On-the-ground animal welfare education projects by advocates

This is the third and final installment of our blog series which highlights the projects participants conducted in our 2024 Intermediate training program (see Blog 1 and Blog 2). Each project was led by one of our participants, who then compiled comprehensive reports detailing their outcomes. This blogpost is based on the reports they compiled, which consists of three projects focused on animal welfare education for farmers and other stakeholders.

A Day Workshop on Animal Welfare: Vaccination and Management Practices - Farhan Akorede

Nigeria boasts one of Africa's largest populations of farm animals, with records indicating over 300 million animals raised annually. Cattle, sheep, and goats collectively represent approximately 50% of this number. Despite this significant livestock population, Nigeria has been flagged by the international community as one of the developing nations with inadequate attention to animal welfare. This issue often stems from traditional practices among key stakeholders.

This workshop was developed to educate local livestock farmers and to enhance community awareness regarding the importance of adhering to proper vaccination schedules for ruminant herds. The workshop, which included presentations, discussions, and practical demonstrations, aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and execute effective vaccination plans for their animals.

The initiative sought to empower farmers to take proactive measures in protecting their herds from preventable diseases, thereby fostering a healthier environment for animals within the community.

Outline of the workshop

The workshop’s session was divided into 3 parts:

1.   Pre-workshop survey: Before the workshop, surveys were conducted to gauge participants' knowledge of vaccines and common diseases among livestock. This helped to understand their baseline knowledge of animal welfare and track changes post-workshop.

2.   The workshop: The core of the project, the workshop, focused on educating primary stakeholders (both sellers and buyers in the market) about animal welfare and the importance of vaccinations. Educational materials, including infographics translated into the local languages (Yoruba and Hausa), were used to convey key messages. The materials were infographics with a call to action message, pictures of the common vaccinable diseases and their symptoms, a vaccination schedule, and a general message on the five freedoms of animal welfare.

3. Post-workshop survey: After the workshop, follow-up surveys were conducted to assess the immediate impact on farmers' understanding and decision-making regarding vaccination practices.

Workshop Outcomes

In terms of participant engagement, the workshop reached approximately 40 local livestock farmers, with 20 participating in pre and post-workshop surveys. Because surveys were conducted in the market, it was very busy so we were only able to get 20 farmers to participate. Participants commented on the workshop's clarity and practical approach. Pre-workshop surveys revealed a significant knowledge gap regarding vaccines, with only a small percentage of farmers having previously vaccinated their livestock. However, post-workshop surveys showed increased familiarity with common diseases and a willingness among participants to engage with qualified veterinarians for vaccination advice.

Insights and Lessons Learned

Understanding Farmer Needs: The workshop highlighted the need to address fundamental knowledge gaps among farmers regarding vaccination practices.

Collaboration is Key: Partnering with local veterinarians or animal health personnel can enhance workshop effectiveness and reach. Making sure animal health personnel who reside in or frequent the markets will support the dissemination of helpful information regarding animal welfare and standard practices to follow, as they will be well-equipped with the right and necessary information.

Providing Support: Farmers expressed a desire for practical support, such as supplements or medications for their animals, indicating additional avenues for assistance.

Conclusion

The workshop underscored the importance of community engagement and tailored content in promoting animal welfare. By understanding stakeholders' needs and being adaptable to challenges, we can create more impactful initiatives in the future in Nigeria. By empowering farmers, there is the possibility of healthier livestock and communities.

Animal Welfare Training: Poultry Farming and Biosecurity Measures - Njalira Rashid Kassim

By focusing on Uganda's poultry industry, this initiative aimed to uplift welfare standards and curb diseases among the broiler bird population. Through tailored training sessions focusing on biosecurity and animal welfare, the project sought to not only improve bird welfare but also mitigate disease spread and reduce treatment expenses. The workshop took place in Nakaseke/Luwero, Uganda, and aspired to enhance the lives of 750,000 broiler birds while fostering ethical farming methods.

Implementation

The poultry welfare training took place at Youku Farms and worked closely with the farm's management. The veterinarians' concerns, based on their perspective regarding the health of the birds, highlighted that the welfare omissions by farmers, whether intentional or unintentional, are leading to increased expenses on the farm. They indicated that addressing these issues would result in reduced costs. Tailored training modules were crafted to address these specific welfare concerns identified through thorough assessments and consultations. These sessions were strategically scheduled to ensure maximum participation from all farm personnel, ranging from catchers to managers and veterinarians. Practical demonstrations, interactive workshops, and informative presentations were integrated into the training program, led by veterinary experts. The participants were taught poultry handling techniques, including how to catch chickens, carry them to crates, and minimize stress during the harvesting process by reducing noise, being gentle, and planning ahead. They learned how to monitor the health of the birds through observation and behaviour analysis, such as checking the color and consistency of droppings and the movement patterns in the poultry houses. The training also covered how birds respond to stress, what to do when stress is noticed, and how to help the birds cope. Additionally, they were taught the importance of proper welfare and were shown how it decreases the disease burden on the birds, thereby reducing medication costs. 

Post-training assessments revealed a significant increase in participants' understanding of poultry welfare, with a notable increase in overall knowledge among workers, particularly managers. This observation emphasised the influential role of managers in guiding the farm towards better animal welfare.

