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SHEIKH TECHNICAL VETRINARY SCHOOL (STVS)

BURAO FIELD WORK REPORT

FROM: 4th July 2010 _ 7th July 2010

STUDENT NAME: Abdirahman Mohamed Farah

STUDENT NO:0094

DATE: 14/07/2010

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I Abdurrahman Mohamed Farah I declare that this report done with my

effort and appear in other

Student’s name:---------------------------------------------------------------------

Student’s signature-------------------------------------------------------------------

Supervisor’s name:---------------------------------------------------------------------

Supervisor’s signature----------------------------------------------------------------

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owledgement

First I would like to thanks allah who made me easy to prepare my report
Secondly I would like to thanks the people who participated in my report
Thirdly
I would to tahnk my tutors in STVS
1- Dr. Abdillahi Sheikh Mohamed
2- Dr. Ibrahim Osman Suliman
3- Dr. Abdilqadir Khalif
4- Dr. Abdullahi Ali Hirzi
5- Dr. Nouh Haji Abdi

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Chapter one
1.0.Declaration ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
1.1. Acknowledgement------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
1.2.TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------4
1.3 .The introduction of the studies area----------------------------------------------------------5
1.4. Background of studies area--------------------------------------------------------------------6
1.5 .Map of the studies area-------------------------------------------------------------------------7
Chapter two
2.0.Objectives of the field--------------------------------------------------------------------------8
2.1.Methodology-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Chapter three
3.1.0.Field activities---------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
3.1.1.International Livestock Company-----------------------------------------------------------9
3.1.2 Inspection area---------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
3.1.3. Quarantine area------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
3.1.4. Holding ground area------------------------------------------------------------------------10
3.1.5.challenges faced international livestock company---------------------------------------11
3.1. 6.Maandeeq Camel dairy farm--------------------------------------------------------------11
3.1.7. International company livestock’s--------------------------------------------------------12
3.1.8.Purpose for establishment international livestock company---------------------------12
3.1.9.Milk market of burao-----------------------------------------------------------------------12
3.2.0.Types of the milk----------------------------------------------------------------------------12
3.2.1.Sources of the milk--------------------------------------------------------------------------12
3.2.2.Milk market actors---------------------------------------------------------------------------13
3.2.3. Milk preserved equipment -----------------------------------------------------------------13
3.2.4.Challenges faced by milk market----------------------------------------------------------13

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3.2.5.Burao traditional slaughterhouse-----------------------------------------------------------14

3.2.6.livestock market of burao ------------------------------------------------------------------15
3.2.7.Infrastructure of the market----------------------------------------------------------------16
3.2.8. Local government responsible for--------------------------------------------------------16
3.2.9.Type of animals------------------------------------------------------------------------------17
3.3.0. Different roles of market actors-----------------------------------------------------------17
3.3.1.Challenges faced for market---------------------------------------------------------------18
3.3.2.Traditional skin processing-----------------------------------------------------------------18
3.3.3.Challenges faced for the traditional skin processing------------------------------------19

Chapter for four

3.3.4.Conclusion -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------20
3.3.5.Recommendation-----------------------------------------------------------------------------20
3.3.6.annex --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21-22

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Chapter one
1.1 The introduction of the studies area

As per STVS academic studies system and examination policy in at end of second
semester student are exposed to fieldwork.
In first year student are taken to Burao for three-day field work to observe analyze and
report on livestock related activities, and they visited several area that are vital for
livestock activities
Field work is a process by which students take practical sessions to upgrade their
knowledge.
First year students sent to Burao for field work. The aim of this field work is to know
health problems of livestock in different structures.
This field work was to demonstrate what they leant in last two semesters named by
Integument and Digestive systems. and put into practice the technique and skills that was
obtained during study periods and they also collect data from livestock structures in
Burao town such as tannery, livestock market, slaughter houses like modern and local,
camel dairy farm and milk market.

