Research ArticleAbstract
The medical practices and health management in Blackbelly farms in Central Africa were analyzed between 1st April to 31st November 2019 in 299 farms in Cameroon, Congo and Gabon. It appears that bacterial diseases are the most encountered in Blackbelly farms. in Central Africa, monitoring of viral and fungal diseases. It is also observed that ticks (14.7%) constitute the main type of ectoparasite of Blackbelly Central Africa and co-infect farms with insects and mites (34.1%). Helminths (43.1%) are the most common endoparasites. However, the majority of breeders (76.6%) never have their animals vaccinated and very few breeders regularly vaccinate their animals (4.7%) in general in Central Africa. But in Congo 45% of breeders sometimes vaccinate their animals (14.3% of this category). The majority of breeders never administer preventive treatment neither against ectoparasites (75.3%) nor against endoparasites (75.3%). 3%), which once again demonstrates the disease resistance capacity of these animals. However, the majority of the Congo’s pastoralists sometimes resort to preventive treatments against ectoparasites (65%) and some of them resort to treatment against endoparasites (35%). Blackbelly breeders sometimes use traditional treatments and are mainly from Cameroon. However, all breeders record losses of animals due to disease, theft and accidents.
Introduction
Black belly sheep have been one of the widely distributed in the world because of its higher adaptability capacities in various climatic condition [1]. Indeed sheep, after cattle, represent the most important group of ruminants in the farming system, both temperate and tropical [2]. sheep also presents notable advantages linked to animal health. Indeed, in the regions of Central Africa, there is a trypano tolerant sheep breed and very resistant to various diseases. Among these there is the Black belly sheep which is found only in forest areas with an ideal adaptation to the local conditions of these areas [3]. It is a sheep breed which has been present in these areas for several decades, but which is now found in several countries of the world following the migration movements of the slave trade and colonization [1]. The farming practices of Black belly in the forest zone have enabled this resource to be conserved for generations, but current environmental changes are necessarily causing changes in the farming practices of the populations. Indeed, one of the most important cause of animal lost in African farming systems is diseases, due to poor medical practices [4]. If in some areas of America and Europe the breeding practices of Black belly have been the subject of several studies for years [5-8]. In Central Africa, very few authors have addressed the analysis of farming practices for Black belly sheep and particularly health practices [1,3]. This while, improving the breeding practices and genetic resources used is only possible if we master the practices of the farmers in their environment including good medical practices. According to Adjibode et al. [9], differences upstream farming system could lead on great variability in the reproductive and growth performances in sheep. The lack of credible information on these farming practices make it impossible to assess the difficulties linked to technical improvements in farming. If the sociocultural and traditional practices have very often been the engines of conservation of endogenous genetic resources, the challenges of food security and financial stability oblige the improvement medical practices as they play an important role in farms profitability. The objective of this study is therefore to characterize the medicals practices of Black belly sheep farms in the Central African sub-region.
Materials and Methods
Description of the Study Area
The Location of Our Study Mainly Involves Three Central African Countries, Namely: Cameroon, Gabon and the Congo. A total of 8 regions are included in this study, the Center, South, East, Littoral regions in Cameroon, the Estuary and Wouleu-Ntem in Gabon and Kouilou and Niari in Congo. These areas are mainly occupied by the Bantu populations. These localities include similar climatic characteristic of humid tropical forest and equatorial, extend to the South of Cameroon, and the southwest of the Central African Republic to Congo, DRC, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, with an average rainfall between 1 400 to 1500 mm of precipitation per year (European Commission. 2007). The climate is hot and humid with temperatures ranging between 22°C and 30°C (Tsalefac et 2015). This area is distinguished by an interconnected hydrographic network, the Congo Basin whose main rivers are the Oubangui, Sangha, Kadeï and Ngoko rivers. They are born in Cameroon and flow into the Sangha, a tributary of the Congo. The vegetation is dominated by dense forests that become cloudy as precipitation increases. (European Commission, 2007).
Data Collection
This study was carried during the period between April to November 2019. A total of 299 Black belly farmers (267 in Cameroon, 20 in Congo and 12 in Gabon) were selected in Hazard by snowball method. Survey framework was used as well as observations for data collection. The management method information that Were collected includes: herd structure, management of livestock, health management, the problems encountered.
