Tr Monkwe, M Gxasheka, B Gunya
Department of Agricultural Economics and Animal Production, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa.
Department of Plant Production, Soil Science & Agricultural Engineering, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa.
Heliyon. 2023 Mar 5;9(3):e14190. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14190. eCollection 2023 Mar.
A survey was carried out to assess challenges and communal farmers' views on cattle production. In Ga-Matlala, 59 community cattle farmers from three rural villages were interviewed (Phofu, Phetole, and Madietane). The majority of responders (49.2%) were from Madietane, with an equal number (25.4%) from Phetole and Phofu (25.4%). In all three villages studied, males outnumbered females, with the majority of responders aged 55 and older. In all selected villages, the majority of respondents were cattle owners with 16 years or more of farming experience. Secondary school was the most frequently reported educational background in Phetole and Phiofu, while primary school was the most frequently reported in Phofu. According to the findings, the most common cattle breed owned in Phetole and Phofu was Nguni, while Afrikaner was the most common in Madietane, and the most common reason for keeping cattle was income in the study areas. The most frequently mentioned challenges in the areas are sickness (Soft hooves/or lumpy skin disease/or red water/or tick-borne disease), stock theft and disease, with Madietane having the highest mortality rate, followed by Phetole and Phofu. The most commonly reported perceived solutions were government assistance in terms of vaccinations/or veterinarians, dumping sites/or fixing water machines/or provide dams/or supplements, feed/or full-time patrollers to protect cattle from being stolen; and the purchase of cattle medicines. The majority of farmers in the selected villages can buy medicines for their cattle, while those who cannot say that the government assists them with vaccinations. As a result, it is concluded that there is a need for more knowledge and information on the subject.
开展了一项调查，以评估养牛生产面临的挑战以及社区农民的看法。在加马特拉拉，来自三个乡村（福富、费托莱和马迪耶坦）的59位社区养牛农民接受了访谈。大多数受访者（49.2%）来自马迪耶坦，费托莱和福富的受访者数量相等（均为25.4%）。在所研究的所有三个村庄中，男性人数超过女性，大多数受访者年龄在55岁及以上。在所有选定的村庄中，大多数受访者是拥有16年或更长时间养殖经验的养牛户。费托莱和福富最常报告的教育背景是中学学历，而福富最常报告的是小学学历。根据调查结果，费托莱和福富最常见的牛品种是恩古尼牛，而马迪耶坦最常见的是阿非利卡牛，在研究区域养牛最常见的原因是收入。这些地区最常提到的挑战是疾病（软蹄病/或结节性皮肤病/或红水病/或蜱传疾病）、牲畜盗窃和疾病，马迪耶坦的死亡率最高，但费托莱和福富紧随其后。最常报告的可感知解决方案是政府在疫苗接种/或兽医方面提供援助、倾倒场/或维修饮水机/或提供水坝/或补充饲料/或全职巡逻人员以保护牛不被偷；以及购买牛药。选定村庄中的大多数农民可以为他们的牛购买药品，而那些无法购买的农民表示政府会协助他们进行疫苗接种。因此，得出的结论是，在这个问题上需要更多的知识和信息。
