gurage, Horro and Sheko--were included in a study of the perceptions of smallholder cattle keepers regarding cattle management, production levels and constraints for production. A semi-structured questionnaire was used and 60 cattle keepers from each of the four areas were interviewed. Diseases were reported as the main constraint to cattle production by a majority of livestock keepers in all areas except in the Sheko area, where over-stocking was the main constraint. Among diseases, trypanosomosis was the main livestock disease according to more than half of Gurage, Horro and Sheko keepers, whereas anthrax was most important in the Abigar area. Gurage had highest age at first calving, longest calving interval and also the lowest milk production, whereas Sheko and Abigar had the most favorable characteristics both for milk production (600-700 kg) and fertility (age at first mating 3-3.5 years and above 8 calves/cow). Cattle keepers in the Sheko area reported relatively less problems with cattle diseases compared to the other areas, especially regarding trypanosomosis. Abigar showed a different disease pattern than the other breeds and may also have advantages as regards trypanotolerance.

Characterization of some Brucella species from Zimbabwe by biochemical profiling and AMOS-PCR

BackgroundBovine brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus is endemic in most large commercial and smallholder cattle farms of Zimbabwe, while brucellosis in other domestic animals is rare. The diagnosis of brucellosis is mainly accomplished using serological tests. However, some Brucella spp. have been isolated from clinical cases in the field and kept in culture collection but their biochemical profiles were not documented. We report biochemical profiling and AMOS-PCR characterization of some of these field isolates of Brucella originating from both commercial and smallholder cattle farming sectors of Zimbabwe.FindingsFourteen isolates of Brucella from culture collection were typed using biochemical profiles, agglutination by monospecific antisera, susceptibility to Brucella-specific bacteriophages and by AMOS-PCR that amplifies species- specific IS711. The results of the biochemical profiles for B. abortus biovar 1 (11 isolates) and biovar 2 (2 isolates) were consistent with those of reference strains. A single isolate from a goat originating from a smallholder mixed animal farm was identified as B. melitensis biovar 1. The AMOS-PCR produced DNA products of sizes 498 bp and 731 bp for B. abortus (biovar 1 and 2) and B. melitensis biovar 1, respectively.ConclusionWe concluded that the biochemical profiles and AMOS-PCR characterization were consistent with their respective species and biovars. B. abortus biovar 1 is likely to be the predominant cause of brucellosis in both commercial and smallholder cattle farms in Zimbabwe.

Prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis in Central Mozambique from 2002 to 2005

The study is the result of analyzing 16895 blood smears of cattle collected at 180 sites in the provinces of Manica, Sofala, Zambézia and Tete in Mozambique. Of the blood smears 73.9% were from Manica, 11.8% from Tete, 8.5% from Sofala and 5.8% from Zambézia; 75.6% of these were collected from smallholder cattle. Infections with trypanosomes were highest in smallholder cattle from Sofala Province with 36.8% of the 872 blood smears examined positive for trypanosomes, and lowest in cattle of commercial farmers in Manica Province with only 6.2% of 2252 blood smears being positive. Trypanosoma congolense was the predominant species, followed by Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma brucei sensu lato. Trypanosoma brucei, which also infects humans, was more frequent in the districts of Buzi, Mutarara and Morrumbala with 15.1%, 10.5% and 9.8% of all examined cattle in 2005 being infected with it, respectively. The results show a significant increase in the infection rate with trypanosomes compared with results obtained in previous years by the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Manica Province and by the Regional Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Control Programme in Zambézia, Tete and Sofala provinces.

Globalizing Unsustainable Food Consumption: Trade Policies, Producer Lobbies, Consumer Preferences, and Beef Consumption in Northeast Asia

Global trends toward Western consumption patterns are sometimes seen as a natural result of trade liberalization and ‘taste convergence’ in a globalized economy. However, an alternative political economy perspective traces the Westernization of consumption patterns to inter-state competition over export markets and intra- and inter-state lobbying by producer interests that together impose consumption changes on non-Western societies. The following study examines the recent trend toward increasing beef consumption in Northeast Asia (Japan, Korea, Taiwan) in the light of these hypotheses. In Northeast Asia meat consumption has been very low and has largely been concentrated in poultry and pork. Increasing beef consumption until the late 1980s was assisted by increasing feed grain imports and the establishment of smallholder cattle farming. The continuing trend toward more beef consumption from the late 1980s was assisted by increasing imports of beef. While increasing income in Northeast Asia is partly responsible for this increase in consumption, aggressive trade policy and marketing pressure by well-organized international beef producers has also played a role. A Chinese version of this article's abstract is available online at: www.informaworld.com/rglo

