**3.1 Descriptive statistic on livestock production by gender ownership**

Majority of homesteads (84%) has goats compared to cattle (69%). The population of goats in possession by homesteads was higher compared to other livestock (cattle, poultry, and sheep) (**Table 1**). The gender ratio (male to female) of owners was 2:5, while the ratio of the animal population owned by these genders was 4:6 (**Table 1**).


#### **Table 1.**

*Distribution of livestock ownership among the sampled population across the communities.*

*The Role of Culture in Achieving Sustainable Agriculture in South Africa: Examining Zulu… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86759*

The ratio of gender ownership (male:female) for cattle is 2.9 households, but the ratio of the population of cattle owned is 3.6 respective (**Table 1** ). The average populations of cattle per male owner and per female owner were 13 and 7, respectively. Females do not like keeping cattle because of the attention demanded in cattle management, such as herding [20]. There was an increase in cattle population among the male owners while it decreases among the female owners (**Table 2**). This was because the male receives cattle gifts as part of cultural and ceremonies.

#### **3.2 Socioeconomic impacts**

*Regional Development in Africa*

production.

follows:

**3. Results**

**2.4 Statistical analysis**

association groups. These local groups were formed within the community and they hold weekly meetings for a year. The local groups were in charge of dippingtanks within the communities and ensure equal access to all livestock farmers. Data collected through FGD helped to verify data obtained through questionnaire interviews. It helped to identify the communal livestock management practices and community views about livestock. It also created an opportunity to discuss livestock health issues such as diseases in the area, malnutrition (feeding management), purpose for keeping livestock and usage of an irrigation scheme for livestock

Questionnaire and FGD data were analyzed by frequency procedure of Statistical Analytical Software. Livestock population was analyzed by the general linear model procedure. Frequency procedure and regression procedure were used to determine the annual livestock populations [19]. The statistical model was as

mean; Gi = effect of gender owners and eij = residue error**.**

**3.1 Descriptive statistic on livestock production by gender ownership**

Yij = μ + Gi + eij (1)

where Yij = dependent variable (livestock numbers over 12 months); μ = overall

Majority of homesteads (84%) has goats compared to cattle (69%). The population of goats in possession by homesteads was higher compared to other livestock (cattle, poultry, and sheep) (**Table 1**). The gender ratio (male to female) of owners was 2:5, while the ratio of the animal population owned by these genders was 4:6 (**Table 1**).

**Livestock Communities Gender of owners Animal population owned by**

Goats Madulaneni 16 9 273 200

Ratios (male:female) 2.5 4.6 Cattle Madulaneni 8 10 73 46

Ratios (male:female) 1.9 3.6

*Distribution of livestock ownership among the sampled population across the communities.*

Ntanyana 21 3 411 12 Nxamalala 17 10 793 108 Total 54 22 1477 320

Ntanyana 25 3 277 7 Nxamalala 7 8 173 89 Total 40 21 523 142

**Male Female Male Female**

**186**

**Table 1.**

Most of the population sampled was rearing livestock for prestige (FGD). The cultural understanding and set up in the community give regards and honor livestock farmers based on the number of livestock, especially goats and cattle possessed by individual farmers. This agreed with the findings made by [6]. Census agricultural household (2013) reporting that 41.9% of agricultural household in KwaZulu-Natal are livestock farmers and 24.6% of agricultural households practice mixed farming.

## **3.3 Ownership by the gender, cultural beliefs and management practices on livestock production**

The system of livestock husbandry at Umsinga is casual and cultural, and is not an organized activity because of the following reasons:

More male than female owners use modern medicine to cure goats (P < 0.0001; **Table 3**). Among the population sampled, 4 and 10% of female and male owner respectively, uses traditional medicine and engages in dipping practices. The percentages of male and female owners using modern medicine were 57 and 19%, respectively (**Table 3**). Vaccination program for livestock is poor and the cultural medicinal routine treatment is not better. It was discovered during the focus group discussion that a majority of farmers cannot identify or prevent in advance against infections that come with changes in season in these communities; thereby exposing livestock to seasonal diseases. Farmers only call for veterinary treatment when a disease outbreak has struck the kraal. As a result of delayed treatment, there is a high rate of mortality across seasons. Male owners have more financial funds for modern treatment than female owners.

About 32% male and 9% of female owners buy feed and feed crop residues (**Table 3**). There is a high proportion of male than female headed households use dryland crop production (Chi-square 4.7744, P < 0.05, **Table 3**). Questionnaire results indicated that farmers had little, or no supplementary feed offered to livestock. Animals only depend on feed found on communal grazing lands, which


**Table 2.**

*Mean of livestock numbers for different genders in Umsinga over the period of 2 years.*


#### **Table 3.**

*Variation in goats' management routine as affected by gender.*

are totally dried and insufficient during winter grazing (sweet veld). Other standing forages are sour veld grasses (low nutrient grasses that can withstand dry season); therefore, animals struggled in search of food. For example, data showed that livestock is not allowed to graze on irrigated farming plots but are allowed on homestead gardens of individual farmers.

