Uganda's dairy farming in transition
Farmers' behavior as a key factor for animal welfare
With an emerging middle class in Uganda, the demand for animal products is also growing. The Ugandan government is attempting to counter this development by specifically promoting the dairy industry, among other things. What impact will the change in dairy farming have on animal welfare? How can we influence this by advising farmers? In a research project, our partners from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) at Makerere University investigated these questions and tried to develop sustainable answers.
According to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) estimates, milk production in Uganda will increase by 41% by 2050 compared to 2012. This development will bring about major structural changes in livestock farming systems. While traditional smallholder farmers with few animals mainly produce milk for their own consumption and offer the small surpluses locally, the majority of commercially traded milk is already being brought to market by large industrial farms. The latter differ from traditional livestock farms not only in terms of herd and farm size, but also in their preference for exotic breeds such as Holstein-Friesian, Fleckvieh and Brown Swiss - animals that are much more sensitive to the tropical climate, scarce food supply and local pathogens.
The Ugandan government is currently promoting this transformation of the dairy industry by expanding the infrastructure on the dairy market and improving the value chains.
However, as developments in Europe and North America in recent decades have shown, a rapid intensification of animal husbandry not only brings benefits for economic development and food security but can also have serious consequences for the health and well-being of animals, humans and the environment.
The research approach
In order to counter these developments at an early stage, a research team led by our Ugandan colleague Dr. Paul Ssuna conducted a one-year survey on the status quo of animal welfare in various farming systems in traditional dairy cattle regions of Uganda starting in September 2020. A particular focus of the study was on the influence that the knowledge and attitudes of livestock keepers have on the condition of the animals. The researchers hypothesized that people who have in-depth knowledge about the needs of their animals are better able to respond to them. They hoped that the project would provide more precise insights into this.
The team also adapted a tool for recording animal welfare indicators for dairy cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. Although some such protocols already exist, the tools developed in Europe and North America have not yet been studied in tropical regions. The aim of this research was to investigate whether the Welfare Quality® Assessment Protocol for Dairy Cows can be applied to extensive dairy farming in Kiruhura District, Uganda. To this end, the protocol was tested on 24 farms with herds of 15 to 125 cows by means of interviews with the farmers and by observing and examining the animals. Some of the measures turned out not to be applicable under the local conditions. The protocol should be adapted accordingly to local production systems.
The results of the study are currently being evaluated by the responsible ministry and will then be recommended to the subordinate authorities for implementation.
To the results of the study
Dairy Farmer Behaviour and Practices_Research COVAB-WTS_Abstract final
Education as a preventive measure
Based on the results of the study, educational approaches are to be developed in future to sensitize animal owners to the needs of animals at an early stage. This should help to ensure that animal welfare becomes an integral part of the developing dairy cattle industry.
WTS is particularly interested in preparing the next generation of veterinarians for their future role as animal welfare advisors in the best possible way. As in previous research projects, students of the VETS UNITED Uganda programme are therefore actively involved in the implementation and evaluation of the project.