Original Research

Raising livestock in resource-poor communities of the North West Province of South Africa - a participatory rural appraisal study

J.K. Getchell, A.F. Vatta, P.W. Motswatswe, R.C. Krecek, R. Moerane, A.N. Pell, T.W. Tucker, S. Leshomo
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 73, No 4 | a583 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v73i4.583 | © 2002 J.K. Getchell, A.F. Vatta, P.W. Motswatswe, R.C. Krecek, R. Moerane, A.N. Pell, T.W. Tucker, S. Leshomo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 July 2002 | Published: 06 July 2002

About the author(s)

J.K. Getchell,
A.F. Vatta,
P.W. Motswatswe,
R.C. Krecek,
R. Moerane,
A.N. Pell,
T.W. Tucker,
S. Leshomo,

Full Text:

PDF (437KB)

Abstract

A participatory research model was used in six village communities in the Central Region of the North West Province of South Africa in order to achieve the following broad objectives : to obtain information on the challenges owners face in raising livestock in these areas and to evaluate the livestock owners' level of knowledge of internal parasites in their animals. Information obtained at participatory workshops clearly indicated a need for improvements in water supply, schools, job creation, and health services. Lack of pasture for grazing livestock was also cited as being important. Other most frequently mentioned livestock problems included 'gall sickness' (a vaguely defined condition not necessarily referring to anaplasmosis), parasites (both external and internal), chicken diseases and ingestion of plastic bags discarded in the environment. When livestock owners were questioned during individual interviews, most were able to identify the presence of parasites in either the live or dead animal. However, it seems likely that this is limited to the identification of tapeworms. It was found that most livestock owners use a combination of treatments, ranging from traditional to folklore to commercial. There were some difficulties in using the participatory methods since it was the first time that the facilitators and the communities had been exposed to them. Many communities had difficulty in dealing with the concept of finding solutions within the community, which is such an integral part of participatory methods.

Keywords

Ethnoveterinary Treatments; Livestock Problems; Participatory Rural Appraisal; PRA

Metrics

Total abstract views: 3959
Total article views: 3467

 

Crossref Citations

1. Participatory epidemiology: Approaches, methods, experiences
Andrew Catley, Robyn G. Alders, James L.N. Wood
The Veterinary Journal  vol: 191  issue: 2  first page: 151  year: 2012  
doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.03.010

2. Ear-tag retention and identification methods for extensively managed water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Trinidad
G.T. Fosgate, A.A. Adesiyun, D.W. Hird
Preventive Veterinary Medicine  vol: 73  issue: 4  first page: 287  year: 2006  
doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2005.09.006

3. A framework for the transfer of animal health knowledge to rural goat owners
A.F. Vatta, J.F. de Villiers, L.J.S. Harrison, R.C. Krecek, R.A. Pearson, F.H.J. Rijkenberg, A. Spickett, S.H. Worth
Small Ruminant Research  vol: 98  issue: 1-3  first page: 26  year: 2011  
doi: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2011.03.012

4. Ethnoveterinary Knowledge and Biological Evaluation of Plants Used for Mitigating Cattle Diseases: A Critical Insight Into the Trends and Patterns in South Africa
Mompati V. Chakale, Mulunda Mwanza, Adeyemi O. Aremu
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 8  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.710884

5. Climate-smart agriculture for sustainable agricultural sectors: The case of Mooifontein
Jennifer A. Mathews, Leandri Kruger, Gideon J. Wentink
Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies  vol: 10  issue: 1  year: 2018  
doi: 10.4102/jamba.v10i1.492

6. Awareness and control methods of gastrointestinal parasites of merino sheep among farmers from different agro-ecological zones of Lesotho
Mots'elisi Aloycia Mahlehla, Setsumi Mots'oene Molapo, Mpho Wycliffe Phoofolo, Puleng Agathah Matebesi, Moeketsi Phalatsi, Morai Johannes Moiloa
Veterinary World  first page: 2554  year: 2021  
doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2554-2560

7. Batswana ethnobotany: An appraisal of the uses of botanicals for diverse purposes among local communities in Botswana and South Africa
Mompati Vincent Chakale, Obakeng Mooki, Keamogela Innocentia Nko, George Sedupane, Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu
South African Journal of Botany  vol: 184  first page: 1010  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.06.040

8. The role of the state in stock farming in rural areas: A case study of Hertzog, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Vimbai R. Jenjezwa, Cecil E.P. Seethal
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association  vol: 85  issue: 1  year: 2014  
doi: 10.4102/jsava.v85i1.912

9. An analysis of the ethnoveterinary medicinal uses of the genus Aloe L. for animal diseases in Africa
Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, Ibraheem Oduola Lawal
South African Journal of Botany  vol: 147  first page: 976  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2022.02.022

10. Association between the Prevalence of Indigestible Foreign Objects in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Slaughtered Cattle and Body Condition Score
Vikhaya Nongcula, Leocadia Zhou, Kenneth Nhundu, Ishmael Jaja
Animals  vol: 7  issue: 11  first page: 80  year: 2017  
doi: 10.3390/ani7110080

11. Senna italica Mill. synonym Cassia italica Mill. Spreng (Fabaceae): Phytochemistry, indigenous ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological activities: A review
N.I. Mongalo, J.F. Finnie, L.J. McGaw, J. Van Staden
South African Journal of Botany  vol: 179  first page: 62  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.02.004