Evaluation of the Bull Scheme: An Open Nucleus Breeding System in the communal livestock farming areas of Namibia

Abstract

The communal farmers in Namibia have been unsatisfied with the low prices received from meat slaughter companies due to low carcass weight. As a result, the government prioritised improved quality livestock production through the implementation of the Bull Scheme in which improved breeding indigenous bulls (e.g Sanga) and exotic breeds were given to improve frame size.  This study, therefore, assessed the impact of the “Bull Scheme” on the beneficiary farmers’ livelihoods with a prime focus on the herds of the beneficiaries. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 105 beneficiaries and data was analysed using SPSS version 25.0. There was an overall increase in the herd/flock of beneficiaries comparing the number of animals before and after Scheme participation with an increase of 131%, 147%, and 67% for the bull recipients, ram recipients, and buck recipients respectively. There was also an increase in the number of cattle sold after the scheme by 43%, for the bull recipients (t(83) = -2.445, p=0.017), while incomes were reported to have increased. Regardless of initial training upon receiving the breeding males, farmers did not adjust their management practices upon the introduction of new breeding animals. Most beneficiaries indicated that they faced several challenges of expensive feed supplements, long-distance travelled in search of grazing and water which predisposed the scheme breeding males to poor conditions and even death of the animal.  There is a need to train beneficiaries on record keeping and proper management as well as the goals of the project prior to project implementation.