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1.2 Background of studies area

Burao is the second largest city in Somaliland. as well as the capital of Togdheer region.
It has a population between 300,000 and 350,000 people. It is an important commercial
centre. It has the largest livestock market in the region, and brings together traders from
as far as Bossaso in the North East of Somalia, Luq, on the boundary with Kenya, in the
South, and Djibouti in the West. It is located in the mid of the country its climate is like
the other cities of Somaliland, it is cold in winter and
hot in the summer it’s temperature is between (220c_330)
There is many activities about livestock and livestock economy such as a modern
slaughterhouse and also a
camel dairy farm and two tanneries of skin processing an the city has university called
Burao university an
veterinary medicine is one of the faculties of the university .

1.3 Map of the studies area

Burao map

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Chapter two

2.0.Objectives of the field

 To practically apply the student’s skills and knowledge learnt during the first
years in the stvs
 To acquire skills to collecting and processing data in livestock sector as well
as report
 To improve communication skills

 2.1.Methodology
 Observation:these methods students give information but not depth and are
used when the oral interview is not possible to take
 Interview :this is the one of the commest methods for data collection in
qualitative reseachs. So the students performed this way by assisting the tutors
and people who are present this place because some of those people when
they saw their students are trying to change such terrible conditions in the
market of even the milk market. Therefore those people are encouraged us to
prooceed our education
 Inspection:this method was used mostly in slaughterhouse and international
livestock company where the students are done the some practicalskills
include making cut section,incise some organs
\

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Chapter three
3.1.0.Field activities
3.1.1.International Livestock Company
International Livestock Company is the compound used for animal husbandry, those
animals rare for commercial purpose, especially exporting.
The company locates west side of burao city around 8km away from the city.
( Animals in the company rare are the main species that Somaliland community usually
rare which are ) ( goat , sheep , camel ,cattle and many others of wild life animal ).
It was established on October 2009 and still is under processing, its area was
approximately 360 hector.
it’s aim to improve the quality and productivity of the animals for export system, in
order to compete in international market.

There are three main parts in the company

 Inspection area
 Quarantine area
 Zero grazing / holding ground area

3.1.2 Inspection area

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This type of inspection is the first step area that animals classified by visual appraisal or
observation method either have disease character nor have not, in to two groups which
are infect and non infect groups .
The infect animal can be identify only by character of its appearance, after that
segregation of the animals.
u

3.1.3. Quarantine area

This area used to classify the animals by investigation of laboratory, beside all veterinary
activities available.
When animals classified during inspection, infected animals kept in the area and applied
veterinary services, while other animals pass to the holding grounds, where will be fed
properly.

3.1.4. Holding ground area

This is the largest area in the company where animals are kept and fed properly with
facilities available there in respecting animal welfare.
• Wells: there are three wells used for animal’s irrigation in the company during
dry seasone.
• Different pens: there are different pens used to kept animals in different species
such as camel, cattle, small ruminants

Species No of pens Area of each pen Capacity of pen

Camel 2 50x100m 2500 of camel
Cattle 2 50x100m 2500 of cattle
Small ruminants 6 50x30m 10,000 shoats

• Shade area : the shade area is the area that used for shading the animal for
kept from sun light damages Graze stores: graze stores are used for storage of
the graze to keep it save for the animals in drought seasons, and may use in
commercials purpose
• Rest place: rest place is the place used for rest and may build tourism in future

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• Containers of graze :is the plastic bags used to feed animals in the graze it save
the graze from sunlight and dust.
• Labor houses: these houses is used for the live of the labor and even all other
stuffs

3.1.5.challenges faced international livestock company

 lack of enough water either for irrigation or for drinks
 lack of road
 lack of communication
 lack of enough veterinary services