Statistical Analyzes
The descriptive statistics made it possible to determine the frequencies, means, and percentages of breeding method of the Black belly in Central Africa. The test of Contingency made it possible to test association or independence between the factors. These analyzes were carried out using SPSS 21.0 software.
Results
Influence of the Categories of Diseases, Ectoparasites and Endoparasites Encountered in Blackbelly Farms According to the Countries in Central Africa
In general, bacterial diseases are the most encountered in Blackbelly farms in Central Africa. However, there are also other diseases such as viral and fungal diseases (Table 1). It is observed that ticks (14.7%) constitute the main type of ectoparasite of Blackbelly Central Africa. However, insects and ticks and mites generally affect Central African farms (34.1%). The most common endoparasites are helminths (43.1%), however the majority of breeders in Central Africa report the recurrent presence of both types, protozoa and helminths in farms. We note that the majority of breeders (76.6%) never have their animals vaccinated. Nevertheless, in Congo 45% of breeders sometimes vaccinate their animals (14.3% in this category). Very few breeders regularly vaccinate their animals (4.7%). The majority of breeders never administer preventive treatment either against ectoparasites (75.3%) or against endoparasites (75.3%), which once again demonstrates the ability of these animals to resist diseases. However, the majority of Congo farmers sometimes resort to preventive treatments against ectoparasites (65%) and some of them resort to treatment against endoparasites (35%).
Table 1: Influence of the categories of diseases, ectoparasites and endoparasites encountered in Blackbelly farms in Central Africa.
Note: n (%) : actual (frequency), ns : not significant, * : significant
Traditional Treatment of Animals
Some breeders regularly use traditional treatment (2.0 %) and there are all of them from Cameroon (Table 2).
Table 2: Traditional treatment of animals.
Note: n (%) : Number of farmers (frequency)
Loss of Animals and Intervention by Specialist in the Field
The majority of Black Belly farmers (Table 3) record cases of animal’s loss (94.6%). These losses are mainly due to the diseases and theft (29.4%). However, in Congo and Gabon in addition to theft and disease (Table 4), breeders identify accidents as another major cause of animal loss. For most of the breeders, disease and mortality are non-seasonal in the forest area of Africa (Table 5), they are present in the dry and rainy season. However, all of the Congo breeders and half of the Gabon farmers declare that disease and mortality are more frequent in the rainy season.
Table 3: Regular loss of animals in black belly farms in Central Africa.
Note: n (%): Number of farmers (frequency)
Table 4:Main causes of animal loss in black belly farms in Central Africa.
Note: n (%) : Number of farmers (frequency)
Table 5:Periods of the year of higher frequency of illness and mortality.
Note: n (%) : Number of farmers (frequency)
Discussion
In general, bacterial diseases are the most commonly
encountered in Blackbelly farms in Central Africa. However, there
are also other diseases such as viral and fungal diseases. Ticks
(14.7%) are the main type of ectoparasite of Blackbelly Central
Africa. However, the majority of breeders report an association
of insects, ticks and mites which generally affect farms in Central
African countries (34.1%). The most common endoparasites are
helminths (43.1%), however the majority of breeders in Central
Africa report the recurrent presence of the two types, protozoa and
helminths in farms. Various studies have also reported the presence
of diseases and parasites in small ruminant breeding, particularly
in Cameroon, Brazil, Benin and Niger. Guilherme (2017) noted a
high rate of intestinal worms (37%), a result of our observations.
Yaye [10] in Niger to be identified as the main diseases were,
anthrax, sheep pox, foot-and-mouth disease and parasitic diseases.
Tounkara et al. (1996) in Mali observed a strong presence of PPR
in herds of small ruminants. The presence of certain pathologies in
certain localities will therefore depend on the natural conditions of
the environment, but also on the availability of mitigation means. In
fact, in the Congo, breeders suffer from a real absence of products
and veterinary pharmacy in the locality of Pointe Noire and Nairi,
which limits the means of combating pathologies and favors their
installations in the herds.
