Smallholder farmers' knowledge of and attitudes to livestock vaccinations: challenges and policy implications in South Africa

Smallholder livestock farmers often lack knowledge of suitable livestock vaccines. This is largely attributed to inadequate training in primary animal healthcare (PAHC). Relevant knowledge, good practice and positive attitudes to livestock vaccinations may reduce the impact of diseases and maximise smallholder livestock productivity. This policy brief provides a comparative overview of farmers' knowledge of and attitudes to livestock vaccinations in five provinces of South Africa: Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and North West. It draws on a research study conducted in 2016 by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) on smallholder livestock farmers' knowledge, attitudes and practices on PAHC; 593 smallholder livestock farmers were surveyed for the study. We found that farmers spent a sizeable amount of money on vaccines and other disease preventative products. However, there was a general view among farmers that vaccines were too expensive and not readily available in rural areas. We recommend that the government should capacitate farmers with knowledge and promote animal vaccines and preventative and biosecurity measures such as isolation, vaccination and disinfection to reduce livestock disease prevalence and increase livestock productivity.