Table 1.
Management practices and veterinary delivery services in ruminants, Western Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia (2015–2016)
| Management characteristics and practices | Agro ecology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowland count (%) | Midland count (%) | Highland count (%) | |
| Housing (cattle) | |||
| Open air at grazing areas | 24 (42.9) | – | 1 (2.6) |
| Open air around home stead | 20 (35.7) | 21 (80.8) | 29 (74.4) |
| Fenced | 11 (19.6) | 3 (11.5) | 7 (17.9) |
| Corrugated iron with stone wall | – | – | – |
| Thatched roof with mad wall | 1 (1.8) | 2 (7.7) | 2 (5.1) |
| Housing (Shoats) | |||
| Open air at grazing areas | 6 (10.7) | – | – |
| Open air around home stead | 5 (8.9) | 2 (7.7) | 1 (2.6) |
| Fenced | 19 (33.9) | 14 (53.8) | 22 (56.4) |
| Corrugated iron with stone wall | – | – | – |
| Thatched roof with mad wall | 6 (10.7) | 2 (7.7) | 1 (2.6) |
| Sesame seed cake | 2 (3.6) | – | – |
| Feeding system/supplementation | 2 (3.6) | 2 (7.7) | 3 (7.7) |
| Sesame seed cake | 2 (3.6) | – | – |
| Improved forage | 2 (3.6) | 2 (7.7) | 3 (7.7) |
| Free grazing | 38 (67.9) | 24 (92.3) | 36 (92.3) |
| Sorghum seed coat | 12 (21.4) | – | – |
| Sesame seed coat | 2 (3.6) | – | – |
| Veterinary service for ruminants when get sick | |||
| Take to clinic | 25 (44.6) | 12 (46.2) | 12 (35.9) |
| Treat personally with modern medicine | 12 (21.4) | 1 (3.8) | – |
| Take to traditional healer | 6 (10.7) | 4 (15.4) | 7 (17.9) |
| Use personally traditional medicine | 12 (21.4) | 3 (11.5) | 7 (17.9) |
| Take to clinic & Use personally traditional medicine | 1 (1.8) | 4 (15.4) | 5 (12.8) |
| Take to clinic & Treat personally with modern medicine | – | 2 (7.7) | 6 (15.4) |
| Slaughter | – | – | – |
| Access to veterinary service | |||
| Governmental veterinary clinic | 25 (44.6) | 10 (38.5) | 18 (46.2) |
| Private veterinary clinic | 7 (12.5) | 1 (3.8) | – |
| Shop or market | 17 (30.4) | 9 (34.6) | 15 (38.5) |
| Governmental and private | 4 (7.1) | 5 (19.2) | 3 (7.7) |
| Governmental and shop or market | 2 (3.6) | 1 (3.8) | 3 (7.7) |
| Governmental, private and shop or market | 1 (1.8) | – | – |
| Distance to nearest veterinary service | |||
| < 1 km | 3 (5.6) | 1 (3.8) | 2 (5.1) |
| 1–5 km | 23 (42.6) | 8 (30.8) | 7 (17.9) |
| 6–10 km | 14 (25.9) | 7 (26.9) | 13 (33.3) |
| > 10 km | 14 (25.9) | 10 (38.5) | 17 (43.6) |
| Reasons for loss of ruminants | |||
| Predators | 5 (8.9) | – | 1 (2.6) |
| Disease incidents | 39 (39.6) | 15 (57.7) | 20 (51.3) |
| Poisoning | – | 1 (3.8) | 4 (10.3) |
| Drought | 4 (7.1) | 1 (3.8) | – |
| Disease and drought | 5 (8.9) | 7 (26.9) | 13 (33.3) |
| Disease and predator | – | 2 (7.7) | 1 (2.6) |