Prevalence and effects of January disease (Theileriosis) in communal beef cattle producers: A case for ward 8, Zaka district. · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Mashiri Sarudzai

Title

Prevalence and effects of January disease (Theileriosis) in communal beef cattle producers: A case for ward 8, Zaka district.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Farmers in Zimbabwe keep animals for numerous purposes including for meat production, draft power in the absence of mechanization, manure for organic material, breeding and for immediate social capital such as dowry payments. However, the major challenges these farmers face on beef cattle production are poor animal health as well as high livestock mortality rate. Tick borne diseases, pose a major challenge to beef production and management to smallholder farmers, particularly those in the communal areas like in Zaka district through lack of adequate tick control. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and impacts of theileriosis on communal beef producers in Zaka district, Masvingo Province. In this study, the researcher used correlational research design. The design was used to investigate the prevalence impact relationship between variables, thus the design used questionnaires. In the research findings, the data shows that 92% of the farmers were aware of the disease and only 8% showed that they did not know about the disease and its impacts. The findings also revealed that the disease impacted negatively as the disease contributed to 90% of financial losses to cattle producers. From the findings, the disease can cause affect cattle production in the district if farmers are not educated on the prevention and control of the disease. To minimize cattle losses, the government should provide enough dipping chemicals especially in summer where there is high rainfall and high tick infestations which are vectors of the disease. Awareness campaigns on the causes and effects of the disease should be increased so that every cattle farmer is fully knowledgeable about the disease.

Date

JUNE 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Key words: Smallholder farmers, January disease, Mortalities, Questionnaire, tick infestations, acaricides

Supervisor

Mr K. Kunaka and Dr A. Chikwanda