Welfare Assessment of Working Donkeys in Mekelle City, Ethiopia

摘要

A cross-sectional type of study was conducted with the objective of assessing the general healthproblems and welfare concerns of working donkeys in Mekelle city. Both direct (animal based) and indirect(owner interview) assessment methods were used. Out of the total 384 examined donkeys; 30.2% had skinproblem, 33.8% infested with external parasites and 18.2% had musculo-skeletal problems. The woundprevalence in the present study area was 37.9% and distribution of wound on the donkey body showed that14.3%, 11.2%, 7%, 4.4% and 1% at wither and back, varied body part, loin and tail region, limbs and headregions, respectively. The age proportion obtained were 21.1%, 56.3%, 18.2% and 4.4% in the age groups of5 years, 6-10 years, 11-15 years and above 15 years, respectively. The body condition score of workingdonkeys in the present study area were 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 with a percentage of 37.2%, 46.9% and 15.9%,respectively. The dental problem was significantly associated (p=0.000) with age, but not with body conditionscore (p=0.140). Similarly, the wound was significantly associated with the body condition (p=0.000), type ofthe work (p=0.020) and age (p=0.000). The body condition was significantly associated (p=0.007) with the typeof the work, but not with the prevalence of external parasite (p=0.781). Results of indirect assessment throughinterview with 38 owners showed that the major constraints of donkeys in decreasing order were, managementproblem (28.9%), harnessing problem (23.7%), over loading and over working (18.4%), disease and lack ofveterinary service program (18.4%), nutritional problem (10.5%). The owners used different methods for themanagement of diseased donkey and 31.6% of the total respondents were able to take the diseased donkeysto veterinary clinic, 10.5% used traditional treatment and 57.9% of the respondents do nothing. This studyshowed many of the donkeys working in the area were experiencing multiple welfare problems. Hence, acomprehensive donkey health, management and welfare promotion program is important to alleviate theproblem.