Benefits obtained from cattle by smallholder farmers: a case study of Limpopo Province, South Africa

A survey of livestock production systems was conducted in the Vhembe District, located between 22°85′ latitude and 30°71′ longitude in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The objective of the study was to investigate the benefits obtained from, and key functions of, cattle production, as well as related breeding objectives in smallholder livestock production in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data were collected by means of a general survey questionnaire and a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) exercise. The results indicate that almost 60% of farmers own &lt; 10 cattle. Female animals constituted the largest component of the herd (55.02%). Although the bull : cow ratio was extremely high (1 : 3.7), the calving rate was low at 35.60%, with an extremely high herd mortality of 15.70% and a low off-take of 8.70%. In a pairwise ranking, the benefits obtained from cattle by smallholder livestock farmers are as follows: selling and meat consumption (4), wealth, status and savings (3), socio-cultural activities (2) and draught power (1). The ‘cattle complex’, where cattle are kept for prestige and status, is still appropriate, but cattle also make significant contributions in respect to selling and meat consumption, and arable inputs such as draft and fertiliser. It is concluded that benefits obtained from cattle form the basis of decision-making by smallholder cattle owners with respect to livestock production.

The Influence of Community Management Agreements on Household Economic Strategies : Cattle Grazing and Fishing Agreements on the Lower Amazon Floodplain

While the organizational dynamics of collective management systems have received much attention, relatively little work has focused on how households adapt their economic strategies in response to collective management regulations that impose constraints on the range of options available to households. In this paper we investigate the evolving interaction between household management strategies and collective management regulations for one or both of two ecologically interdependent floodplain resources, lake fisheries and seasonally inundated grasslands. Smallholder management strategies involve varying combinations of three main activities each associated with one of three main floodplain habitats: annual cropping on river levees, cattle ranching on natural grasslands and fishing in lakes. These three activities play complementary roles in the household economy. Annual cropping is both subsistence and market oriented, with cash from crop sales often invested in purchase of cattle. Fishing, in addition to providing animal protein, generates income for household purchases while crops are growing. Cattle ranching is the main savings strategy for smalholders, providing funds for family emergencies and capital investments. Despite the fertility of soils and the higher productivity per hectare of fishing, cattle ranching has expanded steadily on the floodplain at the expense of farming and fishing. Over the last two decades, communities throughout the Amazon floodplain have developed and implemented collective agreements to regulate access to and use of local lake fisheries. Depending on the measures included, the impact of these agreements on household management strategies can range from negligible to highly significant, requiring major adjustments to compensate for reduced fishing income. Expansion of smallholder cattle ranching has taken advantage of unregulated access to community grasslands. Unregulated access to community grasslands has been a major factor in the growth of smallholder ranching, and many households have far more cattle than could be sustained on their own property. The result is a classic tragedy of the commons in which growing numbers of cattle are overgrazing grasslands and degrading the productive capacity of floodplain fisheries. Concerned with the impact of cattle on floodplain habitat and conflicts between cattle owners and farmers, many communities have developed collective agreements to regulate grazing on grasslands. As with fishing, the impact of these agreements on household economic strategies varies depending on the degree to which they limit the number of cattle families can graze on grasslands. In this paper, we investigate interactions between smallholders household economic strategies for two major common pool resources and their respective management regimes. The paper identifies conflict between collective and individual strategies for long-term security as the critical issue for floodplain resources and concludes proposing a more household-based approach to collective management.

