Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xm8r8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-07T23:22:41.429Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Awareness concerning optimal pig production management and animal welfare among smallholder farmers in Tanzania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

UC Braae ,
M-L Penrith ,
HA Ngowi ,
F Lekule  and
MV Johansen
UC Braae*
Affiliation:
Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
M-L Penrith
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa
HA Ngowi
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
F Lekule
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
MV Johansen
Affiliation:
Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess smallholder farmer awareness in terms of good pig management and to identify serious management issues that should be readily changeable despite resources being limited in a rural setting. Methodology was a combination of questionnaire and observational surveys performed at pig-keeping households practising either confinement or a free-range system. Households were identified using the snowball method. A total of 120 pig-keeping households were included, of which 32 practised free-range systems and 88 confined their pigs. The observational survey included management practices and welfare assessment based on one pig from each of the 120 households. The results indicated that farmers were not aware of the basic requirements of pigs regardless of the production system practised. Water was often neglected and provided less frequently among those practising free-range. Pigs kept free-range also received treatment less frequently compared to those kept confined. Pigs were generally kept in poor conditions with risk of injury and without shelter from wind, rain, cold, heat, and sun. Welfare issues exist within both production systems, but issues within the confinement system could be easily eliminated with proper management. More knowledge on basic pig husbandry is required in the region and is essential for improving production. Educating farmers on the basic requirements for water and feed, alone, could vastly improve smallholder pig production. Education on pig management should therefore be a cornerstone in any research activity involving smallholder farmers in rural areas.

