Browsing by Author "Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza"

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    Access to veterinary services and expenditure on pig health management
    (Springer, 2020-10-07) Okello, Daniel Micheal; Odongo, Walter; Aliro, Tonny; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
    Pig farming has gained momentum for most smallholder farmers in developing countries as a means of livelihood and household incomes. However, prospects of the pig enterprises are constrained by pig health management issues which affect both its productivity and profitability. Using a cross-sectional survey of 240 smallholder pig farmers, we assessed factors influencing farmers’ access to veterinary services and expenditure on pig health management in northern Uganda. Data was analysed using the binary logit and censored tobit regression models. Access to veterinary services was significantly influenced by pig herd size (p < 0.05), Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) membership (p < 0.1), breed (p < 0.05), production system (p < 0.05) and number of health issues recorded on farm (p < 0.01). Education level (p < 0.01), farming household members (p < 0.05), pig herd size (p < 0.01), breed (p < 0.05), previous disease incidences (p < 0.05), household labour available (p < 0.1) and access to veterinary services (p < 0.01) significantly influenced pig health expenditure. Efforts to improve access to veterinary services and improve pig health management should focus on promoting more intensive production systems and improved breeds that are associated with better access to veterinary services and reduced cost of pig health management.
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    Alone or a combination: ascertaining factors associated with choice of pig health management strategies amongst smallholder farmers in northern Uganda.
    (Elsevier, 2022-12-17) Okello-Owiny, David; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza; Odongo, Walter; Aliro, Tonny; Okello, Daniel Micheal
    Pig production is an important farm enterprise for an increasing number of smallholder farmers due to its potential for improving household incomes. The sector is however faced with high burden of health issues that limit most farmers from realizing the benefits. In order to improve management of pig health for smallholder farmers, an understanding of the major health issues and factors associated with farmers' choice of the pig health management strategies are paramount. Using a cross-sectional survey of 240 smallholder pig farmers in northern Uganda, this study assessed the factors associated with the use of different pig health management practices adopted by smallholder pig farmers. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and two different regression models. Binary Probit Regression model was used to assess factors associated with the use of a single pig health management strategy, while, Generalized Poisson Regression model was used to assess the factors associated with the number of pig health management strategies used by the farmers. Results showed that the common health issues were African Swine Fever, lice, worms and mange, while the common strategies for health management involved self-administering antibiotics, consulting veterinarians, deworming, spraying with acaricides, selling the sick pigs, treatment with local herbs, and burying dead pigs. These pig health management strategies were influenced by farmers location, experience, age, access to extension, use of information and communication technologies, and use of processed feeds. This study recommends improving farmers' access to relevant information and expanding veterinary extension services by promoting the use of radio and mobile phones in pig health management.
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    Black soldier flies as a latent driver to attaining selected SDGs in a developing country context- the case of Uganda
    (Sustainable Environment, 2025-03-17) Kasima, Junior Senyonga; Mugonola,Basil; Menya, Emmanuel; Ndaula, Sulaiman; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
    In developing countries, minimal progress has been made towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is because of low investment in innovations towards this endeavor. In this paper, 143 peer-reviewed journal articles and non-journal sources were reviewed to explore the potential of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) rearing as a cost-effective innovation for achieving SDGs 1, 2, 3, 7, and 13. Uganda was chosen for its median position among developing countries, making its practices adaptable to countries on either side of the scale. BSF can contribute to the attainment of the five SDGs through its products and/or services, including environment-friendly waste management, larvae for animal feeds, frass for organic fertilizer, and chitin for pharmaceutical use. This review discusses the significant potential of integrating BSF into strategies to achieve the selected SDGs in a developing country. However, the limited data on organic waste generation could not permit precise statistical estimates of BSF’s potential contribution to each SDG. Future studies, supported by reliable data, should precisely assess the feasibility of BSF rearing as a cost-effective innovation for attaining the SDGs. Future research should also explore the influence of policy and consumer behavior on the adoption and utilization of BSF-based products.
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    Current Status and Potential Opportunities for Uganda’s Pig Sub Sector: A Review
    (Science and Development, 2024-12-20) Kasima, Junior Senyonga; Mugonola, Basil; Muyinza, Harriet; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
    Pig production is one of the most important livestock sub-sectors in agricultural economy of Uganda. However, pig production is not a priority enterprise in the government endeavors to uplift livelihoods of Ugandans, which has deterred the sub-sector from realizing its full potential. This review explores opportunities that pig farmers and policy makers could exploit to improve pig production in the country. Since gender inclusivity is pivotal in global agricultural development, the review examines the level of gender inclusivity in Uganda’s pig production, the key constraints to pig production, and opportunities that could boost growth of the sub-sector. The review has identified that there is an increase in female participation in pig production, which portrays realization of faster growth of Uganda’s pig production. This faster growth might however be deterred by frequent African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks, high cost of feeding and low quality of feed materials due to aflatoxin contamination. Offensive smell from pig houses could also constrain pig production especially in densely populated areas. Potential opportunities for Uganda’s pig production include use of alternative feeds like black soldier fly larvae and biochar. Black soldier fly larvae grow on readily available organic wastes and are rich in proteins while biochar improves the immunity of pigs. Nixtamalization, a process involving the treatment of maize with an alkaline solution to reduce aflatoxin levels, could be explored to mitigate feed contamination while indigenous microorganism solution could be applied on deep litter beddings to reduce offensive odor in pig house. In conclusion, the study observed that Uganda has untapped opportunities that, once utilized, could improve pig production. These, if adopted, could contribute to a swifter take-off in the pig sub-sector and ensure that future domestic demand for pork is met by our own production. The potential alternatives are also applicable to pig production in any developing country.
