| dc.description.abstract | This study evaluated efficiency of tick control practices, for control of East Coast
fever (ECF), in smallholder dairy farms in Kenya to identify practices more
efficiently beneficial in such farming systems. The study used both economic data and
results of a longitudinal study conducted in four sites in Kenya (Kesses, Kiambaa,
Lurambi and Makuyu) for assessment of parameters for tick infection dynamics
modelling. Data analysis involved ECF risk estimation at the farm level using a
regression model, classification of farms using cluster analysis procedure, simulation
of disease risk into economic values and finally, frontier and Stochastic Dominance
analyses to evaluate economic efficiency of ECF control. Disease risk analysis results
from this study identified intensity of acaricide use and study site interaction with
breed as significant in explaining the risk (P<O.05). These results compare with
results from other studies conducted in smallholder farming areas of Kenya in that
they show farm management practices such as acaricide application as significant in
determining risk of the disease at the farm level. Cluster analysis identified three farm
types classified as low, moderate and high ECF risk farms, based on clustering
qualitative characteristics. Analysis of variance (ANOV A) result from the cluster
analysis showed acaricide application provided greatest separation between clusters
with F value of 418.2 interpreted as acaricide application being an important criterion
for classifying farms. Frontier analysis showed that significant variation in losses due
to ECF existed across farms (Gamma significant at 95% level) with efficiency in
control of the disease being a significant cause of the variability. The analysis further
showed that exotic breeds and free-grazing have a positive and significant effect on
the losses, where as, high acaricide application results in negative and significant
effect on the same losses. Stochastic analysis of both sites and farm-types showed
second-degree stochastic dominance. The results showed that rearing zebu and zebucross
calves under free grazing management with minimal (strategic) acaricide input
at low disease risk and rearing exotic calves under free-grazing management with
intensive acaricide input at high disease risk results in higher benefits. Generally, the
results suggest that understanding how frequency of acaricide application change risk
of ECF and thus production variability can help to explain to some extent patterns of
adoption of control practices seen in this study as well as identify inefficient control
practices. This study has shown that not all the smallholder acaricide application
practices and farm types are efficient. However, the study shows that disease control
inputs applied strategically in some farm types can lead to disease control cost
efficiencies. The results further suggest that higher susceptibility of high grade animal
to ECF, high value of replacement animals and ability of a farmer to access disease
control inputs could explain efficiencies or inefficiencies observed. The study
suggests a further investigation of investment risk preferences of smallholder dairy
farmers. | en |
