(a) State three ways in which each of the following factors hinders livestock production in West Africa: (i) breeding; (ii) nutrition; (iii) healthcare; (iv) government policy; (v) finance.
(b) Mention five factors that affect productivity of pastures.
Explanation
(a) Ways in which the following factors hinder livestock production
(i) Breeding
– Inadequate know-how/techniques/skills/ knowledge for breeding
– Unavailability of improved breeds/presence of poor or low quality breeds
– Inability of improved breeds to adapt to the environment
– Inadequate breeders
– Little breeding work is done.
– Breeding of animal Is is expensive.
– Breeding of animals is time-consuming.
– Indigenous traits could be lost.
– Poor extension services
(ii) Nutrition
– Low quality/ poor pastures
– Competition between humans and animals for foodstuff
– Seasonality of forage
– Poor attitude towards establishment of pastures
– Inadequate supply of water
– Malnutrition/poor nutrition/under-nutrition
– Bad feed formulation
– High cost of feed and feedstuff
– Poor extension services
(iii) Healthcare – Inadequate know-how of health care management by the farmers
– High incidence of diseases
– High cost of pest/parasites
– High cost of drugs/vaccine/treatment
– Inadequate health care services/poor veterinary services/ inaccessibility or lack of standard health care services
– Poor vaccination ‘ preventive programmes
– Poor sanitation
– Poor implementation of quarantine regulation
– Poor extension services.
(iv) Government Policy
– Uncontrolled importation of animal products
– Political instability leading to unstable livestock and poultry policy
– High tax regimes double taxation on inputs
– Restriction of employment of extension officers
– Low allocation or resources to the livestock and poultry sector
– Poor implementation of livestock and poultry policy
– Poor extension services
(v) Finance
– High interest rate
– Inability of farmers to meet collateral requirements
– Difficulty in obtaining loan/credit
– High risk associated with livestock-and poultry production
– Most farmers are not credit worthy.
– Poor record keeping
– Poor/inadequate co-operative societies
– Lack of business plan/feasibility study
– Poor extension services
– Insufficient capital/ there is no money.
(b) Factors that affect productivity of pastures
– Climate/weather
– Soil
– Management practices/stocking rate
– Pests attack
– Seed type/ planting material
– Resistance to trampling/ tolerance
– Drought resistance
– Aggressiveness/ regenerating ability
– Diseases
– Compatibility of pastures