Awareness concerning optimal pig production management and animal welfare among smallholder farmers in Tanzania

摘要

The aim of this study was to assess smallholder farmer awareness in terms of good pig management and to identify serious managementissues that should be readily changeable despite resources being limited in a rural setting. Methodology was a combination ofquestionnaire and observational surveys performed at pig-keeping households practising either confinement or a free-range system.Households were identified using the snowball method. A total of 120 pig-keeping households were included, of which 32 practisedfree-range systems and 88 confined their pigs. The observational survey included management practices and welfare assessmentbased on one pig from each of the 120 households. The results indicated that farmers were not aware of the basic requirements ofpigs regardless of the production system practised. Water was often neglected and provided less frequently among those practisingfree-range. Pigs kept free-range also received treatment less frequently compared to those kept confined. Pigs were generally kept inpoor conditions with risk of injury and without shelter from wind, rain, cold, heat, and sun. Welfare issues exist within both productionsystems, but issues within the confinement system could be easily eliminated with proper management. More knowledge on basicpig husbandry is required in the region and is essential for improving production. Educating farmers on the basic requirements forwater and feed, alone, could vastly improve smallholder pig production. Education on pig management should therefore be a cornerstonein any research activity involving smallholder farmers in rural areas.