胃肠道线虫(GIN)加剧了干旱对牛生存的影响。传统系统的不足使得探索土著知识(IK)以创建耐旱和GIN弹性的牛群变得越来越重要。该研究的目的是评估干旱期间控制GIN的本地策略。与IK专家进行了面对面的访谈,以深入了解其重要性,GIN控制的方法和排名。专家们确定了86头牛,用来检验他们的断言。使用的控制方法是使用诱发因素识别易受高GIN负荷影响的牛,使用粪便外观诊断GIN负荷,和使用植物疗法的治疗。专家将诱发因素列为最关键的控制策略,并确定了身体状况,类,性别,外套颜色,妊娠状态和泌乳状态是高GIN负担的诱发因素。薄,年长的,深色的牛,以及怀孕和泌乳的奶牛,被认为容易患GIN。然而,怀孕状态,外衣颜色和性别与高GIN负担显著相关。奶牛有高GIN负担的可能性是公牛的2.6倍。深色牛比浅色牛更可能有3.5倍高的GIN负担,怀孕母牛的可能性是未怀孕母牛的4.9倍。深色怀孕母牛极易受到高GIN负担的影响。总之,在购买基金会股票时,易感因素的知识为选择决策提供了信息。易受高GIN负荷影响的牛在干旱期间优先考虑,或者在资源稀缺的地方被淘汰。
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) exacerbate the impact of droughts on the survival of cattle. The inadequacies of the conventional system make it increasingly important to explore indigenous knowledge (IK) to create drought-tolerant and GIN resilient herds. The objective of the study was to assess the indigenous strategies for controlling GIN during droughts. Face-to-face interviews with experts on IK were conducted to give insight into the importance, methods and ranking of GIN control. The experts identified 86 cattle that were used to test their assertions. The control methods used were identifying cattle that were susceptible to high GIN loads using predisposing factors, diagnosis of GIN burdens using faecal appearance, and treatment using phytotherapy. Experts ranked predisposing factors as the most critical control strategy and identified body condition, class, sex, coat colour, pregnancy status and lactation status as predisposing factors to high GIN burdens. Thin, older, dark-coloured cattle, as well as pregnant and lactating cows, were considered susceptible to GIN. However, pregnancy status, coat colour and sex were significantly associated with high GIN burdens. Cows were 2.6 times more likely to have high GIN burdens than bulls. Dark-coloured cattle were 3.5 times more likely to have high GIN burdens than light-coloured ones, and the likelihood of pregnant cows was 4.9 times higher than non-pregnant cows. A dark-coloured pregnant cow was extremely susceptible to high GIN burdens. In conclusion, knowledge of predisposing factors informs selection decisions when purchasing foundation stock. Cattle that are susceptible to high GIN loads are prioritised during droughts or culled where resources are scarce.