A survey on livestock production in some traditional areas of Northern Kwazulu Natal in South Africa

摘要

Asurveyonlivestockproductionwasconductedthroughquestionnairesamong76ruralfarmersinthethreewardsofEnselenidistrictinNorthenKwazulu,Natal.Thestudyshowedthatthelivestockownedcomprisedchickens,cattle,sheepandducks.Cattleandgoatswerethemainlivestockusedforculturalpurposes.Livestockweresoldforcashtogetotherhouseholdneedsandcontributed20.2%tofarmers'totalincome.Productionwasextensive,groundnutswereusedasatraditionalsupplementtoincreaseproductionandsomemedicinalplantswereusedtoincreasereproductiverates.Dosing,vaccinationandinjectionswereusedtocontrolhealth.Nobreedingseasonorsystemwasreported.FarmerskeptindigenousNgunicattle,sheep,goatsandchickens.Sicklyanddeformedanimalswerecastratedorculled.Mainconstraintsincludedlackofextension,theftandparasites.