Keywords

Africaanimal welfarefeedproduction systemsstocking densitywater
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , November 2016 , pp. 439 - 446
Copyright
© 2016 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BPEX 2009 Pigs Action for Productivity. http://www.bpex.org.uk/Google Scholar
Braae, UC, Magnussen, P, Lekule, F, Harrison, W and Johansen, MV 2014 Temporal fluctuations in the sero-preva-lence of Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. Parasites & Vectors 7: 574. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-014-0574-7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Braae, UC, Ngowi, HA and Johansen, MV 2013 Smallholder pig production: Prevalence and risk factors of ectoparasites. Veterinary Parasitology 196: 241–244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.12.058CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
FAOSTAT 2014 FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) statistical databases. http://www.fao.org/statistics/en/Google Scholar
FAWC (Farm Animal Welfare Council) 2009 Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past, Present and Future. http://www.fawc.org.uk/reports.htmGoogle Scholar
Fraser, D, Patience, JF, Phillips, PA, McLeese, JM, Haresign, W and Cole, D 1990 Water for piglets and lactating sows: quan-tity, quality and quandaries. In: Haresign, W and Cole, DJA (eds) Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition pp 137–160. Butterworths: London, UK. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-408-04150-8.50014-1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hemsworth, P, Findlay, J and Beilharz, R 1978 The importance of physical contact with other pigs during rearing on the sexual behaviour of the male domestic pig. Animal Production 27:201–207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0003356100036035Google Scholar
Kabululu, ML, Ngowi, HA, Kimera, SI, Lekule, FP, Kimbi, EC and Johansen, MV 2015 Risk factors for prevalence of pig para-sitoses in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology 212: 460–464. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.08.006CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kagira, JM, Kanyari, PWN, Maingi, N, Githigia, SM, Ng'ang'a, JC and Karuga, JW 2010 Characteristics of the small-holder free-range pig production system in western Kenya. Tropical Animal Health and Production 42: 865–873. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9500-yCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karimuribo, E, Chenyambuga, S, Makene, V and Mathias, S 2011 Characteristics and production constraints of rural-based small-scale pig farming in Iringa region, Tanzania. Livestock Research for Rural Development 23: Article #172Google Scholar
Knoesen, J, Aucock, H and Gardner, M 1993 Housing Guidelines. In: Kemm (ed) Pig Production in South Africa. Bulletin No 427 pp 119–128. Agricultural Research Council: Pretoria, South AfricaGoogle Scholar
Komba, EV, Kimbi, EC, Ngowi, HA, Kimera, SI, Mlangwa, JE, Lekule, FP, Sikasunge, CS, Willingham III, AL, Johansen, MV and Thamsborg, SM 2013 Prevalence of porcine cysticercosis and associated risk factors in smallholder pig production systems in Mbeya region, southern highlands of Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology 198: 284–291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.09.020CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lekule, FP and Kyvsgaard, NC 2003 Improving pig husbandry in tropical resource-poor communities and its potential to reduce risk of porcine cysticercosis. Acta Tropica 87: 111–117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0001-706X(03)00026-3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lynch, PB, Cahill, A, Lawlor, P, Boyle, L, O’Doherty, J and Le Dividich, J 2006 Studies on growth rates in pigs and the effect of birth weight. Report RMIS No 5220, Teagasc, Agricultural Food Development Authority, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, Republic of IrelandGoogle Scholar
Muhanguzi, D, Lutwama, V and Mwiine, FN 2012 Factors that influence pig production in Central Uganda-Case study of Nangabo Sub-County, Wakiso district. Veterinary World 5: 346–351. http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/vetworld.2012.346-351CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mutua, FK, Dewey, C, Arimi, S, Ogara, W, Levy, M and Schelling, E 2012 A description of local pig feeding systems in vil-lage smallholder farms of Western Kenya. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44: 1157–1162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-0052-6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nannoni, E, Martelli, G, Cecchini, M, Vignola, G, Giammarco, M, Zaghini, G and Sardi, L 2013 Water require-ments of liquid-fed heavy pigs: Effect of water restriction on growth traits, animal welfare and meat and ham quality. Livestock Science 151: 21–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2012.10.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngowi, HA, Kassuku, AA, Maeda, GEM, Boa, ME, Carabin, H and Willingham, AL 2004 Risk factors for the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in Mbulu District, Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology 120:275–283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.01.015CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Njombe, AP and Msanga, YN 2009 Livestock and dairy industry development in Tanzania. Department of Livestock production and Marketing Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Livestock Development 17, TanzaniaGoogle Scholar
Patience, JF 2012 The importance of water in pork production. Animal Frontiers 2: 28–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/af.2012-0037CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phengsavanh, P, Ogle, B, Stur, W, Frankow-Lindberg, BE and Lindberg, JE 2010 Feeding and performance of pigs in small-holder production systems in Northern Lao PDR. Tropical Animal Health and Production 42: 1627–1633. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9612-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schlink, AC, Nguyen, ML and Viljoen, GJ 2010 Water require-ments for livestock production: a global perspective. Revue Scientifique et Technique-Office International Des Epizooties 29: 603–619. http://dx.doi.org/10.20506/rst.29.3.1999CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sikasunge, CS, Phiri, IK, Phiri, AM, Dorny, P, Siziya, S and Willingham AL, III 2007 Risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis in selected districts of Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia. Veterinary Parasitology 143: 59–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.07.023CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
URT 2014 Budget Speech Presented to Parliament by Minister for Livestock Development and Fisheries. Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries: TanzaniaGoogle Scholar
Vosloo, WA and Casey, NH 1993 Pig production systems. In: Maree, C and Casey, NH (eds) Livestock Production Systems: Principles and Practice. Agri-Development Foundation: Pretoria, South AfricaGoogle Scholar
Wabacha, JK, Maribei, JM, Mulei, CM, Kyule, MN, Zessin, KH and Oluoch-Kosura, W 2004a Characterisation of smallholder pig production in Kikuyu Division, central Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 63: 183–195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pre-vetmed.2004.02.007CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wabacha, JK, Maribei, JM, Mulei, CM, Kyule, MN, Zessin, KH and Oluoch-Kosura, W 2004b Health and production measures for smallholder pig production in Kikuyu Division, central Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 63: 197–210. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2004.02.006CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Welfare Quality® Protocol 2009 Welfare Quality® Assessment Protocol for pig (sows and piglets, growing and finishing pigs). Welfare Quality® Consortium: Lelystad, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Wilson, RT 2013 Which way farm animal welfare in Tanzania? World Agriculture 4: 29–35Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Braae et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 392.6 KB