Constraints to survivability of Friesian crosses in Soroti Western Division.

Abstract

Many constraints affect survivability of Friesians and their crosses in Soroti western division and Uganda as a whole. In Soroti and Teso in general, production is characterized with poor nutrition especially dry season, poor disease control yet there are high disease incidences, poor grazing and. feeding systems with little or no supplementation and extreme temperatures with little to no housing at all therefore most cows sleep under big trees. This will continue hindering Friesian cross survivability and farming in the region. Government and other development organisations have provided cross Friesians as a technology to poverty eradication these have high productivity but with huge account of the constraints. Little benefit has yet been realised. More than 130 households in western division and northern division have benefited by Opondo (2001) and MAAIF (2000). The research studies the constraints to Friesian cross survivability in Soroti western division. Sample frame was only Friesian and Friesian cross farmers and sample size of 60 respondents determined by Taylor formula (1998) at 99% confidence level. Literature review and NAADS records from western division formed secondary data while primary data was got through structured questionnaires, group discussions and observation. Data was analysed using special package for social scientists. Charts, bar graphs and tables with frequencies and percentages were used to present the data. 86.7% of the respondents faced scarcity of the feeds, 78.3% pests and diseases as compared to those with 21.7%, land shortage, 23.3% land conflict and 33.3% water shortage. With management factors, 43.3% provide shelter for the animals and of those 46.2% clean the animal house once daily as recommended, Only 30% spray once in a week. Most (53.3%) of the respondents, animals were affected with other diseases like LSD FMD anaplasimosis, brucellosis and so on; 48.3% had experienced mastitis, 40% East coast fever, 33.3% Trypanosomosis and 23.3% Fasciolisis. This is similar to Ocaido et al., (2009), in Soroti district. The government and other development partners, should therefore intervene and train them. Friesian and Friesian cross farmers on better management factors because are the major causes of diseases; proper nutrition throughout the year through preserving Feeds could be great avenues to maintain and increases Friesian cross survivability in Soroti western division