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Resource requirements for draught animal power

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

R. A. Pearson
R. A. Pearson*
Affiliation:
Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG
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Abstract

The place of draught animal power on farms in tropical agriculture is discussed. In some areas of the world draught animal power is traditional, in others it is a relatively new technology. There are situations which fall between the two, but when thinking about resolving technical and more particularly socio-economic constraints it is often useful to be aware of these two categories. While some of the problems encountered are universal, other problems can be more specific to a particular situation or country.

In this paper some of the issues are discussed. These include the energy requirements for work, the provision of food, particularly in ‘new’ draught animal areas, the consequences of using draught cows in traditional systems, disease treatment and two examples of country specific problems. In some cases strategies to cope with these issues are available, largely as a result of research, in others it is apparent that more information is required.

Type
Research Article
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 16: Animal Production in Developing Countries , 1993 , pp. 57 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1993

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