Browsing by Author "Lekule, Faustin Paul"

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Animal health constraints in dairy goats kept under Smallholder farming systems in Kongwa and Mvomero Districts, Tanzania
(Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, 2014) Shija, Dismas Said Ngasa; Kusiluka, Lughano Jeremy Moses; Chenyambuga, Sebastian Wilson; Shayo, Deogratias; Lekule, Faustin Paul
This study was conducted to determine animal health constraints for dairy goats kept by small-scale farmers in Kongwa and Mvomero districts, Tanzania. A total of 129 dairy goats belonging to 108 farmers were screened for gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection, coccidiosis, haemoparasites, brucellosis and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) over a period of 11 months. Other clinical diseases and mortalities were recorded. The goats used were Norwegian crosses and Toggenburg crosses. The mean prevalence of GIN infection and coccidiosis in all goats were 54.8 and 57.4%, respectively. Prevalence of GIN infection was higher (P ≤ 0.05) during the rainy months than in the dry months, but the prevalence of coccidiosis did not differ (P > 0.05) between the dry and rainy seasons. The EPG in goats did not differ (P > 0.05) between Kongwa (169.79 ± 0.03 EPG) and Mvomero (171.51 ± 0.04 EPG) districts, but the OPG differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with values of 793.15 ± 0.04 (Kongwa) and 364.02 ± 0.05 (Mvomero). The prevalence of CCPP in the goats was 26.4%. Other clinical diseases included respiratory diseases, infectious keratoconjunctivitis and orf (scabby lesions around mouth and nostrils). Both tests for haemoparasites and brucellosis indicated negative results for all goats tested. Mortality rate during the study period was 15.5% and the major causes of deaths were respiratory diseases, bloat and food poisoning. In conclusion, gastrointestinal nematodes are prevalent in both districts, but the burdens are relatively low to justify mass treatment. The Norwegian goats are more susceptible to GIN infection and coccidiosis compared to Toggenburg goats.
Investigations on the nutritive value and practical ways of feeding cassava roots to pigs
(Sokoine University Of Agriculture, 1990) Lekule, Faustin Paul
The study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of cassava roots in four growth and two metabolic experiments. In the growth studies, feed was offered ad libitum except protein supplement to pigs fed fresh cassava tubers. The pigs were group fecjLand slaughtered as they reached 90 kg liveweight. characteristics and organ weights were determined. Carcass Cassava had no significant effect on growth rate, organ weights, gut fill or carcass characteristics. In experiment 3 and 4, a comparison was made of commercial sow and weaner (SW) meal. the cassava root meal (CRM) diet, soaked cassava root tubers (CRT) diet and rice polishings (RP) diet. The average daily gains were 625 g, 635 g, 609g and 660 g. and feed conversion ratios (kg EM feed/kg gain) 4.44, 4.19, 4.05 and 3.89 for the SW diet, CRM diet, CRT diet and RP diet. respectively. The average daily feed intake (kg dry matter) was 2.58kg, 2.55 kg, and 2.47 kg for pigs fed the SW diet, CRM diet CRT diet and RP diet, respectively. Pigs fed soaked cassava root tubers consumed 3.5 kg cassava/pig/day and required 406 kg cassava tubers and 152 kg protein supplement form 20 to 90 kg liveweight. In experiment 5, cassava root meal and cassava root tubers were again compared with cottonseed cake as the main protein source or a combination of cottonseed cake and sunflower rake. Daily gains feed intake and feed conversion ratio (kg EM/kg gain) were .551 g, 638 g, and 589 g, 1.87 kg, 2.10 kg, and 2.03 kg, and 3.45, 3.36 and 3.56 cottonseed cake, respectively. for CRT + sunflower cake diets, CRM CRM + cottonseed cake + sunflower cake diets Pigs fed fresh cassava root tubers consumed 2.97 kg cassava/pig/day and required 383 kg cassava and 112 kg protein supplement from 20 to 90 kg liveweight. Experiment 6 was designed to examine the voluntary feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion of pigs fed a diet considered as a standard cassava diet (2/3 cassava, 1/3 protein giving a 15% CP diet) under Tanzania conditions. Feed intake was about 30% higher in the ad lib, fed barrows than in the ad lib. fed gilts and restricted barrows and gilts, while growth rate was about 23% higher. It is concluded that cassava is a good energy source for pigs, and where it is relatively cheap and abundant, it could be used as the only energy source in diets of growing-finishing pigs and cottonseed cake could form the major part of the protein supplement.
Smallholder pig marketing systems in the southern highlands of Tanzania
(ResearchGate, 2016-01) Kimbi, Eliakunda Casmir; Mlangwa, James; Thamsborg, Stig; Helena, Mejer; Lekule, Faustin Paul
A study using two cross-sectional and a longitudinal research designs was undertaken to assess smallholder pig marketing system to explore basic information for improving smallholder pig production and marketing systems. The first design involved a cross-sectional survey of 300 pig farmers randomly selected in 30 villages in Mbozi and Mbeya rural districts. The second design used a cross-sectional survey of 124 pig traders randomly selected in 65 villages in Mbozi and Mbeya rural districts, and Mbeya Municipality. The third one used a longitudinal design and collected data from 40 pig farmers in 10 villages who had also participated in the first design. Results showed that, pig-marketing systems had various channels and segments moving mainly pigs and pork to farmers, traders and consumers. Major market participants in the pig market chain were the pig farmers who played a dual role as pig producers and buyers, traders of live pigs and pork, and finally pork consumers. Most farmers (85%) bought pigs for breeding, while few (18%), bought for fattening. The mean (±SD) weight and age of pigs purchased was 18.2±12.6 kg and 6.2 ±4.7 months, respectively. Farmers sold about 70 and 30% of their pigs to pig traders and other farmers, respectively. Pigs sold to farmers had significantly (P< 0.001) lower mean age (6.1±1.5 months) and live weight (LW) (14.3± 3.6 kg) than pigs sold to traders with a mean age of 12.8± 1.5 months and LW of 40.0± 3.6kg. The study concludes that marketing systems were dominated by informal marketing channels, hence, limit the effectiveness of pig production and marketing. Marketed pigs had smaller weights compared to their ages, therefore contributing to poor returns to pig farmers and sub-optimal pork market supply. The study recommends strategic development of pig value chain for sustainable improvement of smallholder pig production and marketing systems and quality pork to consumers.