Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Cattle herd productivity in the smallholder sector is generally low in South Africa (Mapiye et al., 2009) with cattle off-take rates being as low as 15% per annum (ARC, 2016). Among the leading causes of reduced productivity in smallholder herds is cattle mortality caused by diseases and parasites, especially ticks (Hesterberg et al., 2007). Ticks and the diseases they transmit have been identified as the major cause of widespread morbidity and mortality in cattle kept by smallholder farmers in the semi-arid areas of South Africa (Dold and Cocks, 2001; Mapiye et al., 2009) which results in poor animal welfare. Access to animal health infrastructure and technology can help reduce the problem of cattle diseases. The study was conducted to examine the impact of ARC’s Infrastructural Facility Scheme on the profitability of cattle farming and perceptions of smallholder cattle farmers. The study had four objectives; (i) to identify and describe the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder cattle farmers in Fetakgomo Municipality and Makhuduthamaga Municipality; (ii) to assess the perception of smallholder cattle farmers on the facilities provided by ARC in the study area; (iii) to determine and analyse the profitability of smallholder cattle farmers in the study area and (iv) to assess the effect of cattle farmers’ socio-economic characteristics on cattle farming profitability in the area. A total of 224 smallholder cattle farmers were interviewed, of which 124 farmers were beneficiaries and 100 were non-beneficiaries. The Purposive Sampling procedure was employed to determine the desired sample size in both the two Municipalities. The results showed that 55% of the smallholder cattle farmers were beneficiaries and 45% of the smallholder cattle farmers were non-beneficiaries out of the sample size. There were more male-headed households of the beneficiaries and more female-headed households of the non-beneficiaries. An analysis of the farmers’ socio-economic characteristics further showed that the majority of the smallholder cattle farmers prefer using family labourers or household labourers in their cattle farming. The results depict that beneficiaries of the Animal Health Wise Project used 76.2% of the family labour and 23.8% of hired labourers for beneficiaries whereas for the non-beneficiaries, it was v 68.7% of the family labour and 31.3% of hired labour. Using family labour helped in minimising costs of labour. Farmers were asked a set of Likert type scale questions about their perceptions on the project. The perception index score revealed that the smallholder cattle farmers had a negative perception of it as the index score was skewed to the left with the value being 0.428. Profitability was measured through Gross Margin Analysis. The Gross Margin Analysis revealed that the mean value of the total revenue and gross margin for the beneficiaries were bigger than non-participants. This was because beneficiaries tend to sell their cattle at a higher price compared to the non-participants. Furthermore, smallholder cattle farmers that are beneficiaries tend to use the infrastructure and through that, their cattle productivity is higher resulting in higher gross margin and total revenue compared to the non-participants. The Multiple Linear Regression Model was used to assess the effect of cattle farmers’ socio-economic characteristic on the gross margin of the farmers in the study area. The results revealed that only 3 variables were significant. The total herd size, project participation and access to the market were significant at 1% and all had a positive effect towards the gross margin. The study suggested that there should be more infrastructural facilities that are built in other municipalities. By so doing, smallholder cattle farmers will use the facilities to improve their herd productivity and also improve their cattle’s health status. It was also recommended that there should be some training based on the use of the cattle infrastructural facilities scheme so that farmers can use the facilities effectively. Key words: Smallholder Cattle Farmers, Perception, Animal Health Wise Project, Infrastructural Facilities. / Center of Collaboration on “Economics of Agricultural Research and Development”

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Raising cattle in South Africa and any other developing country in the Southern African region as part of livestock production, is one of the important means through which people sustain their livelihood. Inadequate efforts have been taken by the government to improve the marketing system of cattle, particularly to develop small-scale farming in the Limpopo Province and South Africa as a whole. With that being said, the small-scale sector has not been developed to the extent it is expected to. This study examined the factors affecting the participation of small-scale cattle farmers in livestock auctions in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. The study had three objectives, namely; (i) To describe the socio-economic characteristics of the small scale cattle farmers in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province; (ii) To assess the perception of small-scale cattle farmers in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province towards livestock auction; (iii) To identify and analyse factors affecting the participation of small-scale cattle farmers in livestock auctions in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. The Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of the representative sample. Three locations (Lepelle-Nkumpi, Molemole and Polokwane local municipalities) were selected purposively because a large number of small-scale cattle farmers in the Capricorn District rely on the agricultural sector economically. The Logistic Regression Model was used to analyse factors affecting the participation of small-scale cattle farmers in livestock auctions. The results showed that, out of the 120 sample size, 42% of small-scale cattle farmers were auction participants and 58% of small-scale cattle farmers were non-participants . There were 43 male-headed households of the participants and 61 female-headed households of the non-participants . An analysis of the farmers ’ socio-economic characteristics further showed that in order for the farmers to cut the costs of production, the majority of the small-scale cattle farmers preferred using family labourers or household labourers in their cattle farming. Farmers were asked a set of Likert type scale questions about their perceptions on the auctions. The Perception Index score ii was skewed to the left and therefore revealed that the small-scale cattle farmers had a negative perception towards the auction. Farmers who had a positive perception, on the other hand, often sold their cattle at a higher price compared to the non-participants who had a negative perception. Furthermore, small-scale cattle farmers who are participants tend to use the market avenue and through that, their cattle productivity is higher, resulting in a total revenue compared to the non-participants. Consequently, small-scale farmers who participate in auctions acquire valuable production information at the very auctions. Descriptive statistics such as means, minimum and maximum values, frequencies, percentages and standard deviations were used to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the small-scale cattle farmers in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. The results revealed that only 4 variables were significant. The total herd size, distance to the market, gender of the household head and market information were significant at 1%, 5%, 1%, 5%, respectively and all had a positive effect towards auction participation. The study suggested that the government and other policy makers should increase the marketing information and abilities of small-scale cattle farmers through avenues like mass media, extension service and other means of capacity building. This will help the farmers to minimise transaction costs. Furthermore, farmers will not incur more costs when they participate in the markets, considering that market facilities such as auctions are often hosted far from the farmers, which results in farmers incurring more costs.

