Animal Welfare Society of Cameroon helps working donkeys with their AKI grant

Animal Welfare Society's grant project,

Supplemental feeding for 200 working donkeys during periods of drought and intense activity

helped donkeys of cotton producing farmers in northern Cameroon.

As you can see, it was very dry in Holma when AWES visited cotton producers there in February. The local traditional authority took AWES to one of the almost depleted wells to demonstrate the impact that the drought is having on both animals and humans.

AWES selected to work in the villages of Badjouma and Badgengo with three groups of cotton producing farmers. These farmer groups are affiliated with their local association of cotton producers, which makes them easy to trace and their donkeys' health and well-being easily monitored. Therefore, one of the requirements for receiving assistance from AWES is that the farmer must be registered with the local cotton producers' association.

At the start of the project in October, AWES met with farmers at Badjouma Radier. Pictured are: Dr. Martin (AWES founder & director, and AWES vet), Mr. Gatsa Thomas (AWES member and local veterinary support staff), and some of the Badjouma Radier farmers.

AWES targeted the donkeys of cotton producers because during the dry season and especially under current drought conditions, donkeys roam freely to search for food. This results in many road accidents and a high incidence of donkey theft. Also, the dry season coincides with the start of the farming season when donkeys are expected to work hard and need more and better nutrition and care.

AWES visits a farmers' group in Badjouma Centre. Pictured are: Dr, Martin, Mr. Alioum Gayou, (Sodecoton agent), Ibrahim Ousmanou, (AWES member), Mr Bada, a farmer with an emaciated donkey named Aijia, and some farmers' association members

AWES believes that their strength lies in collaborating with farmers to help the working donkeys of cotton producers in Cameroon.

AWES visits the Holma cotton producers' association

Starting in October, and monthly for 6 months, AWES supervised the distribution of feed to donkeys belonging to cotton producers. The working donkeys were given corn, wheat bran, bales of hay, and minerals.

In January, 500 kg of hay was delivered for supplemental feeding in Badjouma Radier

But AWES didn't only provide feed. AWES also treated sick and injured donkeys and advised farmers on how to improve their donkeys' health and well-being. AWES trimmed overgrown hooves and treated infections caused by oxpeckers and cattle egrets (nibbling at their hide to feed on insects),

AWES used the ruban metre rule to estimate weight. During a visit to one farmers' association in February, they identified 10 emaciated donkeys and 1 emaciated horse.

Animals identified as "emaciated" were de-wormed (like this horse). As a learning exercise, AWES has the farmers de-worm their animals under the supervision of AWES.

During the six-month project, 40 donkeys received basic health care ranging from de-worming, hoof trimming, and wound treatments.

One indication that this project was a huge success is that the cotton producers' associations suggested that donkey health and welfare should be included on the agenda of their meetings and invited AWES participation. The cotton producers took notice of how important it is to take good care of their donkeys and horses and that the care of their working animals should be considered an integral part of their farming activities in the future.