School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources (SVAR) Collection
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ItemPrevalence of coccidiosis and knowledge, practice and effectiveness of anticoccidial drug regimens used in layer poultry farms in Kakiri Sub-County(Makerere University, 2023)Coccidiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria, poses a significant threat to poultry worldwide, with seven known species infecting chickens. Despite being a long-known disease, it remains the most economically important parasitic condition in poultry production globally, causing severe symptoms like diarrhea, decreased growth, and high mortality rates. Birds contract the infection by ingesting oocytes from contaminated feeds, leading to the destruction of thousands of gastrointestinal cells. Preventing and controlling coccidiosis involve the use of anticoccidial drugs, combined with hygienic measures and improved farm management. However, coccidia's resistance to some drugs and challenges in assessing drug efficacy have emerged. As the broiler industry rapidly develops, the availability of effective anticoccidial drugs becomes crucial. Addressing drug effectiveness and interpreting the efficacy of anticoccidial programs are ongoing challenges in poultry management and disease control. This research aimed at determining the prevalence of coccidiosis, accessing the farmers' knowledge and practice regarding anticoccidial drugs, and establishing the effectiveness of these drugs in controlling the disease A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kakiri Sub-County in 2023 aimed to address the significant impact of coccidiosis on poultry productivity. The research focused on 46 randomly selected poultry farms to determine the prevalence of coccidiosis using fecal flotation and McMaster techniques. Simultaneously, the study assessed farmers' knowledge and practices concerning the use of anticoccidial drugs, aiming to establish the effectiveness of these treatments on farmer’s opinion in controlling the disease and the commonly used anticoccidial drug was identified. The questionnaire-based data collection involved well-structured interviews with farm owners and stakeholders, covering crucial factors such as chicken age, flock size, anticoccidial use, farmer’s knowledge and practice on use of anticoccidials. The prevalence of coccidiosis was found at 71.74% of the surveyed farms where 29 samples tested positive for the disease. Majority of the farmers reported use of toltrazuril (34.8%) in the management of the coccidiosis. Other drugs used include sulphadimidine (32.6%), amprolium (26.1%) and sodium salinomycin (6.5%). The farmers reported overall anticoccidial effectiveness of 78.3% from the used drugs indicating suboptimal efficacy of the drugs used in controlling coccidiosis. Toltrazuril was reported as most effective by the farmers at 93.8% effectiveness rate. Amprolium and sulphadimidine indicated 83.3% and 66.7% effectiveness respectively while feed additive sodium salinomycin was least effective at only 33.3%. Although the farmers had knowledge about coccidiosis and anticoccidial, practices regarding the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis were found to be inadequate. Only 32.6% of the farmers practiced proper dosage, 10.9% practiced proper withdraw periods and 43.6% followed proper drug mixing procedures. Due to a high coccidiosis prevalence, the study highlights the need for scheduled vaccination of birds at farm levels and awareness on biosecurity practices. This will have a significant impact on the health and productivity of poultry farms. The study highlights appropriate use of recommended anticoccidial drugs in poultry farms to archive maximum effectiveness of the drug regimens. Training programs and educational campaigns should be developed to equip farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively control coccidiosis. Additionally, further research is warranted to evaluate the effectiveness of anticoccidial drugs at laboratory level.
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ItemAn assessment of farmers’ knowledge, attitude and practices on drought mitigation(Makerere University, 2022)The broad objective of the study was to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitude and practices on drought mitigation in Butemba town council, Butemba and Ntwetwe sub counties respectively in Kyankwanzi District. The specific objectives were to; to evaluate farmers’ knowledge on drought mitigation, to evaluate farmers’ attitude on drought preparedness and to find out farmers’ practices on drought response in Butemba town council, Butemba and Ntwetwe sub counties respectively. The study was across sectional survey that utilized qualitative data collection. Data collection methods used included the following focus group discussions, household interviews, individual farmer interviews, documentary analysis from district annual report and other secondary sources of data mainly articles on drought related issues. A number of mitigation measures put forward by farmers to ensure they are prepared for drought were identified which included construction of valley dams, selling of animals, growing of resistant crop varieties, pasture management and migration to other areas. In addition, other actors like government and Ngo’s intervention measures were identified for example construction of public valley dams, encouraging value addition through operation wealth creation to boast farmer market prices. The study recommended a number of activities and measures that should be undertaken in order to ensure the protection and prevention of farmers’ crisis during drought in Butemba town council, Ntwetwe and Butemba Sub counties of Kyankwanzi for example adopting to changing technology, practicing irrigation farming, forming co-operatives and establishment of Agricultural Banks with low interest rates.
