Small actions big consequences: the impact of globalisation on the livestock sector in the South
Animal health Department DIO – February 2011
Context Far more than climate change globalization related activities have a serious impact on the livestock sector, especially in the South. globalisation = "changes in social attitudes, technology and transport which enables companies and private persons to sell or buy a product anywhere� Dio – February 2011
Impact of globalisation on our environment
A “traditional” Sunday meal in England—beef, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, beans, blueberries, and strawberries—made from imported ingredients generates nearly 650 times the transportrelated carbon emissions than the same meal made from locally grown ingredients (almost 38 kilograms of carbon dioxide compared with just 58 grams) Brian Halweil, Worldwatch Institute.
Some minced meat bought in 2009 at the local supermarket (Belgium) piglet born in Canada, fattened in Australia, slaughtered in Belgium.
Impact of globalisation in the south Three field cases showing that minor animal movements had devastating effects on livestock breeding and the livelihoods of poor African farmers : 1) the choice of a new trade partner and ECF in the Comoros 2) genetic improvement and import of ticks in Ivory Coast 3) restocking and health insurance in Burundi
1. East Coast Fever in the Comoros
Union of Comoros, Federation of 3 autonomous islands 600,000 inhabitants of which 51% live on Grand Comore. 25,000 heads of cattle.
Import Beef: First Europe (BSE) Then Madagascar In 2002 from Tanzania
. November 2002 abnormally high mortality on high plateau near a herd of 300 cows recently imported from Tanzania.
In 1.5 year time the epidemic spread over the whole island, 5000 animals died
Cause of the epidemic
Experts
from OVI suspected ECF Important features of ECF: Protozoan first infecting host lymphocytes ( lymphoblast with schizonts) and then erythrocytes (piroplasms) of the host In the vector first gut epithelial cels and then salivary glands (sporozoites) infected According to breed and immunity: endemic or epidemic situation
ILRI
Long immunity if host survives the disease endemic stability against local strains infection and treatment method (Tanzania vaccination with Muguga cocktail) healthy carriers
Clinical signs: lymphadenopathy, fever, anorexia, ocular and nasal discharge, corneal opacity, diarrhea. Terminally ill animals develop pulmonary edema, severe dyspnea and a frothy nasal discharge
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is the most important vector for T. parva
Diagnosis of ECF confirmed Schizonts in lymphocytes Multilocus genotyping: strains of Theileria parva identical to those of the Muguga cocktail vaccine used for the immunisation of cattle in Tanzania. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus present on Grand Comore but not (yet) observed on the two other islands.
Actual situation in Grand Comores No treatment and infection treatment was established, an endemic stability developed: morbidity controlled with drugs and mortality limited to calves Up to now the other islands have not been infected (yet). Meanwhile, VSFB started a dairy industry on the island of Anjouan
2. Genetic improvement of dairy cattle and tick import in Ivory Coast
The project APROLAIT SUD, was financed by the Belgian Cooperation and aimed to develop milk production in Azaguié (50 km north of Abidjan). Local farmers received credits and technical support to buy dairy cattle and to start milk and meat production. In an attempt to improve their dairy cattle the farmers buy from a M.P. cattle, recently imported from South Africa.
From then onwards the project is confronted with uncontrollable tick populations and considerable mortality due to tick-borne diseases. In a sample of ticks collected at AzaguiĂŠ and sent to ITM some Rhipicephalus microplus (Boophilus microplus) are discovered. In Africa this tick species, notorious for its high reproductive and vectorial capacity and broad acaricide resistance, was only known to occur in Southern Africa.
Current situation Farmers at Azaguié still suffer from heavy losses due to the heavy tick loads. Most acaricides do not offer a satisfactory result. Pasture improvement has been recommended to control ticks. Local Boophilus species: B. decoloratus, B. annulatus and B. geigyi are being replaced by B. microplus With the aid of RIPROSAT the presence of B.microplus was demonstrated in a second West-African country (Benin).
3. Restocking and health insurance in Burundi or the importance of the “One health” principle. Establishment of health insurance in the South is heavily supported by some NGO’s and health insurance companies from the North. Insurance premiums still too high for the poorest (membership has to subsidized or alternative ways of income generation sought) In Gitega (Burundi) the NGO ODAG distributes goats to vulnerable families + cross-breeding with Toggenburg goats from Kenya.
Neither sanitary border control nor quarantine requirements exist. High mortality (up to 55%) especially in the genetically improved goats. Mainly tick borne diseases (import of exotic strains of Babesia and Cowdria?) Substantial amounts of money have to be spent on acaricides for tick control lowering the income of the farmer and the resistance of local livestock against endemic diseases.
What is needed to prevent reoccurrences?
All persons/organisations importing or exporting animals or animal products must be aware of the risk of transboundary diseases and act consequently, Each country has to organise an effective epidemiosurveillance system adapted to its resources, Establishment of sanitary border control, an animal quarantine system and an adequate legislation that is enforced by the local authorities, Training in field sampling, Equipment and consumables to carry out basic laboratory diagnosis in well defined centres disposing of trained personnel.
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Thanks for your attention