Goat health and management for improved smallholders' livelihoods in central Malawi - A socioeconomic analysis of rural households
Goat health and management for improved smallholders' livelihoods in central Malawi - A socioeconomic analysis of rural households
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DOI：
10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.107114
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发表时间：
2023-10-27
影响因子：
1.8
通讯作者：
Safalaoh, Andrews C. L.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Airs, Paul M.;Ventura-Cordero, Javier;Safalaoh, Andrews C. L.
山羊的真正价值、山羊的管理系统以及小农场的局限性尚未在马拉维中部农村小农场主可持续生计的背景下得到充分探讨。然而，山羊是农村生计的重要组成部分，是可转让的资产和家庭营养来源，特别是在粮食不安全和气候更加多变的时期。为了研究马拉维利隆圭地区山羊所有权的影响和局限性，从2019年11月到2019年11月，在四个村庄对148户家庭进行了调查。调查旨在确定家庭人口统计、生计、山羊所有权和管理做法之间的联系。调查结果显示，与其他牲畜相比，山羊的价值很高。然而，牧群很小（中位数= 3），去年只有62%的人报告开玩笑，而50%的人报告死于疾病，捕食（如鬣狗）和狗咬伤。比值分析表明，农民（作为主要职业）更有可能成功地繁殖山羊，以增加他们的羊群规模。较大的羊群与那些可以积累财富并利用山羊举行仪式的人有关。然而，疾病是造成损失的主要因素，并增加了家庭粮食不安全的风险。通过驱虫药和补充剂限制疾病影响与增加小农场可持续吸收和改善生计的可能性相关。由于获得兽医服务的机会有限，小农利用各种药用植物和白蜡树来治疗牛群的腹泻。结果强调，山羊的安全和健康是实现小农生计收益的基础。今后的努力应旨在通过提供监测山羊健康和评估当地做法（包括使用药用植物）对山羊健康的影响的工具，增强小农的权能。
The true value of goats, their management systems, and the limitations of smallholdings have not been fully explored in the context of sustainable livelihoods among rural smallholders in central Malawi. However, goats are an essential part of rural livelihoods as transferable assets and sources of household nutrition, especially at times of food insecurity aligned to an ever more variable climate. To study the impact and limitations of goat ownership in Malawi's Lilongwe district, surveys were performed across four villages covering 148 households from October-November 2019. Surveys were designed to identify linkages between household demographics, livelihoods, goat ownership, and management practices. Findings revealed goats are highly valued compared to other livestock. However, herds were small (median = 3) with only 62% reported kidding in the last year, while 50% reported deaths due to diseases, predation (such as by hyenas), and dog bites. Odds-ratio analyses identified farmers (as a primary occupation) were more likely to successfully breed goats to increase their herd size. Larger herds were associated with those who could accumulate wealth and utilise goats for ceremonies. However, diseases were a major contributor to losses and increased the risk of household food insecurity. Limiting disease impacts through anthelmintics and supplementation were correlated to an increased likelihood of sustainable offtake from smallholdings and improved livelihoods. With limited access to veterinary services, smallholders utilise a diversity of medicinal plants and ash to treat diarrhoea in their herd. The results highlight that goat security and health is fundamental to realising smallholding livelihood gains. Future efforts should aim to empower smallholders through providing tools to monitor goat health and to assess the effects of local practices, including the use of medicinal plants, for goat health.