IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2012) 3-2

Research article
erdConstraints on Small Scale Cattle Production in Kandal
Province, Cambodia
SEREY MOB*Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Email: serey.mob@gmail.com

YUTHY VAY
Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

PISETH LONG
Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

MIRANDA PEN
New England University, Armidale, Australia

MOM SENG
Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Received16 December 2011

Accepted 7 February 2012(*: Corresponding Author)

Abstract This study was conducted in Kandal Steng and Saang District, Kandal Province,Cambodia, to determine the constraints on small scale cattle production in this area. Sixty
small holding cattle keepers were interviewed using semi-structure questionnaires. Faeces
samples from 80 cattle were selected and subjected to intestinal parasite investigation at
the Royal University of Agriculture Laboratory. Cattle are kept for draught power andreproduction purposes. Crossbreed animal types were dominant in these areas. The
average herd size is 2.5, ranging from 2 to 3 heads. Eighty five of respondents practiced
vaccination and 26% de-worming. However, the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) andHaemorrhage Septicaemia disease usually occurred as it was mentioned by farmers. Fivetypes of parasites (Fasciola, Paramphystomum, Gastro-intestinal strong (GIS), Eimeria andToxocara) had been detected; majority of GIS (68%) was found in feaces. The farmers
expressed that the major constraints to cattle production are disease outbreak (95%), lackof feed (35%) and that price of cattle is low (26%). In order to improve livestock
production at small scale level, animal health services for vaccination and treatment
should be strengthened and animal bio-security management should be applied. Technicalsupport should be in place, in order to encourage farmers to provide proper feeding
management, sufficient amount and quality of food so that growth rate, reproductive
performance and disease resistance of animals can be improved.
Keywords cattle, management, feeding, parasite

INTRODUCTION
In Cambodia, large ruminants play an important role in the agricultural sector of rural areas,
providing draught power, organic fertilizer, and cash accumulation (Pen et al., 2009). Livestock areraised through traditional management methods, such as rice straw and other seasonal crop residues
usually used for the main feed (Maclean, 1998; Pen et al., 2009; and Sath et al., 2008). During thedry period, major grazing activities take place (Sath et al., 2008) exposing animals to disease andinternal parasites (Keyyu et al., 2005), especially the calves which are more vulnerable.
Recently, the number of cattle in the province had significantly decreased due to; the incidence
of infectious diseases, an increased use of land for cropping and an increase in the use of machinerⒸISERD61

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2012) 3-2

ies for land preparation and transportation reducing the need for draught power. In addition, labordemands for feeding the animals are relatively high, consequently, some farmers decided to reduce
the herd size (Pen et al., 2009). In order to identify the situation of cattle production and intestinal
parasite investigation among farmers with small holdings, this study was conducted in Kandal
Steng and Saang District, Kandal Province.
MATERIALS AND METHODSStudy site
The survey and internal parasites investigation were conducted as a baseline study for the project“Establishment  of  Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium as forage supplementation for cattle  of  small  scale  farmers  in  Kandal  Province”  carried  out  between  Royal  University  of  Agriculture(RUA) and Cambodia Agriculture Research Fund (CARF). The study started from March 18 toApril 18, 2010 in Kandalsteng and Saang districts, where small producers handle cattle for crop
farming systems. These areas lay on a flat land in Kandal province, 12 km and 25 km from Phnom
Penh city, respectively. 60 households were selected for individual interview on animal production
aspects and 80 cattle were chosen for intestinal parasite study.
Sampling procedure for baseline study
Randomized sample of correspondents among small scale cattle keepers were selected. Twenty
producers in each commune, Koktrop and Ampovprey (Kandal Steng district) and Krangyov(Saang district) were chosen. Equal number of adoption forage and non-adoption forage farmers
was selected. Krangyov is the busiest farming area among all selected sites, where farmers cultivated rice almost 3 times per year.
Data collection for parasites study
Faeces samples for intestinal parasites identification were collected from the animals owned by thesame recipients in Kandalsteng district (Koktrop and Ampovprey village). The samples were harvested from rectum with new unused gloves for each animal and stored at 4 0C in a refrigerator andanalyzed within 3 days. Faecal samples were examined for the presence of parasite eggs, namely:
Fasciola, Paramphystomum, Gastro-intestinal strong (GIS), Eimeria (Coccidiosis) and Toxocara.
RESULTS
Herd size and breed
In  the  study  sites,  rice  was  the  staple  crop  for  securing  villagers’  livelihood,  whereas  livestock  was  the second sources of food, draught power and income generation. Compared to other species (pigsand poultry), cattle were present in highest number in those areas (Fig. 1). The average number ofanimals per household was approximately 2.5 head, which is similar to the finding of Maclean(1998). The herd size varied according to the farming aspect, in Krangyov, 35 percent of correspondents raised 4 animals whereas only 10 and 20% in Apovprey and Koktrop (Table 1).
The crossbred animal was the dominant breed type found in these study sites (Fig. 2). The
characteristics of this breed were similar, as described by Sath et al., 2008. Villagers selected bulls(Haryana) in their area for natural mating with local types. According to the farmers, crossbreed
cattle show significant difference in body condition and usually fit with labor work. Moreover, thetraders usually put their high interest and demand on crossbreed cattle. Majority of livestock werepurchased by neighboring villagers (Fig. 3). Approximately 36% of live animals were sold fordraught power rather than for breeding or slaughter. The male animals were temporary kept andⒸISERD62

