Perceptions and welfare of donkeys in Southern Namibia
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Date
2019
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Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Alaster Samkange, Pricilla Mbiri, Oscar Madzingira, Erick Kandiwa, Husbandry, Donkeys
Citation
Chiwome, B.A., et al. (2019). Perceptions and welfare of donkeys in Southern Namibia. Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Welfare, 3(1), 44-56.