Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Health
Open Access

Livestock play a suppressing role in adding a stability of farm incomes, food security, farming systems, as form of insurance and a means of storing savings [1]. But animal diseases are one of the major constraints in livestock productivity in the developing country, mainly because of poor livestock health services [2]. Transboundary and zoonotic animal diseases significantly hinder the development of livestock sector and they also expose producers to high livelihood risks and uncertainties [3]. Delivery of quality and affordable veterinary services is one of the effective means of enhancing livestock productivity [4]. Veterinary services are important for the stable and sustainable development of a safe and fair world food system, by improving animal and veterinary public health. Healthy animals with good welfare (and their safe products), as supported by strong Veterinary Services can thus provide a sustainable pathway out of poverty by increasing market participation, enhancing smallholder and pastoral productivity and improving food safety and security and general wellbeing for communities globally [5].

Though government veterinary institutions in Ethiopia traditionally provide basic animal health services, they generally encounter financial shortfalls limiting their ability to deliver sustainable animal health services [6]. According to a study [5], veterinary services must have the capacity to prevent, control and respond to emerging infectious zoonotic pathogens in a sustainable manner, at source in their animal hosts; otherwise the entire global community is more vulnerable to human epidemics and, in the worst case scenario, pandemics. But consequently in Ethiopia, the majority of diseases interventions consist of mass inoculations following outbreaks rather than preventive measures.A constraint of livestock health and veterinary service delivery in Arbegona was not studied earlier. Since the Veterinary Services ensure the protection of livestock, it plays a major role in the financial and social wellbeing of people. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify existing constraints of livestock health and veterinary service delivery system to recommend intervention strategies for sustainable improvement of animal health service delivery in the study district.

Materials and methods

Study area description

The study was conducted in Arbegona, district of Sidama Regionv, Ethiopia. It is located about 300 km south of Addis Ababa. The altitude varies from 2001-3500 m.a.s.l. The area experience mean annual temperature of about 10-17.5oC. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 1401-1600mm. Total livestock population in the district during the study period were Cattle 230,861, Sheep 83,140, Goat 3,518, Poultry 56,508, Equine 2,535 and Bee hive 5,173 [7].

Data collection

Questionnaire survey, focus group discussion, retrospective data and observations were conducted to collect data. Semi-structured questionnaire was designed and veterinarians were interviewed. Focus group discussion was conducted at each selected peasant associations farmers according to the principle of participatory rural appraisal [8]. Each focus group discussion was composed of 12 discussants. A checklist (based on standards set by the regional bureau of agriculture) was prepared and both private and government animal health service delivery centers operating during the study period was observed for all available premises and facilities. Retrospective data over 5 years were collected from the agricultural district offices in order to assess budgetary and administrative constraints relating to planned activities and the ability to implement them with the available resources.

Data analysis

The data collected were entered in to MS-Excel 2000 computer program. The analysis and summarization of the data was made using simple descriptive statistics.

Result and Discussion

Cattle and poultry were the major economically important livestock species in Arbegona (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Economically important livestock species.

Major livestock diseases, common vaccines and frequently vaccinated animals

Mastitis, Ovine Pasteurellosis and Newcastle diseases were the first ranked diseases of cattle, sheep and poultry diseases in the study area, respectively (Table 1).

Table 1:  Major livestock diseases (pair wise ranking system).

Table 2: Common vaccines for animals.

Figure 2: Frequently vaccinated animals.

Practices and premises in veterinary service delivery centers

There were three animal health posts, 1 governmental veterinary clinic, 36 animal health assistants, 3 veterinary drug shops and 1 private vet clinic in the woreda. Vaccination, Clinic service (Treatment, castration, minor surgery, pregnancy diagnosis and delivery service) and Abattoir service (Ante mortem and post mortem) were the existing practices that have been doing in the government veterinary service delivery centers. Only clinic service has been conducted in private service delivery center. Minor surgical procedures were performed in government service delivery center using local anesthetic agents. A thermometer and stethoscope was the only instrument available for the diagnosis of diseases in the study area. A study [2] also reported that a thermometer was the only instrument available in all the clinics of North Gondar Ethiopia. The only antibiotics found in the veterinary clinic and health posts were penstrip, oxytetracycline and sulphonamides. The anthelmentics found were Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin and there were no antifungal agents. The disinfectants were Alcohol, Savlone, Iodine and Gentian violet. Most farmers in the study area practiced going to veterinary clinic when their animals are sick and others practiced giving modern medicine by themselves (Table 3).

