Factors influencing the integration of indigenous and conventional knowledge of water security for livestock.

Farmers have developed indigenous knowledge (IK) on predictive and adaptation strategies to sustain water security. The objective of the study was to determine factors that influence the integration of IK and conventional knowledge (CK) to ensure water security for livestock. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. Farmers in Musina and uMhlabuyalingana use IK indicators to predict rain for water security. Farmers in uMhlabuyalingana predicted rain using wind movement more than their counterparts in Musina (P < 0.05). Taboos were used (P > 0.05) in both Musina and uMhlabuyalingana to ensure water security. Cultural prohibitions were used more in uMhlabuyalingana to cope with water shortages than in Musina (P < 0.05). Boreholes, home taps and municipal water were not properly maintained (P > 0.05). Socio-economic factors had greater influence on the integration of IK and CK. Males were 2.24 times likely to support integration of IK and CK compared to women. Adults were 7.1 times likely to support integration of IK and CK compared to those that were younger. Farmers were open to the integration of conventional and indigenous knowledge to ensure water security. Promoting the integration of IK and CK enables stakeholders to gain access to valuable information which can, in turn, promote sustainable community development.

Relationship between faecal egg count and health status in Nguni goats reared on semi-arid rangelands.

Gastrointestinal parasitism is a major constraint to goat productivity, particularly in resource-limited production systems. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between faecal egg count and the health status of different classes of Nguni goats. Body condition score (BCS), packed cell volume (PCV), FAMACHA score, and faecal egg count (FEC) were measured in 120 goats of different classes (weaners, does and bucks) across seasons. The identified gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) were Strongyloides (30 %), Haemonchus contortus (28 %), Trichostrongylus sp. (23 %), Oesophagostomum sp. (17 %) and Ostertagia (2 %), which showed higher prevalence at the hot-wet season compared to other seasons. An interaction (P<0.05) between class and season on BCS was observed. Lower PCV were observed in weaners (24.6 ± 0.79) in the post-rainy season, whereas does 27.4 ± 0.86 and bucks (29.3±1.03) had the highest PCV in the same season. Higher FAMACHA scores were observed in the hot seasons for all goat classes, while lower in the cool-dry season. Linear relationships between FAMACHA scores and FEC were observed in all seasons. The rate of change in FAMACHA score was higher in the post-rainy season (P<0.01) than in other seasons as FEC increased in weaners and does. Bucks had a higher rate of change in FAMACHA in the hot-wet season (P<0.0001) as FEC increased. The rate of BCS decline was higher in the post-rainy season in weaners and does (P<0.01) and bucks (P<0.05) than in other seasons. The decline in PCV was faster during the wet than in the dry seasons. It can be concluded that class and season affected BCS, FAMACHA, and PCV. A linear relationship between FEC and FAMACHA score suggests that FAMACHA could be a good indicator of GIN burden.

Indigenous knowledge to mitigate the challenges of ticks in goats: A systematic review.

The review collates the documented use of IK used in goats for controlling ticks and records the bioactivity testing that has been carried out on these plants. A literature survey was conducted on the use of IK whereby ethno-veterinary medicine (EVM) is used as well as on the investigations relating to the potential efficacy of the used plants. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), ticks rank the first amongst the ectoparasites that limit goat productivity. Infrequent and overuse of acaricides have resulted in the development of resistance in ticks as well as environmental impacts. To combat these impacts, contribution of IK needs to be appreciated. In total 21, ethno-veterinary plant species, belonging to 16 families were identified to control ticks. These included plants such as Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng, Cissus quadrangularis .L, and Aloe ferox Mill, Grandifolia Warb, Terminalia brownii Fresen and Aloe volkensii Engl. Efficacy of plant species such as Pelargonium reniforme Curtis and Eucomis punctata L'Hér is enhanced by mixing them with substances like potassium permanganate and river salt to enhance the effectiveness of the extract. Ethno-veterinary plants have a wide range of phytochemicals, which include alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, anti-microbial and pesticidal effects that produces tick repellent effects. The most common plant parts used during preparations are roots, leaves, barks, fruits and young shoots and to a lesser extent flowers, although the use of leaves usually takes precedence. Non-plant materials involve the use of methods such as traditional practices where ticks are manually removed. using hand picking. Oral administration and direct application on the infested site are used. It is, thus important to conduct more work on the conservation of ethnoveterinary plants, IK information gathering and dissemination.

In vitro efficacy of plant extracts against gastrointestinal nematodes in goats.

