Impacts of intervention objectives in goat production within subsistence farming systems in South Africa

Farming in South Africa

Anthelmintic resistance in South Africa: surveys indicate an extremely serious situation in sheep and goat farming.

Surveys to determine the prevalence and degree of resistance of Haemonchus spp. of sheep and goats to the available anthelmintics in South Africa indicate that small ruminant production is entering a crisis situation. Three surveys employing the faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test to determine resistance were conducted in some of the main sheep-producing areas in the summer rainfall region o...

Potential links between irrigation water quality and microbiological quality of food in subsistence farming in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

To lead a healthy lifestyle, it is essential to have a diet that includes fresh and minimally processed fruit and vegetables. A large proportion of the South African population exhibits suppressed immune systems, largely due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is therefore imperative that minimally processed foods are not contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. As a result of local fr...

Goat Production in Central and Eastern Africa

Introduction Goats are a particularly valuable livestock species in developing countries because of their ability to utilize many types of forages and tolerate unfavorable climates. Goats play a vital role in the rural economy of many countries in central and eastern Africa (Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, DRC, Congo, Cameroon, CAR, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, Gabon, and Somalia)....

Food insecurity of smallholder farming systems in B72A catchment in the Olifants River Basin, South Africa

Traditional smallholder farming systems are characterized by low yields and high risks of crop failure and food insecurity. Through a biophysical model, PARCHED-THIRST and a socio-economic farming systems simulation model, OLYMPE, we evaluated the performance of farming practices based on maize yield, gross margin and total family balance over a 10-year period in semi-arid Olifants River Basin ...