The majority of breeders (76.6%) never have their animals
vaccinated, in Congo where 45% of breeders sometimes vaccinate
their animals (14.3% in this category), despite the difficulties of
access to medicines and the scarcity of supply points, breeders
who are mostly traders’ source veterinary products in neighboring
countries such as Cameroon. During this period, the Congolese
government launched a vaccination campaign against PPR in 2014,
which caused enormous losses to breeders, which led to farmers
withdrawing from public vaccination campaigns against PPR. Very
few breeders regularly vaccinate their animals (4.7%). However,
in row systems, breeders regularly vaccinate their animals and
in backyards, breeders sometimes vaccinate their animals. In
the different countries of Central Africa, the majority of breeders
never administer preventive treatment either against ectoparasites
(75.3%) or against endoparasites (75.3%), which once again
demonstrates the ability to disease resistance of these animals.
However, the majority of the Congo’s pastoralists sometimes resort
to preventive treatment against ectoparasites (65%) and some of
them resort to treatment against endoparasites (35%). Likewise,
in the majority of systems, breeders sometimes administer
treatments against ectoparasites and endoparasites, except for the
stray system where almost all breeders do not treat their animals.
Our results corroborate with the observations of [9] in Senegal,
indeed all of the pastoralists in north and south Senegal report a high prevalence of diseases causing diarrhea, cough, weight loss
and mortality. Similarly, it also notes a low vaccine use equal to that
reported in this study (24%). In contrast, in western Cameroon,
Tchouamo et al (2005) [11] noted that the majority of pastoralists
administer disease care (70%).
This variation in health status in different countries and
production systems may be due to varying feeding, watering and
hygiene conditions. It should however be noted that, the breeders
do not administer any treatment either because they do not know
the treatments to apply, or finally because they do not have enough
money. Very few breeders regularly use traditional treatment and
all from Cameroon this is because in the other countries on the other
hand, Tchouamo, et al. [11] noted a higher rate of use of treatment
with antibiotics (49%) and with the traditional pharmacopoeia (15
%) mainly against ectoparasites and endoparasites. Traditional
treatments have also been identified by Ndogmo and al (2016)
in guinea fowl farms in Cameroon and in local chicken farms in
Zimbaoué by Mapiye et al. [12], due to their local availability, ease
of application, low cost and not need great technology for their
uses. Almost all breeders of Black Belly record cases of loss of
animals (94.6%). These losses are mainly due to the diseases and
theft (29.4%). However, in Congo and Gabon in addition to theft
and disease, breeders identify accidents as another major cause of
animal loss. Our results are similar to those of Doko and al (2009)
Adjibode and al (2016), Yaye, et al. [10,13]. Theft is a permanent
factor in the loss of animals in small ruminant farms, indeed some
breeder declares to have lost all of their livestock due to theft. In
Congo losses by theft can go to more than 20 animals. These cases
of theft generally occur at night in the South regions of Cameroon
and Gabon, but also during the day in Congo when the sheep find
themselves alone on pasture. The farmers generally (74.6%) do
not call a specialist, only 25.4% call a specialist in their farm. These
interventions are generally Occasional (19.4%) and in the field
of animal health (29.4%). Contrary to our results, Alkoiret and al
(2009) [13] in Benin noted that the majority of cattle breeders call
a specialist mainly in the field of animal health. Similarly, Tchouamo
and al (2005) [11] found west Cameroon that the majority of
farmers are calling for veterinary service, but only 53% of this
farmer are satisfied with their services. In Niger, self-medication
by small ruminant breeders limits the frequency of intervention by
specialists in the field (YAYE. and al, 2019) [10]. This phenomenon
is caused by the presence of a vast network of black market for
veterinary products [14].
Conclusion
Diseases and parasitic infestations are present in all Blackbelly farms in Central Africa. They are the source of many losses on the farm. However, health and medical practices remain very little mastered. The lack of financial means and the unavailability of phytosanitary products constitute major difficulties in the sanitary control of livestock. Improving the technical competence of livestock keepers in animal health can be an important element in reducing the impact of diseases on farm production and improving their productivity.
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