Ce guide technique a été élaboré afin de renforcer la sécurité sanitaire de la viande de brousse et de réduire les risques de transmission des maladies le long de la chaîne alimentaire, de la forêt à l’assiette. Fruit d’une collaboration entre communautés locales, chercheurs, vétérinaires et organisations internationales, il s’appuie sur les expériences acquises dans le cadre du Programme de gestion durable de la faune sauvage (SWM) au Cameroun ainsi que d’initiatives dédiées à la prévention des risques sanitaires associés au commerce de la faune sauvage. Le guide intègre à la fois les savoirs locaux, issus des pratiques et observations des chasseurs et préparateurs de viande, et les connaissances scientifiques en pathologie vétérinaire et inspection sanitaire. Destiné principalement aux vétérinaires et aux professionnels chargés du contrôle de la viande sauvage, il propose des approches visant à améliorer la surveillance sanitaire, la sécurité alimentaire, l’utilisation durable de la faune et la prévention des maladies zoonotiques. En favorisant une gouvernance inclusive et des approches communautaires fondées sur les réalités locales, ce guide contribue à la santé humaine, animale et environnementale selon les principes de l’approche One Health.
Tag: animal nutrition
Community health monitoring and safe handling of wild meat in tropical forests
This technical manual was developed through collaborative initiatives in Africa, particularly within the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme and related projects in Cameroon aimed at reducing disease transmission risks along the wild meat value chain. Drawing on decades of experience from Africa and lessons learned through earlier work with rural communities in the Amazon Basin, the manual integrates scientific veterinary knowledge with local ecological knowledge and community practices. Designed primarily for veterinarians and professionals involved in wild meat inspection and handling, it provides guidance for improving food safety, reducing zoonotic disease risks, and supporting sustainable wildlife use. The manual emphasizes the importance of community participation, inclusive governance, and culturally appropriate approaches to wildlife management. It promotes the integration of traditional knowledge, veterinary science, and the One Health framework to strengthen public health, animal health, and environmental sustainability. By combining practical field experience with technical expertise, the guide contributes to safer wild meat value chains while supporting biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods in forest-dependent communities.
Healthy forests safeguard traditional wild meat food systems in Amazonia
Amazonia is the largest and the most species-rich tropical forest region on Earth, where hundreds of Indigenous cultures and thousands of animal species have interacted over millennia. Although Amazonia offers a unique context to appraise the value of wildlife as a source of food to millions of rural inhabitants, the diversity, geographic extent, volumes and nutritional value of harvested wild meat are unknown. Here, leveraging a dataset comprising 447,438 animals hunted across 625 rural localities, we estimate an annual extraction of 0.57 Mt of undressed animal biomass across Amazonia, equivalent to 0.34 Mt of edible wild meat. Just 20 out of 174 taxa account for 72% of all animals hunted and 84% of the overall biomass extracted. We show that this amount of wild meat can meet nearly half of protein and iron dietary requirements for rural peoples, along with a substantial portion of their needs for B vitamins (18–126%) and zinc (23%). However, wild meat productivity is likely to have decreased by 67% in nearly 500,000 km² of highly deforested areas of Amazonia. Furthermore, the availability of wild meat per capita decreases significantly in areas with higher human population, greater proximity to cities, and more extensive deforestation. These findings highlight the urgent need to preserve the forest to safeguard biodiversity and traditional wild meat food systems, which will be essential for ensuring Amazonian peoples’ well-being and achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid on growth performance, diarrhoea, ruminal fermentation, and antioxidant capacity in pre-weaned calves
The pre-weaning phase is critical for calf development, with long-term implications for health and productivity. This study evaluated the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation on growth, ruminal fermentation, diarrhoea, and antioxidant capacity in pre-weaned Holstein calves. Ninety male calves were assigned to five GABA dosage groups (0–200 mg/day) from 11 to 75 days of age. Supplementation at 100 mg/day significantly improved average daily gain and body height without affecting diarrhoea incidence. GABA reduced total volatile fatty acids and acetate levels in the rumen, while butyrate showed a dose-dependent response. These findings suggest that 100 mg/day of GABA optimally enhances growth and regulates rumen fermentation, offering a promising strategy for improving calf performance before weaning.
Logistic modelling of smallholder livestock farmers’ adoption of tree-based fodder technology in Zimbabwe
Based on field data collected from 131 small scale dairy farmers that were randomly selected from four agro-ecological zones, this study assessed the potential of adoption of fodder bank technology as a means for improving livestock production and income generation for smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. Using a logit modelling approach, it also identified the drivers of adoption of the technology by analysing the influence of household characteristics and ecological factors on farmers’ decision to adopt the technology. The model correctly predicted 75% of observed adoption and non-adoption by farmers. Results reveal that dairy herd size, land holding size, membership of dairy association and agro-ecological potential are the key factors influencing farmers’ adoption of fodder bank. Age, sex, household size and educational level of farmers play lesser role. Male and female farmers were equally likely to take up and practice fodder bank if they are given equal access to information and incentives. The study recommends farmer-led extension approaches where farmers who possess certain key characteristics should constitute the initial group for disseminating information regarding the technology in rural communities. The results highlight the importance of access to dairy product markets as a driver for the adoption of fodder banks. It is recommended that forging a strategic partnership with the Dairy Development Programme (DDP) will offer high potential for enhancing the scaling up of the adoption and impact of fodder bank technology in the country.
Forage potential of eight woody species: intake and growth rates of local young goats in the highland region of Rwanda
Eight woody fodder species adapted to the highlands of Rwanda were evaluated in terms of dry matter intake in one experiment. Animals were offered a daily diet comprising 4.0 of fresh matter of Setaria splendida grass supplemented with or without one of the eight fodder species tested. In all cases, total daily feed intake was increased by the addition of woody fodder. Daily intake of the woody fodder was high for Acacia koaia, Mimosa scabrella and Acacia koa at 43.7, 42.6 and 41.9 g/kg BW0.75, respectively. The dry matter intake of the other five species (Alnus acuminata, Chamaecytisus palmensis, Hagenia abyssinica, Acacia mearnsii and Acacia melanoxylon) ranged from 18.9 to 30.1 g/kg BW0.75 per day. In another experiment, a basic daily diet of 4.0 kg of fodder (in fresh weight) was given to each animal. This ratio comprised S. splendida supplemented with M. scabrella and incorporated at 0 (control), 45% and 66% (fresh weight basis) of the total daily diet. Improved weight gain was obtained when setaria was supplemented with M. scabrella with daily weight gain of 31, 47 and 51 g/animal for 0, 45 and 66% M. scabrella, respectively.