A Path to Prosperity New Directions for African Livestock

Others felt there needed to be continued emphasis
on building capacity and demand from community
level using techniques such as participatory learning
and action.
Several contributors called for greater recognition
of the role that working animals 1 play in supporting
peoples’ livelihoods. For example, “in very many
farming systems, draught animals are an integral
part of the system – bringing chemical inputs, seeds
etc to the farm and fields, transporting fodder to
livestock in cut and carry systems and transporting
livestock and crop products to markets . How many
small scale dairy farming systems could get
sufficient quantities of fresh milk to collecting
centres without the use of pack or cart donkeys?
How do famers get sick animals to access vet
services? Often on the back of a donkey cart?
How do vegetables or even coffee for export start
their journey to market? Often on pack animals
acting as the first point on the marketing chain”.
It was also noted that working equines, particularly
donkeys, make a significant contribution to peoples'
resilience during times of drought. However this is
rarely recognised by humanitarian aid agencies
when they plan and implement relief work.
It was argued that working animals are working
under-potential because they seem mainly ignored,
their contribution massively under-valued by
extension and health services, and by development
NGOs. Little attention is given to their good
management and nutrition, working practices,
harness (design, fitting, repair, management, use)
or health and welfare.
Greater work on the specific health problems and
medicinal requirements of working animals was
advocated, for example epizootic lymphangitis in
Ethiopia and working animals' susceptibility to
musculo-skeletal problems.
2 Improving animal health services
for rural farmers
The discussion on animal health started with an
assertion that the role of proper animal nutrition has
been neglected by donors, researchers and policy
makers in addressing animal health issues. The
contributor felt the Impetus Strategy Paper (ISP)
needed to provide greater acknowledgment that
“improper or unbalanced nutrition not only affects
productivity but also health, behaviour and welfare
of animals”. It was explained that poor nutrition
increases the susceptibility of animals to diseases by
affecting the immune function, thus increasing the
1 transport and traction donkeys, mules, horses and oxen
need of veterinary treatments, posing risks to food
consumers, decreasing profitability and endangering
the environment. It was argued there is a need to
provide greater information on the importance of
proper animal nutrition to veterinarians, through
changes to the curriculum of veterinary schools.
Vets need to be able to use simple tools to advise
rural farmers how to prepare a balanced ration
using locally available resources.
An example was provided on how nutrition advice
had proven to be the most valuable input in a project
restocking drought affected vulnerable populations
with poultry. “Besides providing the vulnerable
people with poultry and a kit (containing basic
poultry inputs), we gave them basic training on
poultry nutrition. The training was very short (less
than a day), but while following up and reviewing the
progress, it appeared that the training component
was the most important. From the knowledge gained
during the training, the trainees were formulating
their chicken feeds using locally available materials
(reducing the feeding costs whilst improving
productivity).”
Opinion on whether veterinary para-professionals
are effective and sustainable, whilst divided, was
generally positive. Indeed, several people said they
are the only way forward. Most farmers are willing to
pay for good service delivery. Even farmers perceived
to be "poor" want quality and timely service and will
pay when they see the value in it. There is plenty of
evidence that veterinary para-professionals,
including Community Animal Health Workers
(CAHW), can provide timely services that meet
farmers’ basic needs, particularly in underserved
and remote areas. It was noted that the majority
of vets in Africa continue to be uncomfortable
calling animal health service providers with only
very basic training, such as CAHWs, veterinary
para-professionals. Consequently they tend to resist
providing them with the necessary legal framework
authorising them to carry out designated tasks, even
under the supervision of vets. Further evidence of
the positive impact of CAHWs was provided from
Southeast Ethiopia. The research cited by Tufts
University suggested that privatised veterinary
services utilising veterinary para-professionals
(CAHWs) had significantly increased through an
enabling policy environment. This environment
included regional government policy statements,
federal-level legislative change and publication of
government minimum standards and guidelines
for privatized CAHW systems.
The Impetus Strategy Paper I Page 79