Table 3: Practices by farmers during the occurrence of diseases

Constraints in veterinary service delivery centers by observation

From the results of the visits, except the government clinic, the other kebele veterinary service deliveries lacked appropriate facilities to restrain and handle clinical cases and they were not well equipped. There were only seven crushes in total and six were in different kebeles. A thermometer and Stethoscope were the only instruments available for diagnosis of diseases. But 95% of the clinical cases in kebeles were diagnosed only on based on the clinical signs or the history alone. There were laboratory diagnostic aids for faecal egg screening in the government clinic but not functional at the study period. 100% of veterinarians that gives service to each kebele except in clinics and health posts kept the drugs in their home because of unavailability of rooms for drug store in the Farmer training center (FTC)/Kebele and they travel for treatment carrying the drug with their bag the whole day.Broad spectrum antibiotics and anthelmentics have been used in both the government and private centers. There were no antifungal agents found in woreda clinic. In all sites, anthelmentics were given based on the history taken from the owner. There was no permanent ready place for disposal of expired drugs and no regular monitoring and controlling action was there to control smugglers who sell veterinary drugs in the local market without any permission. Drug stores are poorly handled and not standardized.

Constraints mentioned by veterinarians and farmers

Shortage of diagnostic and treatment materials including lack of drug handling and storage room, low perception in vaccination and lack of commitment were the main management, farmers and veterinarian related constraints raised by veterinarians (Table 4).

Table 4: Government service constraints mentioned by veterinarians.(*Respondents may have given more than one constraint).

Table 5: Government service constraints mentioned by farmers.

Table 6: Private Service constraints mentioned by farmers.

Annual budget allocation in government veterinary clinic The planned, allocated and executed budget in the last five years was seen in the public veterinary service and the budget allocation in Ethiopian Birr (ETB) was lower than the planned budget in all years (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Surgical procedures performed in the district.

Figure 4: A bag that was used for carrying drugs.

Figure 5: Drug stores and clinic rooms.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Since livestock diseases have been one of the major constraints to livestock production in Ethiopia, the poor veterinary service delivery system could be improved to secure the production and productivity of livestock species by decreasing the occurrence and increasing the control of diseases. According to the present study, Mastitis, Ovine Pasteurellosis and Newcastle diseases were the first ranked diseases of cattle, sheep and poultry in the study area, respectively. Except the government clinic, the other kebele veterinary service deliveries lacked appropriate facilities to restrain and handle clinical cases and they were not well equipped. Broad spectrum antibiotics and anthelmentics have been used for treatment in both the government and private centers.The status of the veterinary service is not satisfactory in terms of standardized service provision in both the government and private sectors. Shortage of diagnostic and treatment materials including drugs and lack of drug handling and storage room; the home service need of farmers and less interest of farmers in paid vaccination and lack of commitment were the main management, farmers and veterinarian related constraints raised by animal health professionals. Unavailability of kebele veterinarians as soon as possible was ranked first by farmers as major constraint in government veterinary service delivery centers. The budget allocation was insufficient to provide quality service delivery that is accessible to the whole community. The yearly budget allocation does not match the requirements for service provision in government sector for the past 5 years. Based on the above conclusions the possible solutions which help in improving the quality of veterinary services in the district includes fulfilling the necessary equipments for diagnosis and treatment, controlling smugglers, crush development in each kebele, awareness creation for farmers and capacity building of animal health assistants/veterinarians.

Acknowledgement

The author is grateful to Hawassa Agricultural Research Center and Agricultural Growth Program for the financial and vehicle support. The farmers, veterinarians and higher officials of the district who participated in the survey are highly acknowledged.

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