3.1.6.Maandeeq Camel dairy farm

Is located in the out skirt of the town especially southwest of Burao and away about 8kms
from the city and has an area of 100 hectares, farm area was muddy; it is reared camel
and cultivated vegetables and fruits.
After prolonged period of droughts and lack of rain, the farm was not working
accordingly, and shifted another water-processing factory called XAREEDA mineral
water.
The farm is cultivated both exotic and local tree including, Lemon, banana, grape,
tomato, and others, and are planted these grasses for the camel:
Sudan grasses, alfalfa, Zambian rods for fodder and Australian grasses.
Structurally the farm contains the farm, pen, water pore holes with troughs and crash for
animal restraining.
Sanitary facilities
The overall hygienic standard is normal, they milking machine to reduce milking risk
associate and the transmission of mastitis
Bulk Milk Pick-up Tanks that are used to collect and transport milk from a dairy farm, is
aluminum cans, these permits reduction of milk contamination and preserves its normal
A Cleaning and Sanitizing Facility means is employed for any place such as milking,
Pen consist three parties, one part is for calves, another part is for pregnant camel and
another remaining part is for lactated camel

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3.1.7. International company livestock’s

International livestock company was established October 2009 its located in western site
in Buroa close to Kabadheer which is 8km away from Buroa its coves an area estimated
to be 360 hector of two quarantine holding ground in which all new introduced animal
should pass the quarantine holding ground before they go to the free holding ground the
to confirm their health because animal will come from different place. free zone which
is used to take care of health animal which passed by quarantine zone the (ILC) was
planned to the keep Goats Sheep’s Camel Cattle.
3.1.8.Purpose for establishment international livestock company
1. To enhance the quality of domestic animal
2. To fattening and increasing weight of animal
3. To perform and apply modern production system

3.1.9.Milk market of burao

The market starts its operation in 9:00am to 10:00am at the morning and like wise close
almost at the mid night. The milk sold in the market is different according to their sources
and the species. The milk have different test due to time of stored in container and also
have different price according to its quality

3.2.0.Types of the milk

(Fresh milk ,slightly sour milk, normal sour milk, sour milk and yoghurt milk )

3.2.1.Sources of the milk

(Odweyne, beerato, guban, shimbirotog, daanbari, laydheegato and suuqsade

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3.2.2.Milk market actors

Producers: producers are mainly pastoralist who live in the remote area supply to the
market to exchange his need of goods and services.
Market agents: market agents are people that involve market activities
Transporter: the milk transports by cars from different places of the remote area.
Price of the milk : the basic measures of the used to estimate the amount of the milk so
that there are different uses of the milk scale equipments includes Liter and Half liter
The price of the milk is not fixed it could be variable cost in the market which relates
the inflation of the market , demand , supply and commodities of the market especially
in drought season and wealth season .
during the field work the price it may concise as following table

Table of the price and taxes of the milk

Species Price per liter Taxes per 5 liter
Small ruminants 4500 sh Somaliland 0.15 dollar
Cattle 5000sh.somaliland 0.15 dollar
Camel 6000sh.somaliland 0.15 dollar

3.2.3. Milk preserved equipment

The milk stored in plastic containers, materials made by aluminum such as ( jug)and
traditional containers (haan)
Both traders and producers work how the container be kept clean any time Producers
clean the container before using by variable methods such as boiled water, sand and
detergents, and traditional system called (culay)

3.2.4.Challenges faced by milk market

 Poor hygiene
 Decreased of the demand due to drought season
 Lack of shelter and shade
 Lack of support obtained by government and international agents
 High taxes which those people have not capacity to pay
 Lack of enough water

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 Lack of electricity
 And many other problems faced them

3.2.5.Burao traditional slaughterhouse

Burao Slaughterhouse locates in the east side of the burao town, it is public
slaughterhouse belongs all population in burao and its area is 0.6km2.
It operates from 11:00pm to 5:00 am and its functioning by approximately 50 workers
composed of both male and female and also each of two groups have specific function in
place of work such as some of the men are to slaughter the animal especially camel while
the majority of the women operates incisions or skin of the animals, and few of them are
government staffs included slaughterhouse administration , hygiene staffs and security
staff .
Slaughterhouse has two sections one is concerned by camel, while the other concerned by
small ruminants for slaughter.
Small ruminants section only works by women,while other section which use for camel
slaughtering works by men.
Totally cattel species are not sloughterd in Burao Sloughter house due t0 community of
burrao suburb that did not rear the cattle and also do not consumed by population in
burcao city.
There are 3 cars works for slaughter house which are carry the meat from the
slaughterhouse to other parts of the town

