Participatory Assessment of Trade Limiting Diseases of Small Ruminants in Afar’s Small Ruminants’ Export Market Chain

Participatory epidemiological study was carried out from June 2013 to June 2014 to identify most economically important trade sensitive diseases which constraints trade and to quantify and rank the major diseases along the small ruminant market chain of export of small ruminants originated from Afar pastoral community.  A retrospective case control study design was used to collect data on trade sensitive disease problems in the market chains using epidemiological techniques of semi-structured interview, disease ranking and matrix scoring. Information was collect from producers, key informants and participants in the shoat export market chains. Purposive sampling was used to select 291 producers, 12 focus groups of traders and key informants that held in four districts selected districts with their respective markets and four quarantine stations to generate information about health problems along the market chain. Collected data was coded, managed and validated in excel spread sheet. The level of agreement between informant groups was assessed using the Kendal’s coefficient of concordance (W) calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, 2007). About 72.2% of pastoralist offers shoat for sale to meet their urgent needs at any time during the year. Majority (51.9%) of the producers have no specific target to sale their shoat. Animal characteristics in terms of health, quality and other criteria required by importers were known only by 7.6% of the producers. Afars’ sheep are the most demanded by importers next to Somali black head but from total shoat presented for sale, sheep accounts only 20%. Majority of producers (40.9%) indicated that they present young male for sale and 28.2% of producers presented culled female shoat for sale. Pastoralist motioned PPR, Pasteurellosis, sheep pox, External parasite, Ovine Faciolosis and CCPP as most important diseases in terms of impact on livelihoods. Quarantine centers listed PPR, pasteurellosis, CCPP, sheep pox and external parasite most important disease of shoat in terms of impact on businesses. Most of the diseases motioned by quarantine centers as major diseases are also the major diseases prevailing at the producer level. Keywords: Trade sensitive, PPR, CCPP, Shoat Pox, Producer, Quarantine, key informan

Participatory Epidemiological Studies of Major Trade Constraint Diseases of Goats in Selected Districts of Afar Region

In Afar pastoral area, livelihoods depend, at least in part, on livestock. Small ruminants made by far the greatest contribution to livestock-based livelihoods in all study districts. This study was conducted to assess and analyze trade sensitive disease problems of goats of Afar pastoral community. Information was gathered from pastoralists from June 2013- June 2014. At producers’ level, 12 focus group discussion and interview with 291 pastoralists were held at the selected four districts of Afar pastoral areas. Majority of markets in Afar region performed below their capacity. About 72.2% of pastoralist offers goats for sale to meet their urgent needs at any time during the year. Majority (51.9%) of the producers have no specific target to sale their goats. Animal characteristics in terms of health, quality and other criteria required by exporters were known only by 7.6% of the producers. Afars’ sheep are the most demanded by exporters next to Somali black head but from total shoat presented for sale, sheep accounts only 20%. Majority of producers (40.9%) indicated that they present young male for sale and 28.2% of producers presented culled female shoat for sale. Pastoralist motioned PPR, Pasteurellosis, goat pox, External parasites and CCPP as most important diseases in terms of impact on livelihoods. There was no veterinarian performing pre-purchase inspection and selection for quality assurance and certification for live shoat at various points in market chain. Quarantine centers listed PPR, pasteurellosis, CCPP, goat pox and external parasites most important disease of shoat in terms of impact on businesses. Most of the diseases motioned by quarantine centers as major diseases are also the major diseases prevailing at the producer level. Keywords: Trade sensitive, PPR, CCPP, Goat Pox, Producer, Quarantine, key informant

How and why animal welfare concerns evolve in developing countries

Implications In developing countries, animal welfare concerns do not receive the same recognition as they do in higher-income countries, from policy and law, through to consumer awareness and purchasing options. While traditional farmers often have close bonds with their animals, knowledge and action gaps often limit more animal-friendly production. In some developing countries, livestock production has already largely commercialized and intensified. In these countries, citizens are becoming increasingly aware and sensitive to animal welfare issues, but animal welfare does not yet affect purchasing decisions. Future scenarios with higher animal welfare are possible, but will require joint efforts by various stakeholders in the livestock sector. Overall, much more research on animal welfare perceptions in developing countries is needed