Farmers use plant extracts as a potential source of anthelmintic compounds against gastrointestinal nematodes in goats. The objective of the study was to investigate the in vitro anthelmintic activity of aqueous (cold and boiled) and methanolic extracts of Cissus quadrangularis Linn., Aloe marlothii A. Berger, Albizia anthelmintica Brongn., Cissus rotundifolia (Forssk.) Vahl., Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst, and Vachellia xanthophloea (Benth.) P.J.H. Hurter plants against gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Plants were used in two forms: dry and fresh. Decoction (boiled water), infusion (cold water), and methanolic extracts at concentrations of 8, 16, 24, 32, and 40% v/v were tested in vitro on mortality of L3 nematodes. Linear relationships were observed between larvae mortality and extract concentration of the boiled fresh form of C. rotundifolia (P < 0.01), fresh form of cold-water of A. marlothii (P < 0.05), fresh form of cold-water and methanolic C. quadrangularis (P < 0.01), dry form of cold-water and methanolic S. birrea (P < 0.0001), and dry form of cold-water and fresh form of methanolic V. xanthophloea (P < 0.05). Quadratic relationships were observed between larvae mortality and extract concentration of the fresh form of methanolic C. rotundifolia (P < 0.05), fresh form of methanolic A. anthelmintica (P < 0.01), the fresh form of methanol and the dry form of boiled A. marlothii (P < 0.001), fresh form of methanolic (P < 0.05) and dry form of boiled S. birrea (P < 0.01), fresh form of cold and boiled water of V. xanthophloea (P < 0.0001), and dry form of boiled water and methanolic V. xanthophloea (P < 0.05). The crude plant extracts of C. quadrangularis, A. marlothii, A. anthelmintica, C. rotundifolia, S. birrea, and V. xanthophloea could be considered as an integrated approach to achieve sustainable nematode control in goats.

Utilisation of indigenous knowledge to control ticks in goats: a case of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Local indigenous knowledge (IK) informs decision-making about fundamental aspects of life. The inclusion of indigenous knowledge is increasingly becoming a topical subject to enhance livestock veterinary care. The objective of the current study was to explore the extent of utilisation of indigenous knowledge to control ticks in goats. There was an association (P < 0.05) between the use of IK and gender, with males using IK (76.58%) more than females. The association between age distribution and IK use was (P < 0.05); however, farmers above the age of 50 years were using IK more than all group ages. Farmers ranked the purposes of using IK differently (P < 0.05). Ectoparasites were ranked as the most important constraint limiting goat productivity. Ticks were ranked as the most important external parasites. Amblyomma tick species were ranked as the most important amongst the tick species, followed by Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi ticks. A significant population of farmers (80.7%) are dependent on the use of tick sprays, whereas others used injections (3.3%). Cissus quadrangularis L. (Inhlashwana) was singled out as the most used ethno-veterinary plant to control ticks with a frequency of (64%), followed by Gomphocarpus physocarpus E. Mey (Uphehlacwathi) (55.9%). The probability of keeping goats in wet rangelands (P < 0.05) was 3.04 times more likely to influence the extent of IK use compared to their contemporaries in the dry rangeland. Male farmers keeping goats (P < 0.01) were 2.95 more likely to influence the extent of use of IK than females. The type of rangeland, gender, age, residing on farm and also having the herbalist in the locality were the most common factors that influenced the extent of IK utilisation.

Health status of non-descript goats travelling long distances to water source.

The objective of the study was to determine the influence of distance to water source on health status of non-descript weaners and does. The goats were situated at 0.25, 0.75, 1.25, 1.75, 2.25, 2.75 and 3.25 km from the Pongola river. Body condition score (BCS) declined faster in male weaners than female weaners as the distance to water source increased (P < 0.001). The rate of decline in BCS was similar between does and female weaners as the distance to water source increased (P > 0.05). Rectal temperature (RT) of all goat classes increased with an increase in distance to water source (P < 0.05). Rate of change in RT was higher in female weaners than male weaners and does as the distance to water source increased (P < 0.01). The increase in FAMACHA scores was higher in male weaners than does and female weaners as the distance to water source increased (P < 0.05). Does had the smallest drop in packed cell volume (PCV) than female and male weaners as the distance to water source increased (P > 0.05). All goat classes were severely affected by the distance to water source; however, the effects were more adverse in male weaners than in female weaners and does. Body condition score and PCV declined, whereas RT and FAMACHA increased with an increase in distance travelled by goats to the water source. It can be concluded that both male and female weaners were more susceptible to increasing distance to water source.