Almost 46.67% of male owners' and 24.44% of female owners practice irrigated farming, but only 8.89% (both genders) fed crop residues from the farm to livestock (**Table 3**). Nearly 23 and 7% of male and female owners dip livestock and have homestead gardens (**Table 3**). Farmers do not allow livestock to graze on irrigating farming plots and very few release livestock to graze on homestead gardens (after harvesting). Therefore, livestock is only allowed access to maize-stover when it was planted in home gardens.

It's also revealed in **Table 4** below, how the gender of owners across the communities affects interest in livestock and how it met specific purposes across communities. Goats are a major source of income among other goat purposes across these communities with fewer females than males benefiting (Chi-square 7.9537, P < 0.001, **Table 4**). The male owner (45.56%) recognized goat production to this effect, compared to female ownership (13.33%). Other uses of goats are as follows: goats' cultural purposes (54.45%), goat's meat (51.11%), goats' prestige (36.67%), and goats' milk (4.44%; **Table 4**). Umsinga farmers reared goats for social and cultural purposes than economic interest. Less than 4.44% of the population surveyed indicated that they milk goats, but not regularly. Whenever this milking is done, is for the head of the family only.

There are quite a few differences in the use of goat. For instance, female perspective goes for meat, prestige and cultural purposes (18.90, 16.67 and 15.56%, respectively), while male perspectives go for income, meat and cultural (45.56, 32.22 and 33.78%), respectively (**Table 4**). The cultural purpose is common and higher in male owners than female. It is a pointer to the fact that cultural purposes prevail above all other benefits to these owners. This agreed with the study made by [21–23] that African farmers have specific reasons or purposes for rearing livestock.

Only a small proportion of female (2.22%) and a reasonable proportion of male (25.56%) owners buy feed to supplement cattle feeding during the winter season (Chi-square 10.72, P < 0.001, **Table 5**), while 2.22 and 10.0% of female and male owners' gives crop residues. About 70 and 3.33% of owners treat their cattle with

**189**

**Table 5.**

**Table 4.**

*The Role of Culture in Achieving Sustainable Agriculture in South Africa: Examining Zulu…*

Goat purposes Goats income 21.11 13.33 20.00 45.56 7.9537 \*\*

Goats increase Goats buying 33.33 1.11 61.11 4.44 0.4892 NS

**Cattle Female (%) Male (%) Chi-square P value**

Health routine Cattle (traditional medicine) 33.33 1.11 63.33 2.22 0.0017 NS

Cattle purposes Cattle income 21.11 13.33 33.33 32.22 0.8935 NS

Cattle increases Cattle buying 32.22 2.22 61.11 4.44 0.0035 NS

*\*Significant (P <0.05); \*\*Significant (P <0.005); NSNon-Significant (P>0.05).*

*Uses of livestock (goats) as affected by the gender of owners.*

**Female (%) Male (%) Chi-square P value**

**No Yes No Yes**

Goats meat 15.56 18.89 33.33 32.22 0.263 NS Goats milk 32.22 2.22 63.33 2.22 0.4486 NS Goats cultural purposes 17.78 16.67 27.78 37.78 0.6996 NS Goats prestige 18.89 15.56 44.44 21.11 1.4694 NS

Goats reproduction 25.56 8.89 27.78 37.78 8.2677 \*\* Goats gifts 32.22 2.22 58.89 6.67 0.3469 NS

**No Yes No Yes**

Cattle meat 20.00 14.44 47.78 17.78 2.0429 NS Cattle milk 32.22 2.22 63.33 2.22 0.4486 NS Cattle cultural purposes 20.00 14.44 50.00 15.56 3.2078 NS Cattle prestige 22.22 12.22 55.67 8.89 5.8655 \*

Cattle reproduction 27.78 6.67 41.11 24.44 3.0495 NS Cattle gifts 32.22 2.22 56.67 8.89 1.0395 NS

Cattle (modern medicine) 11.11 23.33 18.89 46.67 0.1148 NS Cattle (dipping) 11.11 23.33 18.89 46.67 0.1148 NS Cattle (buying fed) 32.22 2.22 40.00 25.56 10.7200 \*\* Cattle (crop residues) 32.22 2.22 55.56 10.00 1.4678 NS

the modern and traditional medicine respectively, while 70% take their cattle for dipping. FGD indicated that the farmers do not have management practices of buy-

Only 25.56% of male owners buy feed perhaps because of their financial capability. Financial handicap owners were also a factor affecting modern medical treatment of cattle. Dipping treatment is free and the reagent use is provided by the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, many owners prefer dipping to traditional medicine. Similar proportions of male and female used cattle for meat (total 32.22%), cultural purposes (total 30.0%), rear cattle for income (total 45.55%) and cultural prestige (total 21.11%), and keep cattle for income (total 43.55%).

ing grass (Lucerne hay) to support cattle nutritionally.

