Assessing the status of livestock production in the Mhlontlo Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province

Abstract

of thesis: Assessing the status of livestock production in the Mhlontlo Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. This study assessed the status of communal livestock production in the Mhlontlo Local Municipality. The study participants were farmers who kept one or all the three ruminants (goat, sheep, and cattle). Using a convenience sampling method, in which participants were selected based on availability and willingness, data were collected using a structured questionnaire, which consisted of open and close-ended questions to interview a total of 60 farmers. Collected data were captured and coded using Microsoft Excel and analysed by using the SPSS program. The results from the demographics indicate that the average age was 57.7 years. The majority of respondents were male as the ratio of male to female was 83% to 17%. Only 15% of the respondents had a university or college education and the rest had either no education (45%), primary education (20%) and secondary education (20%). Of the farmers with no education, 56.7% were literate while the rest were illiterate. The study further revealed that respondents were confronted with management challenges such as animal health and nutritional challenges, poor record keeping and poor livestock theft prevention strategy. The study reports that all the respondents (100%) had no control over breeding and mating. Only 25% of cattle respondents owned bulls, while 58% of the sheep farmers owned rams. The average calving rate was 43.8%, lambing rate 95% and kidding rate was 70.3%. Calve mortality was 24%, kid mortality was 37% and lamb mortality being 38.5%. Other production constraints included predation, theft, poor grazing land, drought, and diseases. The most dominant marketing channel was private sales (64.5%), followed by butcheries (16.1%), speculators (12.9%), auction (3.2%), abattoir (2.2%) and retail stores (1.1%). Marketing challenges experienced were poor road infrastructure (30.6%), high transaction costs (18.5%), no bank account (10.2%), poor quality animals (9.2%), poor signal reception (8.3%), discount entitlement (8.3%), lack of handling facilities (5.6%), ownership verification challenges (5.6%) and gender stereotypes (3.7%). Government intervention included provision of feed, vaccination remedies, extension services, dip, and other veterinary services. The study recommends farmer training to equip them with key farm management knowledge.