School of Veterinary Medicine

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Browsing School of Veterinary Medicine by Subject "Alaster Samkange"

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    Characterisation of oestrus cycles in Namibian Swakara and Damara sheep through determination of circannual plasma progesterone levels
    (2019) Kandiwa, Erick; Mushonga, Borden; Madzingira, Oscar
    A year-long prospective study characterized the seasonality of oestrus cycles in primiparous, nonpregnant Swakara (n=8) and Damara (n=5) ewes through surveillance of plasma progesterone (P4) levels. During this period, Swakara and Damara groups evidently averaged 23 oestrus cycles with an average length of 17 days. Damara ewes showed greater mean peak plasma P4 levels (11.4±0.16ng/ml) than Swakara ewes (5.4±0.11ng/ml) (P<0.05).Oestrus cycles inDamara ewes showed relatively uniform plasma P4 peaks throughout the year ranging from 10.6±0.16 to 12.6±0.24ng/ml. In Swakara ewes, P4 peaks were highest in the autumn oestrus cycles (from7.1±0.16 to 7.5±0.11ng/ml), rapidly declining through winter to 2.2±0.08ng/ml by midspring and then rapidly increasing to 4.9±0.37ng/ml at the commencement of summer, followed by a gradual increase from 5.7± to 7.1±ng/ml by the start of autumn. The annual mean area under the curve temporal progesterone measurements (AUCPM) in Damara ewes (115.9±18.6ng∗day/ml) was greater than that in Swakara ewes (58.6±25.3ng∗day/ml) (p<0.05). For Swakara ewes, the mean AUCPM in summer and autumn cycles (68.2±14.7 and 79.5±10.0ng∗day/ml, respectively) were greater than those in spring and winter cycles (28.7±12.3 and 55.0±27.3ng∗day/ml), respectively (P<0.05). There was no seasonal variation in the exposure of the Damara ewes to P4 in between seasons (P>0.05), though, however, the Damara ewes had greater P4 levels than the Swakara ewes (P<0.05). Progesterone profiles showed that Swakara ewes possessed ‘residual’ seasonality, whereas the Damara ewes were no longer seasonal.The implications of this disparity in the seasonal exposure of Swakara and Damara ewes to luteal P4 on fertility warrant further investigation.
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    Characterization of the beekeeping value chain: Challenges, perceptions, limitations, and opportunities for beekeepers in Kayonza district, Rwanda
    (2019) Mushonga, Borden; Hategekimana, Landouard; Habarugira, Gervais
    A survey was undertaken to characterize the honey production value chain and identify the challenges, limitations, and opportunities for beekeepers in Kayonza District, Eastern Rwanda, in light of the stagnation of the apiculture industry. The majority (86%, n = 100) of the beekeepers were adultmales.Most of the respondents (71%) lacked primary level education. The majority of the hives were made from hollow tree logs (40%), tree barks (12%), banana leaves/bark (11%), cowdung (8%),mud (7%), grass (6%), tree leaves (6%), and the rest (20%) were improved beehives, particularly Langstroth hives.The hive pests encountered were hive beetles (25%), small black ants (19%), waxmoths (12%), lizards (8%), termites (7%), birds (6%), mites (3%), and mice (2%). Fifty-five percent of the respondents hung their hives on trees to prevent pest invasion with 95% effectiveness, 25%frequently smoked their hives with 85% effectiveness, 16% cleared the bushes around apiaries with 55% effectiveness, and 4% used traditional plant insect repellents with 35% effectiveness. Forty-one percent of the respondents lacked adequate information on beekeeping, 25% had inadequate time to work on apiaries, 24% had inadequate technical knowledge and implements, and 10% needed additional labour for managing apiaries. Based on the results of this study, beekeeping in Kayonza is still largely traditional, characterized by the use of antiquated production methods and underutilization of available marketing channels. Perceptions in the district are that beekeeping is for the poor and illiterate. Challenges and limitations of beekeeping in Kayonza District include lack of education, gender bias, pests and diseases, absconding and swarming of bees, high costs, and lack of modern apicultural equipment. However, the potential for developing beekeeping enterprise (opportunities) is immense given the abundance of wild bee populations, possibility of women participation, abundance of honey collection centres (market), and availability of technical support from Government and development agencies. In conclusion, this study advocates the need for intervention measures to educate and promote production and marketing of quality honey, tackle pest and disease for beekeepers and boost Rwanda’s apiculture industry.
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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.