Faculty of Veterinary Science
Department of Paraclinical Sciences (Veterinary)
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
South Africa is currently in a stage of transition where previously disadvantaged farmers are being assisted to obtain land and resources for commercial farming. Stock farmers require a great deal of input and expertise in the veterinary field in order to achieve internationally accepted standards for the production of safe food of animal origin. State funding and international donor funding is used for veterinary extension but the impact and effect of the extension on productivity, food security and food safety is not measured. If the impact can be assessed, the extension message or channel of communication can be modified so as to have the desired effect. For the purposes of this research, veterinary extension differs from agricultural extension in that it addresses topics linked to human and animal health (animal productivity) and quality of life rather than just increases in animal production.
Over the last three years, research done in this field has shown that improvement of farmers' knowledge does not necessarily result in implementation of the extension message. The message itself must have immediate relevance to the farmer's own priorities. It was also shown that veterinary extension messages must be regularly updated. For instance, a study in North West Province in herds belonging to emerging farmers showed that infertility of bulls played a more significant role in calving percentage than infectious diseases. A study on the cost effectiveness of management of indigenous goats indicated that the traditional low-input method of farming was significantly more profitable than introducing 'improved breeds'. Strategic deworming of goats would probably be more cost effective than feed supplementation of does in improving survival to weaning of goat kids. In a subsequent study it was suggested that the best way to increase profits would be to feed roughage to unweaned kids as the improved rumen function would result in significant improvement in size and weight at weaning, with very little extra costs. A study currently in progress aims to assist emerging small-scale dairy farmers to become commercially competitive. It was found that marketing and the price of milk are not constraints to financial success and that more attention paid to the health and management of the cows would probably be the best route to increased profits and improved food safety for the consumer of dairy products.
Contact person: Prof CME McCrindle.
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