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    Drivers and barriers to the choice of production systems among smallholder pig farmers: Evidence from Northern Uganda
    (Heliyon, 2025-01-15) Adewale, Caleb Ibukunoluwa; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza; Mugonola, Basil
    Pork consumption has risen significantly in many emerging nations, prompting diverse pig production systems. This study explored the drivers and barriers to the choices of pig production systems and the challenges confronting pig farmers in Northern Uganda. Data were collected from 240 pig farmers using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using multinomial logit regression. Results revealed that 38.8 % of the pig farmers practiced the farrow-to-weaner (breeding) production system. Further, years of farming experience, access to extension service, number of initial stocks, and gender significantly influenced the choice of the farrow to finish production system. Significant predictors for the weaner-to-slaughter (fattening) system were market proximity, years of farming experience, household size, number of initial stocks, and access to extension service. It is recommended that extension services be enhanced and tailored to specific production systems, with a focus on breeding management, feeding practices, and marketing strategies to better support pig farmers. Further, investments should be made in transportation infrastructure to facilitate direct farm-to-market linkages for pig farmers.
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    In-situ morphological characterization of indigenous chicken Ecotypes in Uganda
    (Ecological Genetics and Genomics, 2022-09-01) Beyihayo, Geoffrey Akiiki; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza; Echodu, Richard; Kugonza, Donald
    Genetic improvement of indigenous chickens (IC) is hindered by limited knowledge on the various chicken Ecotypes. This study characterized and assessed the genetic diversity of nine (9) IC Ecotypes based on quantitative morphological traits. A total of 576 IC (288 cocks and 288 hens) were sampled from 288 households across the 9 agro-ecological zones of Uganda. Data on linear morphological traits and live weight of IC were collected using a field guide developed by African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR, 2015). Over-all, body live weight (LWT), shank/tarsus length (SL), drumstick length (DL), thorax circumference (TC) and body length (BL) of IC varied significantly (P < 0.05) across Ecotypes except tarsus circumference (TAC) of cocks. Cocks and hens on average weighed 2.2 ± 0.53 and 1.6 ± 0.58 kg respectively. On average, SL, DL, TC, BL, TAC was 9.8 ± 1.23, 4.9 ± 2.50, 16.2 ± 1.63, 38.4 ± 5.96, 24.7 ± 4.93 cm for cocks and 7.8 ± 1.04, 3.9 ± 0.53, 13.2 ± 1.42, 33.8 ± 5.29, 21.3 ± 4.37 cm for hens respectively. Body weight and linear morphological traits except TAC were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by Ecotype. Principal component analysis based on live body weight and morphological linear traits did not identify any distinct chicken Ecotype. The disparity in weight estimation models further emphasizes the ecologically induced variations across Ecotypes. Therefore, the current study confirms the morphological and more so genetic similarity implying genetic improvement can be achieved through selection of superior IC across Ecotypes.
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    Indigenous Microorganisms as an alternative Odour-reduction approach in Pig Production systems: A review
    (Science and Development, 2025-07) Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza; Kasima, Junior Senyonga
    Odour emissions from pig production facilities are the most significant limitations to pig production. Effective interventions to control odour such as dietary modification, liquid-solid separation, bio-filtration, covers for manure storage, and dust suppression have been made. However, these measures are costly and unaffordable by most pig farmers. The use of Indigenous micro-organisms (IMOs) has been suggested as a less costly alternative approach to control odour. The IMOs can be used to manage odour in a natural and environmentally beneficial way. They aid in the breakdown of organic materials and lessen the offensive smell by introducing helpful bacteria to the farm. The micro-organisms help to break down faecal material rapidly to a fertilizer rich material, while ensuring that there are no smells or flies. This enables rearing of pigs close to the living quarters in areas where land is scarce and heavily populated, hence encouraging more farmers to adopt the enterprise. This review focuses on the use of IMOs as a less costly approach to control odour in pig production systems.
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    Prevalence of Bovine Fasciolosis, Financial Losses and Risk Factors Associated with the Disease in Lira and Gulu Districts, Northern Uganda
    (Veterinary Medicine International, 2025-03-17) Ogwal, Anthony; Okello, Daniel Micheal; Aliro, Tony; Owiny, David Okello; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
    Bovine fasciolosis (BF) is a parasitic disease of cattle that causes significant economic impacts to cattle farmers. The physical loses include weight loss, drop in productivity, liver condemnation and mortalities. This study assessed the prevalence, financial losses and risk factors associated with the disease in Lira and Gulu Districts, northern Uganda. A cross-sectional study of 720 slaughter cattle from the abattoirs was conducted by macroscopic examination of the animals and carcasses during routine slaughter. In the farms, 120 rectal faecal samples were taken to a laboratory for Fasciola egg detection by simple microscopy, while risk factors were assessed by administering a questionnaire to farm owners. Prevalence of BF was highest (38%) within cattle in the age group of 1–3 years and lowest (18%) in those over 5 years. The overall BF prevalence was 48% and 26% by postmortem examination and coprology, respectively. The cattle body condition had a significant association (p < 0.01) with prevalence of BF, in which emaciated cattle were most affected (59%), while fat ones had the least prevalence (15%). The annual financial loss due to BF infection was USD 89,099. The major risk factors associated with the disease at the farm level were communal grazing in swampy areas (82%) and watering cattle in swamps (71%). Farms where the source of drinking water was swamp water had higher chances (p < 0.05) of their cattle having BF. An integrated approach using routine deworming programs, improvement of cattle management practices and control of snail intermediate hosts is recommended to effectively control the spread of BF.