Seroprevalences of vector-transmitted infections of small-holder dairy cattle in coastal Kenya

A cross-sectional study was carried out from July to September 1989 in Kaloleni Division, Coast Province, Kenya to estimate the prevalence of vector-transmitted diseases in small-holder dairy cattle and to identify the risk factors associated with different management systems. One hundred and thirty of the 157 herds with dairy cattle in Kaloleni Division were surveyed. These were from three agro-ecological zones (coconut–cassava, cashewnut–cassava and livestock–millet), comprised two management systems (stall-feeding and herded grazing) and were herds with either dairy cattle only or with Zebu and dairy cattle. A formal questionnaire sought answers to questions on cattle health and management practices. A total of 734 dairy and 205 Zebu cattle in 78 dairy and 52 mixed (dairy and Zebu) herds were sampled and screened for haemoparasites ( Trypanosoma, Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria infections). Sera were tested for antibodies to Theileria parva, using the schizonts-antigen indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) test and to antibodies for Babesia bigemina and antigens to Anaplasma marginale by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Packed-cell volume (PCV) also was measured. Tick-control measures were practised by all except three of the farmers. Despite this, overall seroprevalence to T. parva was >70% — suggesting either that control practices were not strictly implemented or they were ineffective. The seroprevalence of T. parva in adult cattle kept in stall-feeding systems in the coconut–cassava zone was significantly lower (57±8% (S.E.)) than in herded-grazing systems (79±3%) and there was no association between antibody prevalence and age of cattle in this zone. Antibody prevalences in cattle in the cashewnut–cassava and the drier livestock–millet zone increased with age. Cattle in herded-grazing systems had an overall lower seroprevalence of T. parva infection in the livestock–millet zone (45±6%) than in the other two zones. Analysis was confined to the coconut–cassava zone for B. bigemina and to the coconut–cassava and cashewnut–cassava zones for A. marginale. Mean prevalences of B. bigemina were 40.9±9 and 73±6% for dairy cattle under stall-feeding and herded-grazing systems, respectively, and increased with age. Antigen prevalences of A. marginale were over 80% in all age groups of cattle in the coconut–cassava and cashewnut–cassava zones. Overall trypanosome prevalence in cattle was <1%. Trypanocidal treatment was uncommon. The variations in antibody prevalence associated with risk factors such as feeding system, agro-ecological zone and age of animal suggest that management system influenced exposure to tick-borne infection (particularly, T. parva infections) in small-holder dairy cattle in coastal Kenya.

The effect of tick control on bovine dermatophilosis in a smallholder farming area of Zimbabwe

Three different methods of acaricide (Amitraz) application were tested on cattle in Sanyati smallholder farming area to determine the effectiveness of control of ticks on the prevalence of clinical dermatophilosis during a twelve-month period. The acaricide application methods were plunge dipping, hand spraying and a combination of the two. Throughout the twelve months, the cattle plunge dipped had a higher number of ticks (p < 0.05) compared to those using the other two methods. Amblyomma variegatum ticks accounted for 53% of the overall number of ticks counted on cattle. In addition, the occurrence of dermatophilosis was higher (p < 0.05) in cattle plunge dipped and hand sprayed in combination with plunge dipping compared to those hand sprayed only. These results indicate that hand spraying of acaricide might be the method of choice to reduce both tick infestations and the occurrence of dermatophilosis in smallholder cattle herds.

Immunisation of Small-Holder Cattle Against East Coast Fever in Kiambu District, Kenya

(1994). Immunisation of Small-Holder Cattle Against East Coast Fever in Kiambu District, Kenya. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal: Vol. 60, No. 1-2, pp. 41-44.

Cattle, rural economic differentiation, and articulation in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

Rural economic differentiation in the highlands of Papua New Guinea has been facilitated by the introduction of commercial smallholder cattle projects. Changes have occurred in the social relations of production concerning control over land and labor and the distribution of surplus. Two weaknesses of the analytical perspective that stresses the articulation of modes of production are revealed: (71 inadequate attention to human agency, and (21 a narrow focus on economic and political linkages between modes of production. [rural differentiation, economic development, Melanesia, cash earning, modes of production]

The Smallholder Cattle Economy in South Sulawesi

* This paper was prepared while I was a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Economics, RSPacS, A. N. U. October — November 1980. I wish to thank the staff of the Indonesia Project for their encouragement and hospitality. Most of the data are taken from my PhD thesis, Prospects for Smallholder Cattle Development in South Sulawesi, submitted to Hasanuddin University in 1978.