title: Constraints to Hamari sheep farming under range conditions in Darfur and Kordofan Regions of Western Sudan.
abstract: The study was conducted to identify the major production constraints of Hamari sheep in Darfur and Kordofan Regions of Western Sudan. A structured questionnaire was administered to 128 farmers in Darfur and Kordofan. Feed shortages, prevalence of diseases and parasites, and predation were more severe in Darfur than Kordofan (P < 0.05). Thefts were ranked higher by farmers using the sedentary system compared to those using semi-nomadic system (P < 0.05). Water shortage was ranked higher by farmers with small flocks, large flocks, semi-nomadic and sedentary husbandry system in Kordofan than their counterparts in Darfur Region (P < 0.05). Farmers practising semi-nomadic husbandry system and sedentary system in Darfur region ranked diseases, parasites and predation higher than those practising semi-nomadic and sedentary system in Kordofan region (P < 0.05). Feed shortage was ranked higher as a challenge by farmers practising semi-nomadic system in Darfur Region than those practising semi-nomadic system in Kordofan Region (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that the severity of challenges facing Hamari sheep producers vary with flock size, region and production system used.
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ahmed Berima
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tirab
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. chimonyo@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chimonyo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D055864:Droughts; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Farming constraints; Hamari sheep; Western Sudan