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ItemAssessing the knowledge and practices of cattle farmers on rational antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in Soroti District(Makerere University, 2026)Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat driven in part by irrational use of antimicrobials in livestock. This study aimed to assess knowledge, practices, and associated factors related to AMR among livestock farmers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the months of June and July 2025 among 212 cattle farmers in Asuret, Lale and Kamuda sub counties of Soroti District using a structured questionnaire. Socio-demographic information, farm characteristics, recordkeeping practices, knowledge of AMU and AMR, awareness of drug residues and withdrawal periods, and preventive and treatment practices were recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to determine associations between AMR knowledge and demographic or farm-level factors. Only 53.3% of the farmers were aware of AMR. Male farmers, those with tertiary education, and individuals who sourced drugs from professionals had significantly higher awareness (p<0.05). Preventive practices such as parasite control (92.9%) and deworming (80.7%) were widely adopted, while only 14.6% reported vaccinating their animals. Although 91.9% claimed to follow veterinary recommendations, only 4.3% consistently documented antimicrobial use. Significant associations with AMR knowledge were observed for education level, sex, farming system, source of drugs, record keeping, and method of drug container disposal (p<0.05). The study found moderate awareness of AMR among farmers, with notable gaps in knowledge, antimicrobial stewardship, and preventive health practices. Efforts to improve farmer education, strengthen veterinary access, and promote responsible antimicrobial use are crucial in addressing AMR in livestock systems. These findings underscore the need for targeted farmer education and improved veterinary services in Soroti.
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ItemAssessment of farmers awareness and practices on climate smart agriculture in livestock production in Ngogwe Subcounty Buikwe District(Makerere University, 2025)Climate change poses a growing threat to agricultural systems in Uganda, particularly the livestock sector, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This study assessed the awareness, practices, challenges and perceived benefits of climatesmart agriculture (CSA) among livestock farmers in Ngogwe Sub- County, Buikwe District. Using a cross-sectional field-based design, data was collected from 128 purposively selected livestock farmers through structured questionnaires and oral interviews. Slovin’s formula was applied to determine the sample size. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that while all respondents were aware of climate change and its adverse effects such as increased disease incidence, reduced pasture quality and water shortages, only 56.3% had heard of CSA and over half lacked understanding of its purpose. Commonly practiced CSA measures included vaccination, manure management, and cross-breeding, while agroforestry and rotational grazing were less adopted. Gender was significantly associated with CSA awareness, with female farmers being more informed than males. Key challenges identified included limited knowledge (68.0%) and lack of resources (41.4%). Despite these obstacles, 64.1% of farmers reported improved livestock productivity as a primary benefit of CSA, alongside reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved household nutrition. The study concludes that although awareness of climate change is high, knowledge and implementation of CSA practices remain limited. It recommends increased CSA training, gender-inclusive programming, access to financial support, strengthened extension services, and the integration of CSA into district development strategies to enhance sustainable livestock production and climate resilience in Buikwe District.
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ItemGross lesions found in pigs slaughtered in Kapchorwa Municipality, Kapchorwa District, Eastern Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Piggery significantly contribute to food security and the socioeconomic empowerment of households in Uganda (Ouma et al 2024). However, various challenges, such as diseases and poor animal welfare, constrain productivity and pose risks to human health. This study aimed to identify gross lesions in pigs slaughtered at Kapchorwa Municipality slaughter house. A cross-sectional study was done and all pigs presented for slaughter on the visitation days constituted the sampling frame for the study. A total of 226 pigs were examined, a number of gross lesions were recorded. Traumatic lesions (49.48%), were the most common lesions recorded. However renal atrophy (0.52%) and hydronephrosis (0.52%) were the list recorded lesions. The traumatic lesions included lacerations, skin ulcers, hematomas and tail bites. The lesions observed in the feet were in sole and coronary bands (36 pigs). they had multifocal swellings, brownish crusts in the sole and coronary band surrounded by reddened areas and some had purulent exudates and thickened skin wall (18.75%). Thoracic wall and lung lesions (5.21%)had multifocal to diffuse greyish covering while some animal’s pleura had a shaggy, yellowish-gray fibrinous exudate, in few pigs there was serosanguinious fluid in thoracic cavity. (10.48%). The intestinal mucosa of the small intestines had multifocal reddened spots, while in some pigs the mesenteric lymph nodes were swollen and edematous (1.04%). in conclusion, pigs slaughtered in Kapchorwa municipality had lesions in several body systems, the most common lesions were traumatic lesions. however, the cause of the lesions was not investigated. the study highlights the need for improvement in animal welfare practices, there is need to do further study to ascertain public safety.