Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the health management practices and factors limiting small scale intensive pig production in East Shewa of Central Ethiopia. The study used structured questionnaire administered to 105 household pig farmers, randomly selected from three towns (Addis Ababa, Bishoftu and Adama) of East-Shewa. Focus group discussions were also performed to check the reliability of the information obtained through questionnaire interview. Data generated included production proposes, health practices, biosecurity measures, quarantine practices, major pig diseases and constraints. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, chi-square, index ranking and descriptive statistics. The main reasons for rearing pigs across the towns were to generate secondary income.The percentages of households practiced feet bath and wheel bath were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Bishoftu town (85 and 22.5%) than in Addis Ababa (20 and 2.9%) and Adama (20 and 3.3%) towns. While, the percentages of households that did not allow entry of new pigs; quarantined new pigs; and do not quarantined new pigs were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Bishoftu (70, 25 and 75%) compared to Addis Ababa (14.3, 5.7 and 94.3%) and Adama (13.3, 6.7 and 93.3%). The prevalence of diseases and constraints to pig production were dependent on the context of the towns i.e. mastitis was ranked 2nd in Addis Ababa while 6th in Bishoftu and 3rd in Adama. Land scarcity had the highest rank value (4th) in Addis Ababa while the lowest rank value in Adama (7th) and Bishoftu (8th). Thus, development interventions should be designed and implemented accordingly to improve the benefit of small scale intensive pig keepers.

Published in

Advances in Biological Research
2015, Volume: 9, number: 5, pages: 373-380

SLU Authors

• Lundeheim, Nils

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Genetics and Breeding


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/69523