ASSESSMENT OF RUMINANT WELFARE AND ETHICAL PRACTICES AMONG LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN FARM SETTLEMENTS, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Welfare and ethical animal management practices is a neglected aspect of animal care in Nigeria. Despite the new development in animal welfare in Nigeria, Awareness and adoption of ethical practice among cattle farmers is in the study area is limited. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the attitudes of animal handlers towards ethics and animal welfare in Government farm settlements in Ibadan Nigeria. Structured oral interview was conducted on the animal handlers, using a total number of ninety-six respondents consulted in two selected farm settlements of Oyo state. Respondents were examined on their attitudes toward animal practices, questions asked covers staffing, system of management, record keeping, freedom of movement, building and accommodation, feeding and animal health management. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics SPSS 20. The study revealed that 90.7% of the respondent reported having separate accommodation for sick animals and 81.3% agreed to cleaning of feeding equipment daily. Majority (73.3%) of the respondents made water readily available for their animals. Most (85.7%) of farmers reported that sick animals should be separated from the healthy ones, 90.5% said housing the same species is not appropriate in a particular space., Most farmers (90.5%) gave supplemented feed to their animal while about 67% reported shelter is appropriate for animals and most were kept under tree. Stream was the main source of water (81%) that was available at the farm settlement and the frequency of water served is weekly (71.4%). In conclusion, farmers at the government farm settlements agreed that animals must be ethically managed