Perceptions and welfare of donkeys in Southern Namibia
| dc.contributor.author | Chiwome, Bernard | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mushonga, Borden | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mbeserua, Vandaapi | |
| dc.contributor.author | Samkange, Alaster | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kandiwa, Erick | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mbiri, Pricilla | |
| dc.contributor.author | Madzingira, Oscar | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-04-29T20:05:28Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-04-29T20:05:28Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019 | |
| dc.description.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. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.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. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11070/2726 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | Alaster Samkange | en_US |
| dc.subject | Pricilla Mbiri | en_US |
| dc.subject | Oscar Madzingira | en_US |
| dc.subject | Erick Kandiwa | en_US |
| dc.subject | Husbandry | en_US |
| dc.subject | Donkeys | en_US |
| dc.title | Perceptions and welfare of donkeys in Southern Namibia | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |