Doctoral Degrees (Animal Sciences)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Animal Sciences) by Subject "Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Province"

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    System dynamics approach to sustainability evaluation of the lowinput ruminant farming system in South Africa by
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Marandure, Tawanda; Mapiye, Cletos; Dzama, Kennedy; Makombe, Godswill; Hoffmann, Willem H.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Animal Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study evaluated the sustainability of the rural and peri-urban low-input ruminant farming system in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) of South Africa, by using a system dynamics modelling approach. A conceptual framework incorporating unique characteristics of low-input ruminant farming including multiple roles of the animals and credence value attributes of grazing systems respectively was developed, and guidelines for the application of the framework were provided. Surveys using semi-structured questionnaires were conducted in four rural and three peri-urban communities in the ECP, respectively, to determine the perceptions of ruminant farmers about the sustainability concept and challenges of sustainable ruminant farming. A meta- analysis was subsequently conducted to record low-input farmer challenges from studies conducted in Africa. An ordered logistic regression model was used to determine socio- economic factors influencing the perceptions of low-input farmers on selected ruminant farming practices. A system dynamics model was developed to simulate the rural and peri-urban low- input ruminant farming system scenarios. Output from the simulation was used to calculate indices that were ultimately used to evaluate the sustainability of the rural and peri-urban low input ruminant farming system. The surveys indicated that more than 70% of the low-input ruminant farmers were not aware of the sustainability concept. Rural and peri-urban farmers also had a negative perception of rangeland, breeding, livestock security and marketing management practices, respectively. The same farmers had positive perceptions on socio-cultural, family health and education practices, respectively. According to the ordered logit results, key factors driving farmer perceptions on sustainable ruminant farming practices were location, age, gender and employment status. Full-time and peri-urban farmers were more likely to perceive decreases in sustainable water management practices than part-time and rural farmers. Full-time, when compared to part-time farmers, were more likely to perceive decreases in sustainable ruminant production and rangeland management practices. The likelihood of the youth to perceive increases in sustainable rangeland and crop residue management practices was greater than that of adults. Males were more likely to perceive a decrease in sustainable animal health care and breeding practices than females. Prominent ecological and economic indicators derived from farmer challenges included soil fertility and biomass supply, as well as livestock productivity, animal health, and provision of labour. Farmer training and women involvement in ruminant farming were the prominent social indicators derived when the challenges experienced by the farmers were considered. The rural and peri-urban low-input ruminant farming system in the ECP was deemed ecologically unsustainable, and economically and socially moderately sustainable. Overall, the rural and peri-urban low-input ruminant farming system in the ECP system was moderately sustainable. It was recommended that the framework developed in this study is applied to other low-input ruminant farming communities in the region and in Africa to test its universality.