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2012) 3-2

tended to be replaced when the holders were able to gain more profit. Traditionally, farmers inthese areas sold their draught animal after rice harvesting (January to February). Later, they werelooking for new animals in the early rainy season (April to May). The holders confirmed that during the dry season, frequently, animals lack feed and it was uneconomic to keep unused-animals.
Table 1 Average of households (Head/hs) keeping in Kandal province
Herd size (head)
Koktrop123
455<1545
20
2000Households (%)
Ampovprey
Krangyov
25
2025
10200

Fig. 1 Types of livestock kept

15
525
35
1010Means
18.3
23.3
23.3
21.7
10.0
3.3

Fig. 2 Breed preference

Fig. 3 Animals Market Chains defining themajor constraint of animals production

Fig. 4 Constraints on cattle production

Disease was identified in the survey as the major problem (95%) which limits the production
whereas feed supply (35%) and market price (26%) were considered to be less important (Fig. 4).
Most farmers reported that Foot and Mouth disease and hemorrhages septicemia were regularly
occurring even though eighty five percent of them attempted to use vaccinations (Fig.5).
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Fig. 5 Vaccinations and deworming

Fig. 6 Types of vaccinations usedFig. 7 Prevalence of internal parasite
infection on animals
The transmission of infectious diseases increased when the diet failed to meet the energy andnutrient requirements of the animal (Ben et al., 2006; Daovy et al., 2008). Thus the host is more
susceptible to infection when fed a low quality feed. As can be seen in this study, majority of producers were using rice straw low quality based-diet annually, particularly in Krangyov (Figs. 8 and9). Similarly to Sath et al. (2008), when the rice fields were vacant, grazing activities in the selected sites highly increased in dry period, especially in Koktrop and Ampovprey. Collected nativegrasses were almost twice in raining season for all selected villages. In Krongyov, paddy rice fields
were cultivated almost three times per year; hence native grass can be harvested on the edge of rice
field boundaries. Interestingly, some families in that area allocated their land close to their residential land for Para-grass planting. This forage was not only used for feeding their animals, but also
for selling to the other neighboring cattle holders. A bunch of cut grass accounted 1000 Riels.
Although deworming treatment for preventing five types of parasites (Fasciola, Paramphystomum, Gastro-intestinal strong (GIS), Eimeria and Toxocara) had been conducted (Fig. 5);
the majority of worm eggs found were in GIS of 68% (Fig. 7). High presence of GIS can be foundin border cattle production in many areas and countries (Keyyu et al., 2005; Swai et al., 2006). Cutand carrying or eventually grazing of natural pastures may increase the opportunity of transmissionof internal parasites (Keyyu et al., 2005; Maichomo et al., 2004). However, most of the animals
examined during the present survey had low to moderate strongly eggs and Coccidia oocyst counts,
meaning that the infections were usually sub-clinical.
Limitation of the herd size was not only due to widespread of disease but also due to the longcalving interval (18.5 months) which resulted from lower quantity and quality of feed supply (Penet al., 2009). In the study areas, calves were weaned approximately 10 months earlier than those in
the report of Sath et al., (2008) (12 to 15 months), although this practice of reducing calving intervals was extended to small scale farmers. According to Baiden and Duncan (2008), 3 months
weaning can be done in case farmers are fatting cattle for slaughter purpose, however, certainⒸISERD64

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amount of concentrated feed supplements (grass and legume) may be given in order to gain
330g/day in the 12 months indoors.
Table 2 Prevalence of faecal GIS, Eimeria and Toxocara egg counts in all typeand age of animals
Parasites

GIS

Eimeria
Toxocara

Number of examinedanimals
2634
18259
11287010Range of eggs
None50-200250-500>500None50-200250-500>500
None50-200Fig. 8 Feeding animals in rainy season% of animals thatexcreted eggs
32.5
42.5
22.5
2.5
73.8
13.7
2.5
1087.5
12.5

Fig. 9 Feeding animals in dry season

Table 3 Weaning and Castration practices
CalvesKok trop

Ampov Prey

Krang Yov

Mean

STD

Weaning (Months)

9128

9.7

2.1

Castration (Year)

1.15

1.78

0.45

1.13

0.7

CONCLUSION
Based on the study, followings were concluded;- Cattle production is linked to farming activities, and the majority of household keep animals from2-3 heads- Crossbred are dominant and appropriate for the market demand- Infectious diseases are influenced by production performance, there is not enough community
veterinary service to have emergency support to the farmers- Feeding is depending on grazing, collecting natural grasses and rice straw- Improve feed quality, quantity and fattening cattle for slaughterhouse was not consistent, and- Carrying out traditional weaning are prolonging calving interval.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from CARF and RUA Research Laboratory,
because without their support, this research would not have been possible. Special thanks to thefarmers who contributed with their valuable time and welcomed our study.
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