A framework for the transfer of animal health knowledge to rural goat owners

A series of studies were conducted, over a 10-year period (1998-2008), in KwaZulu-Natal, one of the poorest provinces in South Africa, involving on-farm research and extension and small-scale goat farmers. Initially, two farmers in the Impendle region participated, followed by nine farmers in Bulwer and latterly, 15 farmers in Bergville. The general aim was to develop an appropriate approach to improve goat health and productivity in the areas. A flexible framework for the acquisition of skills and knowledge was developed, which incorporated the use of the on-farm research project as a training vehicle. The farmers were trained in basic health care techniques such as drenching, injections and the use of the FAMACHA (c) system, a simple method for determining anaemia, a symptom of gastrointestinal nematode infection. Community-based workshops were used to strengthen the farmers' knowledge of animal diseases and their treatment. Extension materials were developed, including a "Goatkeepers' Animal Health Care Manual". The degree to which these participatory approaches helped increase community awareness of, and ability to deal with, goat health and management problems was assessed through questionnaire surveys conducted with participating and non-participating farmers and the general community. This new framework could equally well be applied more widely and to other agro-ecological zones. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.