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Table below show infected organs during processing in Burao Slaughterhouse

Species No of No of infected Organ findings
examined
Goat 2 Liver Abscess /color change/necrotic
Goat 6 1 fore stomach Plastic bug /nodules
Goat 4 1 Lymph nodes Swelling ,larger and harden
Goat 8 1 Kind keys Color change
Goat 3 2 Small intestine payer’s patch and redness
Goat 5 1 Abomasums Parasitic cyst
Goat 8 1 Lung Color change and soften
Sheep 7 2 Liver Swelling and necrotic
Sheep 5 1 Small intestine Payers patch
Sheep 5 1 Large intestine Harden and purulent with blood
camel 1 1 Lymph nodes Swelling and harden

THE PICTURES BELOW SHOWS THE LIVER LESSIONS

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3.2.6.livestock market of burao

Burao livestock market is located in the south west of the city, this market was
established in 1950 and only small ruminants and camel sold in the market. The male
shoats sold for export while female shoats sold for in locally consumption only.

3.2.7.Infrastructure of the market

l producer

Livestock market

Local consumers Traders

Butchers Individual Carcasses Live animals

There are three roads that enters to the market and all are rough,.
The market has two shades at the center and used to provide animals and human to shade
those are selling and buying.
The area of each shade has 22m in length and 12 in width. The market has no public pens
but there are 21 private pens and every and each pens has its own holding ground, water,
hay, forage and its’ security .

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There are nine rumps that are used for loading of the animals to avoid any damages.
There one building for the local government consist of four rooms, two uses for
veterinary services, one for sanitation and one for taxation .
There four toilets one for women while the others used for men and there are four
rubbish containers for local government at the eastern side of the local government
3.2.8. Local government responsible for:
 Collect taxes
 Keeps security of the market
 Keeps sanitation
 For labeling of the animals

3.2.9.Type of animals
Burao livestock market sell different species including goat sheep and camel, cattle is
rare.
Species Grade Female Prices Male ( ahmin) Prices per dollar
(dabaax)
Sheep/goat 1 Very good 40$ 4-5 years 57

Sheep/goat 2 Good 34$ 3-4 years 52

Sheep/goat 3 Normal 30$ 2-3 years 48

3.3.0. Different roles of market actors

Market actors are those who directly or indirectly involve different transactions of the
livestock market including, producers, brokers, traders and municipality.

Producer
Are those who rear and produce as well as sell their animals for different purposes and
there role is to bring the animals that deserve to be sell in to the livestock market.
Brokers
Are those who seeks buyer, negotiate, and facilitate the transaction to take place.

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Additionally, they give the buyer a not stolen, healthy and inform the trader the presence
of the animal in the market, decides the price according to the animal condition or fatness
and free from any abnormality.
Traders : large traders are those buy animal from the market and send to abroad, their
number are estimated around 10, these trader mostly like to buy male goat because
The consumers like this species since this species has no more fat
Within the male goat, they select the animal according.
 Body condition and
 Health status of animals

Table shows the taxes, and wages of the brokers

Species Taxes Wages of the brokers

Goats 1000 s/l shillings 2000 s/l shillings
Sheep 1000s/l shillings 2000 s/l shillings
Camel 5000s/l shillings 10000 s/l shillings
Cattle 4000 s/l shillings 8000 s/l shillings

3.3.1.Challenges faced for market

 Lack of electricity
 Lack of good services for the government
 Shortage of water
 Lack of hygiene

3.3.2.Traditional skin processing

Traditional skin processing is the traditional method of the skin processing by using
different materials such as salt, water and other chemicals e.g. sodium sulphide ,croin and
lyme . Burao traditional skin processing its self divided in two parts and located in
different places

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 Sahra skin processing

 Alamagan skin processing
1. Sahra skin processing; is the small traditional skin processing is which located
in the west side of the city and it is varies from Alamagan traditional skin processing
and its area is 0.3km2. its role function is only salting. It consist of some of buildings
such as store of the skins, salting processing and builds of the workers. There are two
workers one was manager while other was Salter of the skin.