Impacts and Accomplishments

The data collected post-training showcased a near 50% increase in poultry welfare knowledge among workers based on the pre- and post-assessments used. However, challenges persisted, notably in the brooding and harvesting stages, where welfare concerns were predominant. Despite training efforts, instances of bird distress during catching and transportation remained alarming, highlighting areas for further intervention. Testimonials from participants underscored the value of the training, emphasising its practical applicability and transformative potential on farm practices.

Lessons Learned

Effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and adaptation of training materials are key pillars for future successful implementation. Notably, involving farm managers in training proved instrumental, given their extensive interactions with the birds. Continuous evaluation and adaptation were deemed essential for project sustainability and long-term impact. The brooding and harvesting stages were identified as critical focus areas for welfare improvement, necessitating targeted interventions.

Conclusion

The training on animal welfare at Youku Farms is a case study on the relationship between ethical practices and economic viability. By prioritising animal welfare, farms can bolster biosecurity, trim costs, and contribute to a more sustainable food system.

Assessing Knowledge and Educating Farmers: Humane Farm Animal Treatment Practices - Sylvia Nanfuka Kirumira

This project aimed to empower farmers with comprehensive knowledge on ethical animal treatment practices. It began by assessing the prevailing knowledge gap regarding farm animal treatment practices among local farmers in both urban and rural settings across Uganda. The overarching goal was to elevate animal welfare standards through increased awareness and education.

Conclusions indicate there is a knowledge gap between local farmers in both urban and rural settings, but there is more awareness in the urban areas (most probably due to high literacy levels), and that education and awareness campaigns should be channeled to rural settings to improve lives of farm animals in local communities.

Objectives

The baseline survey was used to evaluate farmers’ preexisting awareness levels of farm animal treatment practices. The educational intervention was conducted through one-on-one engagements, in which personalised sessions with farmers were implemented to augment awareness among the cohort. At the end of the project, a survey assessed the impact and effectiveness of the project. Of note, the project utilised a dual approach to collect data. Onsite surveys were conducted in two districts within the Central region, engaging 25 local farmers; simultaneously, online surveys were administered across 16 districts nationwide, garnering responses from 36 participants.

Survey Results

Background Characteristics:

Online surveys predominantly reflected male respondents (70%) from the Central region, whereas onsite surveys exclusively included female participants from the Central region. Poultry rearing emerged as the most common practice among farmers, followed by the rearing of cows and goats.

Animal Welfare Awareness:

100% of respondents associated animal welfare with the well-being of animals, showcasing a high baseline awareness level. Over 90% acknowledged that animals do have rights just like human beings, with qualitative analysis revealing nuanced perspectives on animal rights.

Farm Animal Welfare Awareness:

Nearly all respondents exhibited awareness of good farm animal housing and welfare practices, emphasising practices like regular food and water provision and proper hygiene. While literate farmers demonstrated a higher awareness level, poor practices like irregular food and water supply were noted among rural farmers.

Assessing Physical, Mental Wellbeing, and Natural Behavior:

Farmers recognized the importance of practices like fostering physical well-being (e.g., proper feeding) and mental well-being (e.g., providing a natural environment) for animals' well-being. Notably, some farmers showed a lack of consideration for animals' psychological needs, indicating areas for improvement.

Benefits to Human Welfare:

The majority (97%) of participants acknowledged the benefits of good farm animal practices to human welfare, citing increased productivity and safer food production.

Observations and Recommendations

Onsite data indicates that some local farmers do not prioritise the mental well-being of animals, indicating a lack of awareness or consideration for the psychological needs of the animals. It was observed that some farmers, particularly pig farmers, struggled to maintain personal hygiene practices within animal houses, highlighting potential health risks for both animals and humans.

The structures in place limit the well-being of farm animals due to the low standard of living among local farmers as they are not financially able to set up standard structures that favour physical, mental, and behavioural well-being. Due to the limited space, many farmers can only raise a small number of animals on smaller properties, which in turn reduces the farm’s productivity. This issue is widespread because land ownership is concentrated among a few wealthy individuals, leaving the rest of the population with small plots for farming, restricting them to smaller-scale operations than they would prefer and lower financial leeway.

Moreover, there were nutritional deficiencies in some of the animals that need to be addressed to ensure proper growth and development. Disease outbreaks and inaccessibility to water are also big challenges to farmers, especially in rural areas.

Urgent education campaigns are needed to bridge the knowledge gap, particularly in rural areas. Continued training and support for farmers, especially in handling vulnerable animals, are essential. Structural improvements and enhanced security measures are warranted to safeguard farm animals effectively.

Conclusion

One of the most important findings was the difference between rural and urban farmers and how this difference should be taken into account moving forward. For rural farmers, most practices could not be changed within the scope of this project. Funding support needs to be provided to rural farmers for them to be able to change their animal housing structures in the long term.

The project underscored the importance of education and support in fostering humane farm animal practices. By addressing knowledge gaps and advocating for better treatment, we can pave the way for a more compassionate and sustainable agricultural landscape in Uganda. Through this project, farmers were empowered to prioritise animal welfare, ensuring not only the health and happiness of animals but also the prosperity of their livelihoods.