Assessment of Farmers' Preference for Livestock Health Services in Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone

Abstract

The livestock sector is crucial for the livelihood of the population, as it provides meat, milk, draft power, and income. This study assessed farmers' preferences for livestock health services in Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone, focusing on the access patterns to veterinary service and the prevalence of modern veterinary or traditional medicine usage, and outlined the challenges faced by farmers engaged in livestock production. A structured questionnaire was administered to 150 participants, and quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed using descriptive statistics via SPSS-20 and Excel for data visualization. The results revealed male dominance in Mosongo (70%) and Mokonde (80%), while Bonganema had a female majority (70%); 90% were married in Mokonde, and 60% attained tertiary education in Mosongo. The livestock health services predominantly included clinical care (90%) in Mosongo, (60%) in Mokonde, and (50%) in Bonganema; (80%) reported monthly veterinary visits for the treatment of diarrhea at (70%) in Mosongo and (50%) in Mokonde and Bonganema across regions. The farmers largely preferred modern veterinary medicine (100%) in Mosongo and Bonganema; 90% reported the use of tetracycline in Bonganema, and 90% reported the use of alternatives to antibiotics for disease prevention and deworming in Mosongo and Mokonde. The study identified critical challenges: disease outbreaks (60%), limited healthcare access (40%), and financial constraints (10%) in Mosongo. The study highlights the need for improved veterinary access, farmer education, and sustainable health strategies to enhance livestock productivity in rural Sierra Leone.