This degree project involves a self-reflective analysis of an Australian Centre forInternational Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded multimedia series. I produced thework in 2017, about the impact achieved in an agricultural research for developmentproject, working with cattle farmers in Indonesia. The overarching purpose of this study isto examine how I would embed greater participation throughout my filmmaking process ifundertaken again. The work is published online and comprises of five short films whichare accompanied by a series of photographs and text story. I chose to examine apreviously completed project of my own, knowing that it was undertaken with a limitedCommunication for Development (ComDev) perspective that has since been developedthrough my Master’s degree at Malmo University. Through my research, I seek first toidentify what aspects of the previous filmmaking process were participatory; second,investigate if there is a filmmaking process that could be recommended for future use toensure a greater level of participation among people; and third, determine if my donorfundedmultimedia impact stories only serve the public relations outcomes of thedevelopment industry.

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Refer to document / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The purpose of this study was to analyse socioeconomic factors influencing formal and informal market participation by beef cattle farmers. Cattle production plays an important role in the provision of food worldwide. It important for farmers to participate in the market to improve their income and livelihood. Globally, it was discovered that livestock production contribute value to the economic development of various countries. Ethiopia is one of the countries that generate more income from the livestock production. In the study area farmers participate in the lower level of market participation. They sell at informal market than formal market because of insufficient market channel. The farmers seldom sell since their sale depends on the availability of the market. Hence it was important to analyse socioeconomic factors influencing informal and formal market participation by small-scale beef cattle farmers at Makhado Local Municipality. The aim of the study was to analyse socioeconomic factors influencing informal and formal market participation of small-scale beef cattle farmers in Makhado Local Municipality. The objectives of the study were to identify, describe the socioeconomic characteristic of beef cattle, determine the level of market participation of the beef cattle and analyse the influence of socioeconomic factors in the participation of the beef cattle farmers in both the formal and informal market in Makhado local municipality. Structured questionnaires were used to interview 82 cattle farmers who participate in both informal and formal markets. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse socioeconomic characteristics of the cattle farmers. The logistic regression model was used to analyse factors that influence the participation of small-scale cattle farmers in both formal and informal markets. Lastly, market participation index tool was used to analyse the percentage of each farmer’s participation in different markets. The descriptive statistic results were showing men dominating participation in the market than women. The findings illustrate that farmers participating in the market were mostly pensioners who depend on social grant. Most of them are married and v have low level of education. The study also revealed that most beef cattle farmers are engaged in cattle farming for the purpose of sale instead of consumption. The logistic regression model results shows the coefficients for the independent variables such as gender, family size and farming experience to be significant at 1%. Age, marital status, monthly income, and distance to the market were found to be significant at 5%. Membership association were found to be significant at 10%. Educational level, extension services as well as the market information were found to be insignificant. The market participation index tool results revealed that the participation of beef cattle farmers in level 1 was 74.39%, level 2 18.29%, level 3 3.66% and lastly, in level 4, it was 3.66%. Additionally, the study revealed that only 1 farmer had a minimum score of participation of 3 and another farmer scored the highest participation of 23 out of all 82 farmers who participated in different market channels namely, homestead, village market, auctions, town market and fresh produce market. The study indicated various constraints faced by cattle farmers in both formal and informal markets. However, for a farmer to be a full participant all farmers should be able to participate in all the above-mentioned market channels. Additionally, for a farmer to increase his/her level of market participation, there is a need for each farmer to sell many cattle per year in different marketing channels mentioned above. It is also vital to increase the cattle productivity and to decrease identified constraints that negatively influence market participation of beef cattle farmers. Furthermore, constraints influencing market participation of beef cattle farmers need to be addressed to increase the sale of cattle by farmers. This requires assistance by both government and non-governmental stakeholders. Government stakeholders include extension officers, agricultural experts and veterinaries, while nongovernmental stakeholders include meat quality experts, agricultural cattle commercial farmers, and cattle farm managers. / Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

This study assessed the use of indigenous acaricides in Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe. An observational study design plus laboratory analysis were used in this study. Data on demographic profiles and tick control practices in 21 villages was collected using a questionnaire. Seven hundred and fifty nine (n=759) ticks were collected from cattle using systematic sampling at 15 dip tanks. Marula efficacy was assessed using pregnancy, repellence and mortality tests. Farmers used several tick control remedies (physical removal, chemicals, and plant and animal extracts), some of which have potential to harm the health of the public. Marula caused significant decrease in mass among pregnant ticks (p<0.05), had a significant kill percentage (p< 0.05), and also repelled, killed and hindered egg laying. The active ingredients in marula formulations should be investigated. The extra-label use of conventional acaricide, and the use of compounds with potential to harm the public health needs to be regulated. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Agriculture)