2. Alamagan traditional skin processing: locates in west corner of burao city

and near to the livestock market.
Alamagan traditional skin processing was established in 2000 and it is a private company
belongs by Somali traders. Its area was around 0.5km2 and there are five workers.
The skins that processing there is different
day are 50-54skins are processed every day of different species such as camel, cattle and
small ruminants
The workers used chemicals in soaking processing that chemicals
are sodium sulphide,croin,lyme,salts and water in different times in the first step workers
did are salting. The workers mixed in second step 160 liters of water and lyme Third step
mixed 160 litters of water and sodium sulphide. Its purpose was to remove the hair for
skin. Fourth step was crown uses 1600 litter of the water and crown in one day. Then
were give the color of the skin and drying. Laststep of the skin processing was mixed
with the hydrochloric acid in ady and then skin is ready for export.
the skin was export to different Arabian countries and other developed countries.
table below shows the skin prices is
Species No of the skin per day Price per skin in producer Price per skin in export
Small ruminants 36 1.5 dollars 2.3 dollars
Large ruminant 14 3 dollars 4.6 dollars

3.3.3.Challenges faced for the traditional skin processing

 Lack of enough facilities
 Lack of shelter of the labor
 Lack of support of the government

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 Lack of the demand of the skin

 Low cost when they export

Chapter for four

3.3.4.Conclusion
This fieldwork was successful; students reach their aim and objectives. Much experience
was gained, for instance the fieldwork facilitated the skills of interviewing stakeholders;
how to avoid sensitive and leading questions, and how to collect information. These are
my major conclusions from the activities carried out:
All places we visited there were no place which was perfect but, those which were good
in terms of hygiene and facilities were private owned places for example;
and modern slaughterhouse which need only to improve. The general hygiene of both
places were good but camel diary farm needs skilled workers and veterinary
professionals who can maintain animal health and can increase productivity, while the
modern slaughterhouse needs functioning laboratory as it also needs financial, material
and technical support from the government and stakeholders. Other places which were
hygienically poor were public places like livestock market, milk market and traditional
slaughterhouse. In livestock market there is no enough shades and also there is no enough
animal holding grounds, in milk market there is no shades at all while in traditional

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slaughterhouse hygiene was very poor and there were no enough cleaners therefore it is a
bit health hazard to the community

3.3.5.Recommendation

Despite the fact that the places visited were fully operating, there are some areas a
portrayed in the
Conclusion that needs to be addressed. These are a portrayed in the recommendation
below
The government should provide electricity to the traditional slaughterhouse in Burao
The local government should improve the hygiene of the slaughterhouse.
The government and international NGOs should establish a good shading to the slaughter
house and Livestock market
.

3.3.6.annex
QUESTIONNAIRE OF LIVESTOCK MARKET
Questionnaires for trader
1. How many agents work in the market?
2. How do you value the animal?
3. In which aspects do you consider when paying and selling of
animals?
4. Do the traders have license from the government?
5. Do you give out commission to the brokers?
6. Where do you transport the animal? And which country
7. What is the period between buying and selling of the animals?
8. At what season do the animals have the highest demand for the
traders?
9. Do you give out any veterinary services to the animal?
10. Do you transport live animals?

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Questionnaire for producers

1. Under which system do you rear the animals?

2. What is the major purpose you sell your animals?
3. Which species you rear mostly?
4. Mostly Which disease you experience in your farming system?
5. What are the kinds of drugs you give the diseased animal?
6. Which source you do you get drugs from?
7. Where do you market your product mostly?
8. Which season do you supply your products to the market?
9. Do you market any other products than live animals?
10. If yes, what are these products?
11. Which market do you supply your by-products?
12. Which transport do you use for your animals to take to the
market?
13. Do you have direct contact with traders?

QUESTIONNAIRES FOR BROKERS

1. How many animals do you sell per day?
2. Do you have licenses from the government?
3. How do you communicate with farmers and traders?
4. How do you identify whether the animal is stolen or not?
5. Whom do you charge your commission?
6. At what time does the market opens and closes?

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