Castration of bulls in Ethiopia, pt.2

[JesusA (imported)]

The Cultural Context of Bull Castration

Highlanders of Ghibe prefer their traditional castration method to Western alternatives for a variety of reasons. First, as noted above, it is quite safe. Second, they have great confidence in it. Third, however, the operation forms an integral part of community ceremonies on Maskal day, which is one of the most important religious and political festivities in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Maskal is not only an occasion to have a good time, it is also an age-old Ethiopian religious and historical tradition. It dates back to AD 1400 when King David IV of Ethiopia was battling the forces of Islam that sought to conquer the Abyssinian Highlands. Maskal commemorates the arrival of St Michael in Ethiopia, bearing the Holy Cross from Jerusalem after a dangerous and eventful journey. The cross ended a long period of starvation, drought and disease; many miracles occurred; and a time of faith and plenty began. Maskal falls at the end of the rainy season, which signals a propitious period of change. The crops are nearly ripe, and there is great rejoicing in every village. Also, Maskal day constitutes one of the rare occasions during the year when both farmers and their animals have a break from work and when livestock are slaughtered for feasts.

Conclusions

Interviews with farmers in other parts of Ethiopia (specifically areas around Debre Brahan and Debre Zeit) indicate that bloodless castration methods are widely used throughout the central highlands. For many reasons, stockowners prefer such methods despite livestock agents' efforts to promote the use of Burdizzo pincers. Even though these instruments are now available at every veterinary field station, in the countryside the pincers are employed in only about 2 to 3 per cent of all castrations. Significantly, most Burdizzo castrations are also done on Maskal day.

Other bloodless methods of castration have been described among African pastoralists. To the Western eye, they might seem crueler than open surgical techniques. However, bloodless methods greatly reduce the risk of tetanus (notably in horses), screw-worm infestation, fly-borne infection, and the post-operative diseases that are so frequent in hot environments. Traditional African techniques of bloodless castration are based on the same principles as the Burdizzo. Further, they are more familiar and acceptable to many peoples. And in many traditional societies, castration is not merely an operation; it is also a social and cultural event.

Still, relatively little is known of the benefits and efficacy of traditional methods. The reputedly positive effect of madosha castration on carcass composition is doubtful, since the operation has little effect on fat deposition in zebu cattle. And were cattle breeding is uncontrolled (as in the Ethiopian highlands), incompletely castrated oxen may still compete in mating, thus reducing herd fertility. They may also fight with younger uncastrated males. Yet Ethiopian stockowners consider behaviour modification and reduced fertility in castrated bulls very important. In order to record and compare changes in behavior, hormone levels and degree of testicular atrophy in bulls castrated traditionally versus with the Burdizzo, the authors began a study in Ghibe. Unfortunately, due to civil unrest in Ethiopia and other problems, it was not possible to complete the study.

Nevertheless, we strongly recommend conducting comparative investigations of traditional and modern veterinary methods, under varying husbandry conditions and with stockowners participating as co-researchers, as a way to improve rural people's farming, and the stock raising upon which it so often depends. In the case of madosha, for example, comparative research could point the way to increasing the reliability and safety of this traditional technique. Investigation of the plants used locally to treat castration wounds and other problems is another promising area of research. Moreover, developers and livestock agents should consider extending basic veterinary assistance (for example, vaccination against clostridial diseases, treatment of complicated traumas) at strategic times of the year when castrations or other husbandry operations are typically performed. Rather than struggling to introduce exotic and often expensive new techniques, equipment, and time-tables, it makes far more sense to build upon useful local equivalents that are already widely accepted and culturally valued.

IN Ethnoveterinary Research & Development, edited by Constance M. McCorkle, et al. London: Intermediate Technology Publications, 1996, pp. 116 - 20.