Objective: This study was conducted in order to characterize the productive and reproductive system of local chicken in three agro-ecological zones of the South Kivu province from April to December 2017. Methodology and results: A cross-sectional survey was carried out by interviewing 360 chicken breeders from three agro-ecological zones mainly in the high, middle and lower altitude. The main results showed that this farming sector is led by men with a market-oriented goal (90.28%), having an average of 24.38 chickens reared in free range system (94.17%) without specific housing (81.11%). Chickens are supplemented with food (65.28%) and vitamin supplement (25.83%). The New castle is the most common disease (89.72%) affecting this sector due to absence of vaccination (96.67%) and traditional pharmacopoeia (77.5%) is the most used by breeders for the treatments of most of diseases. Furthermore, each chicken gives 13 eggs per spawning cycle for 2.96 cycles per year by which 70.37% of the eggs laid are incubated for a hatching rate of 84.50% and a weaning rate of 57.25%, occurring 2.52 months after hatching. Epidemics as well as predation are the main constraints hampering the local chicken production in addition to the lack of support by local government services. Conclusion and application of findings: Although this production system is secondary and based on the traditional production system, with less performances, it remains key in the economy of rural families and needs particular attention for its improvement. An adequate housing and a balanced diet would increase production and reduce the risk of loss of local chickens in the study region.
Aim:This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of calf fetal wastage and its economic implications at ELAKAT slaughterhouse, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) to fill the research gap in relationship with this thematic. The study investigations took place from May to September 2018.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional survey was carried at the slaughterhouse. For each visit, the number of cattle slaughtered, the number of pregnant cows slaughtered, and gestational ages (stage of pregnancy of the dam, and estimated by crown-rump length) of the fetuses were recorded.Results:Out of the 1035 cattle slaughtered during the study period, 970 were females. A total of 255 fetuses were recovered, representing a fetal recovery rate of 26.28%. The study established that one fetus was lost out of 4.5 cows slaughtered, and most of fetuses recovered (58.1%) were in the first trimester of gestation while 29.1% and 12.8% were, respectively, in the second and third trimester. Their age varied from 1.2 to 8.6 months, with body length ranging from 14 cm to 92 cm while their weight varied from 1.0 kg to 23.0 kg. The economic loss associated with the total cattle fetal wastages was estimated at Congo Democratic Francs (CDF) 29,906,400 ($15,787.5) with a monthly average of CDF 5,981,280 ($3,157.5).Conclusion:These results attested that slaughtering pregnant cows constitute a strong constraint on cattle industry development in DR Congo. Urgent measures, such as adequate enforcement of legislations on routine veterinary examinations at slaughterhouses as well as livestock owner’s sensitization, are required to avoid selling pregnant cows during calving season.
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