Cattle production and utilisation in smallholder farming systems in Southern Mozambique

Rocha, António; Starkey, Paul; Dionisio, A.Cataläo

doi:10.1016/0308-521x(91)90047-e

Cited by 31 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…If so, our calving rates are very similar to what others have reported in communal herds (Behnke Jr., 1985;Rocha et al, 1991;Nthakheni, 2006;Angassa and Oba, 2007;Ba et al, 2011). A 50% calving rate, suggesting an average of one calf per cow every two years, is quite good in reproductive terms, especially considering the general lack of forced weaning (Rocha et al, 1991) and the low number of farmers who provide supplementary feed (Scoones, 1992a;Dovie et al, 2006). We were however unable to quantify embryonic loss, abortion or stillbirths; neither could we directly estimate the role of disease, if any, in reproduction.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…While this could be ascribed to other income generating opportunities in these highly populated areas in the South, it does not necessarily equate to a lower dependence on livestock (Shackleton et al, 2005;Dovie et al, 2006), especially when considering the much higher local meat consumption, most likely demand driven, in the South compared to the North. Concentrated or seasonal calving as a consequence of wet season conceptions that closely follow rainfall and NDVI increases, similar to what we observed, has been reported previ- ously in cattle where no manipulation of reproduction occurs (Nqeno et al, 2010;Rocha et al, 1991). A poor conception year followed by a higher than normal one, e.g.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Since our calving rates are based on the entire herd, not just the cows, it is difficult to compare our results directly to comparable figures published, although studies in areas similar to our study sites suggest that the cow proportion of herds is approximately 50% (Swanepoel et al, 2000;Shackleton et al, 2005;Stroebel et al, 2011). If so, our calving rates are very similar to what others have reported in communal herds (Behnke Jr., 1985;Rocha et al, 1991;Nthakheni, 2006;Angassa and Oba, 2007;Ba et al, 2011). A 50% calving rate, suggesting an average of one calf per cow every two years, is quite good in reproductive terms, especially considering the general lack of forced weaning (Rocha et al, 1991) and the low number of farmers who provide supplementary feed (Scoones, 1992a;Dovie et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…The cattle densities we report (11.6-32.7 animals per km 2 ), driven primarily by annual rainfall and human population density (Scoones, 1992b;Bourn and Wint, 1994;Wint and Robinson, 2007), fall within a similar range as reported elsewhere. However, we also found a positive correlation between cattle density and subsistence cultivation at a broad scale (across all study sites), which has been suggested as an important determinant of cattle distribution (Bourn and Wint, 1994;Wint and Robinson, 2007) through provision of post harvest supplementary fodder (Rocha et al, 1991;Düvel and Afful, 1996;Herrero et al, 2010). Regardless, no association between mortality or calving rates and the area of subsistence cultivation available (Mukhebi et al, 1991) could be detected in this study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

“…The relatively high proportion of subsistence cultivation found in the southern site was not proportional to the increase in population, with the area of subsistence cultivation per household higher in the northern [1.10 ha (0.57-2.16)] and central site [0.90 ha (0.54-1.33)] than in the South [0.24 ha (0.17-0.30)]. Despite subsistence cultivation areas providing potential seasonal fodder (Herrero et al, 2010;Rocha et al, 1991) and bare areas being lush green with annual grass and herbaceous plants in the early rainy season (personal observation), they were not considered as potential grazing areas due to the inconsistent nature in this respect. Less than half (43.9%) of the southern site could be regarded as potential grazing area, compared to 91.4% in the northern area and 78.4% in the centre.…”

Section: Cross-correlationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heterogeneity in a communal cattle-farming system in a zone endemic for foot and mouth disease in South Africa

