Browsing by Author "Mbeserua, Vandaapi"

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    Perceptions and welfare of donkeys in Southern Namibia
    (2019) Chiwome, Bernard; Mushonga, Borden; Mbeserua, Vandaapi; Samkange, Alaster; Kandiwa, Erick; Mbiri, Pricilla; Madzingira, Oscar
    This survey investigated the perceptions of 177 respondents on the value, socioeconomic roles, husbandry practices, health and welfare of donkeys in six communities from the //Kharas region of Namibia. Most respondents were males (71.2%) over 40 years of age (37.3%), of the Nama tribe (79.7%) that were unemployed (74.6%). Most of the respondents’ households owned up to three donkeys (47.5%) which were mostly inherited (45.8%). The monetary value of donkeys ranged from US$67.00-100.00. Donkey-drawn carts with more than four donkeys/cart (50.8%) were used for 30 to 50 km journeys once/week (81.4%). Most respondents did not house (78%), feed (71.2%) or water (67.8%) their donkeys. Donkeys grazed extensively and drank water from communal water points. Most respondents ate donkey meat in not more than four meals/week (81.4%) though 62.7% of all respondents preferred donkey meat to other meat. Beating and routine husbandry practices like castration, ear-notching and hot iron branding were perceived as the main causes of pain in donkeys (59.3% and 40.7%, respectively). Lameness, ataxia and dyspnoea/diaphoresis (45.8%, 25.4% and 23.7%, respectively) were the perceived signs of pain, whilst anorexia/poor body condition and skin lesions (40.7% and 40.7%, respectively) were the perceived signs of illness reported by the respondents. Diseased donkeys were treated with Aloe vera (76.3%). Despite the majority of respondents (76.3%) reporting scarcity of veterinary services, diseased donkeys were reported by 49.2% of the respondents. The central role of donkeys in the livelihoods of respondents from the //Kharas region necessitates improvement of donkey health and welfare through better veterinary services, education and awareness campaigns.