Assessment of the impact of covid-19 on working equines in Lesotho

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted on 141 randomly selected respondents using the structured questionnaire to determine the extent to which COVID-19 affected working equines and in Lesotho. The cross tabulation was used to determine the percentages while Chi-square test within SPSS (16) was utilized to assess the strength of the associations between agro-ecological zones and the tested parameters. The results revealed a general decline in the numbers of equines during the pandemic. There was a decline in the capacity of equines to generate income while on the other hand the cost of maintaining equines increased. As a way of coping with the crisis of the pandemic, most owners had to use inexpensive feed supplementation while others halted feed supplementation. There was a decline on the availability of basic equine services while their prices mostly increased. Most equine owners reported a decline in the health status and body condition of their animals during the pandemic. A general increase in the household spending was observed while on the other the household income declined. These results convey ample evidence on the detrimental impact COVID-19 had to equines as confirmed by reduction in the availability of basic services as well as an increase in the costs of such services. Important welfare parameters were also affected which implies that the welfare of equines during the pandemic was compromised to a certain extend.