Role Et Gestion Des Anes Dans Les Societes Pastorales Samburu Et Turkana Au Nord Du Kenya

Abstract

A survey was carried out in northern Kenya to obtain data on the role and management of donkeys in Samburu and Turkana pastoralist societies and to identify potential areas, if any, for interventions. Sixty-seven women owning or closely associated with 583 donkeys were surveyed during July/August 1994. The median donkey herd sizes in Samburu and Turkana societies were 4 and 10 respectively. Pack transport of water and domestic materials were the major reasons for keeping donkeys. Donkey milk, meat and blood were consumed widely by the Turkana but not by the Samburu. The major problems in donkey management were donkeys getting lost, being stolen, predation and being affected by diseases, in particular a disease condition involving unthriftiness, emaciation and slow growth. Traditional methods of treating donkey diseases were generally used. It was concluded that donkeys were an important component in the pastoralist societies surveyed although donkey numbers and transport capacity were not limiting factors in pastoralists activities. Potential areas for intervention were identified as disease investigation and stimulation of community based initiatives to tackle general management problems.

Effects of Shade Provision on Some Physiological Parameters, Behavior and Performance of Pack Donkeys (Equinus asinus) during the Hot-Dry Season

“…The distance covered by the donkeys was in agreement with the finding that pack donkeys can cover 20-40 km without being stressed [18]. The overall weight of the donkeys was 189.2 ± 4.5 kg and their pack load weighed 93.9 ± 1.5 kg, which agreed with other recommendations [8,18] that donkeys are capable of carrying pack loads of up to 100 kg or about half of their liveweights, without being subjected to severe work stress.…”

“…The overall weight of the donkeys was 189.2 ± 4.5 kg and their pack load weighed 93.9 ± 1.5 kg, which agreed with other recommendations [8,18] that donkeys are capable of carrying pack loads of up to 100 kg or about half of their liveweights, without being subjected to severe work stress. The previous training of the pack donkeys and handling by experienced operators also facilitated the use of the animals to attain maximum draft power.…”

Immunological Properties of Donkeys Milk: Its Potential Use in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis

“…Quite interestingly, in the multidisciplinary approach to animal well-being monitoring of the immune status in donkeys with special reference to the innate immune response (evaluation of serum lisozyme and bacterial acitivity, and of complement system) may represent a valid model to evaluate the welfare status during a long term analysis of a given farm management [24]. Noteworthy, also in underdeveloping countries (such as Northen Kenya) donkeys are an important component in the pastoralist societies and interventions have been identified as disease investigation and initiatives to overcome general management problems in these animals [25].…”

A Review of the Factors Affecting the Survival of Donkeys in Semi-arid Regions of Sub-Saharan Africa

“…They are also kept as a form of wealth, as food security and as an indicator of social status (Jahnke, 1982). Generally, donkeys are not kept in order to accumulate wealth and do not provide food security (Twerda et al, 1997). As a consequence of the low social status of donkeys and of their single-purpose role within the farming system, few farmers keep more donkeys than are needed to ful¢l their immediate work/power requirements (Tesfaye and Smith, 2000).…”