Schalkwyk¹,

Clercq²,

Pus³

et al. 2016

Geospat Health

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In South Africa, communal livestock farming is predominant in the foot and mouth disease control zone adjacent to the Greater Kruger National Park (KNP), where infected African buffaloes are common.During routine veterinary inspections of cattle in this area, a large amount of production and demographic parameters were being recorded. These data were collated for a five-year period (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007) in three study sites to better understand the temporal dynamics and spatial heterogeneity in this system. A decreasing gradient from South to North with respect to both human and cattle population densities was observed. Rainfall and human population density alone could explain 71% of the variation in cattle density. Northern and central sites showed an overall decrease in total cattle numbers (15.1 and 2.9%, respectively), whereas a 28.6% increase was recorded in the South. The number of cattle owners in relation to cattle numbers remained stable during the study period. Only 4.0% of households in the South own cattle, compared to 13.7 and 12.7% in the North and Centre. The overall annual calving rate was 23.8%. Annual mortality rates ranged from 2.4 to 3.2%. Low calf mortality (2.1%) was recorded in the North compared to the South (11.6%). Annual off-take in the form of slaughter averaged 0.2, 11.7, and 11.0% in the North, Central and South sites, respectively. These figures provide valuable baseline data and demonstrate considerable spatial heterogeneity in cattle demography and production at this wildlife-livestock interface, which should be taken into consideration when performing disease risk assessments or designing disease control systems. IntroductionA large area next to the Kruger National Park (KNP) and its adjoining private and provincial nature reserves (APNR) in South Africa, is used for communal farming of both livestock and crops. Although the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) considers South Africa to be free from the foot and mouth disease (FMD) in areas where vaccination is practised, the KNP and APNR are endemic for FMD (Brückner et al., 2002;Vosloo et al., 2002;Scoones et al., 2010), and this is due to the presence of the reservoir host of the disease, the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) (Vosloo et al., 2006). To this end, a fence was erected around the KNP in the 1960s (Joubert, 2007;Scoones et al., 2010), and compulsory, weekly cattle inspections and bi-to tri-annual vaccination against FMD takes place at government livestock inspection points (IPs) within the area directly adjacent to the infected zone (the so-called protection zone with vaccination). Livestock in the remainder of the protection zone (protection zone without vaccinaCorrespondence: Ockert Louis van Schalkwyk, Office of the State

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Cross-correlationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Heterogeneity in a communal cattle-farming system in a zone endemic for foot and mouth disease in South Africa

Schalkwyk¹,

Clercq²,

Pus³

et al. 2016

Geospat Health

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Molecular detection of pathogens in ticks infesting cattle in Nampula province, Mozambique

et al. 2017

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Ticks are ectoparasites that can act as vectors of a large number of pathogens in wild and domestic animals, pets, and occasionally humans. The global threat of emerging or re-emerging tick-borne diseases supports the need for research focused in the zoonotic transmission, especially in countries like Mozambique where rural populations are in close contact with domestic animals. The present study aims to: (1) identify tick species infesting cattle from Monapo and Nacala Porto, districts of Nampula province, Mozambique; and (2) investigate the presence of pathogens in the collected ticks. A total of 646 ticks were collected from cattle and morphologically identified as Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus microplus, and R. evertsi evertsi. For convenience, 72 A. variegatum and 15 R. microplus from Monapo, and 30 A. variegatum from Nacala Porto were screened for the presence of the selected pathogens: Rickettsia spp. (A. variegatum), and Babesia/Theileria spp. and Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. (R. microplus). Rickettsia africae was detected in four of the 72 A. variegatum collected in Monapo (5.6%). Additionally, one R. microplus tick (6.7%) was positive for Theileria velifera, one positive for Colpodella spp., one positive for Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii, and another one positive for Anaplasma ovis. Using the present approach, no microorganisms were detected in tick samples from Nacala Porto. These findings expand our knowledge about the repertoire of tick-borne microorganisms in ticks in Nampula province, Mozambique.

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Factors influencing reproductive performance of cows from different Nguni ecotypes in southern Mozambique

Maciel

Amimo

Martins³

et al. 2011

Trop Anim Health Prod

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The objective of this study was to assess the reproductive performance of two Nguni ecotypes (Nguni and Landim) raised in a subtropical environment to enhance strategies for livestock development and restocking programmes within the southern African region. Reproduction data collected between 1996 and 2009 from 365 cows of the Landim and Nguni ecotypes were analysed. From the results, ecotype, place of birth, year and season of birth/calving had significant effects on age at first calving (AFC) and calving interval (CI). Overall means for AFC and CI were 1,071 ± 166 days and 432 ± 85 days, respectively, while average calving rate was 88.0 ± 4.7%. Heifers born in the dry season had lower AFC than heifers born in the wet season. Heifers born at Impaputo Breeding Center were the youngest at first calving, followed by the South African born ones. Heifers of the Landim ecotype also calved younger than heifers of the Nguni ecotype. CI was shorter in wet seasons (main breeding seasons) than in dry seasons. Interaction between ecotype and year-season (p < 0.005) showed that, in wet and dry seasons, Nguni cows had shorter CI than the Landim. This study demonstrates for the first time a possible genotype-by-environment interaction between Nguni ecotypes. This might aid future cattle development and restocking programmes in southern Africa taking into consideration the adaptation of indigenous genotypes and climate change.

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Cattle production and utilisation in smallholder farming systems in Southern Mozambique

Cited by 31 publications

References 16 publications

Heterogeneity in a communal cattle-farming system in a zone endemic for foot and mouth disease in South Africa

Heterogeneity in a communal cattle-farming system in a zone endemic for foot and mouth disease in South Africa

Molecular detection of pathogens in ticks infesting cattle in Nampula province, Mozambique

Factors influencing reproductive performance of cows from different Nguni ecotypes in southern Mozambique

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