*Management and uses of livestock as affected by the gender of owners.*

*\*Significant (P <0.05); \*\*Significant (P <0.005); NSNon-Significant (P>0.05).*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86759*


*The Role of Culture in Achieving Sustainable Agriculture in South Africa: Examining Zulu… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86759*

*\*Significant (P <0.05); \*\*Significant (P <0.005); NSNon-Significant (P>0.05).*

#### **Table 4.**

*Regional Development in Africa*

homestead gardens of individual farmers.

*Variation in goats' management routine as affected by gender.*

*\*Significant (P <0.05); \*\*Significant (P <0.005); NSNon-Significant (P>0.05).*

planted in home gardens.

**Table 3.**

for the head of the family only.

are totally dried and insufficient during winter grazing (sweet veld). Other standing forages are sour veld grasses (low nutrient grasses that can withstand dry season); therefore, animals struggled in search of food. For example, data showed that livestock is not allowed to graze on irrigated farming plots but are allowed on

**Management routine Female (%) Male (%) Chi-square P value**

Dry land crop production 32.22 2.22 48.89 16.67 4.7744 \* Homestead garden 31.11 3.33 62.22 3.33 0.657 NS Irrigation farming 10.00 24.44 18.89 46.67 0.0005 NS Goats (traditional medicine) 30.00 4.44 55.56 10.00 0.0909 NS Goats (modern medicine) 15.56 18.89 8.89 56.67 10.989 \*\* Goats (dipping) 30.00 4.44 46.67 18.89 2.8757 NS Goats (buying fed) 26.67 7.78 41.11 24.44 2.0128 NS Goats (crop residues) 32.22 2.22 58.89 6.67 0.3469 NS

**No Yes No Yes**

Almost 46.67% of male owners' and 24.44% of female owners practice irrigated farming, but only 8.89% (both genders) fed crop residues from the farm to livestock (**Table 3**). Nearly 23 and 7% of male and female owners dip livestock and have homestead gardens (**Table 3**). Farmers do not allow livestock to graze on irrigating farming plots and very few release livestock to graze on homestead gardens (after harvesting). Therefore, livestock is only allowed access to maize-stover when it was

It's also revealed in **Table 4** below, how the gender of owners across the communities affects interest in livestock and how it met specific purposes across

communities. Goats are a major source of income among other goat purposes across these communities with fewer females than males benefiting (Chi-square 7.9537, P < 0.001, **Table 4**). The male owner (45.56%) recognized goat production to this effect, compared to female ownership (13.33%). Other uses of goats are as follows: goats' cultural purposes (54.45%), goat's meat (51.11%), goats' prestige (36.67%), and goats' milk (4.44%; **Table 4**). Umsinga farmers reared goats for social and cultural purposes than economic interest. Less than 4.44% of the population surveyed indicated that they milk goats, but not regularly. Whenever this milking is done, is

There are quite a few differences in the use of goat. For instance, female perspective goes for meat, prestige and cultural purposes (18.90, 16.67 and 15.56%, respectively), while male perspectives go for income, meat and cultural (45.56, 32.22 and 33.78%), respectively (**Table 4**). The cultural purpose is common and higher in male owners than female. It is a pointer to the fact that cultural purposes prevail above all other benefits to these owners. This agreed with the study made by [21–23]

Only a small proportion of female (2.22%) and a reasonable proportion of male (25.56%) owners buy feed to supplement cattle feeding during the winter season (Chi-square 10.72, P < 0.001, **Table 5**), while 2.22 and 10.0% of female and male owners' gives crop residues. About 70 and 3.33% of owners treat their cattle with

that African farmers have specific reasons or purposes for rearing livestock.

**188**

*Uses of livestock (goats) as affected by the gender of owners.*


#### **Table 5.**

*Management and uses of livestock as affected by the gender of owners.*

the modern and traditional medicine respectively, while 70% take their cattle for dipping. FGD indicated that the farmers do not have management practices of buying grass (Lucerne hay) to support cattle nutritionally.

Only 25.56% of male owners buy feed perhaps because of their financial capability. Financial handicap owners were also a factor affecting modern medical treatment of cattle. Dipping treatment is free and the reagent use is provided by the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, many owners prefer dipping to traditional medicine. Similar proportions of male and female used cattle for meat (total 32.22%), cultural purposes (total 30.0%), rear cattle for income (total 45.55%) and cultural prestige (total 21.11%), and keep cattle for income (total 43.55%).
