INTRODUCTION

Draught animals were commonly used in Mesopotamia before 3000 BC for farm work and pulling wheeled carts. Their use spread to the rest of the world over the following 2500 years. Despite the enormous technological upheavals of the 20th century, both in agriculture and in many other sectors of the global economy, animal draught power has remained important in many countries, even though it is very old.

Draught animals enable people to increase their productivity significantly in the agricultural sector (ploughing, sowing, weeding and transportation). These animals simplify the circulation, distribution and commercialization of agricultural products. However, these benefits are often compromised by their(animal’s ) welfare, i.e. how they cope with the conditions in which they live.

INDICATORS OF GOOD ANIMAL WELFARE

An animal is in a good state of welfare if, as indicated by scientific evidence, it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. 

Common problems are poor animal health, nutrition, overwork, and harness materials.

Several studies have shown that simple interventions, mainly community engagement in humane education, awareness and policy enforcement, can improve draught power animal welfare, thus bringing huge transformation in the agricultural sector for animals and people.

THE PLIGHT OF DRAUGHT ANIMALS 

Draught animals in developing countries undergo unimaginable suffering in innumerable ways, such as excessive strain and stress due to overloading. As if not enough, beatings and whip lashes are used as animals haul loads beyond their capacity, callosity and neck injuries due to defective harnessing and lack of adequate feed and rest. After their working life, draught animals are trekked on foot or transported in congested vehicles over hundreds of kilometres and finally slaughtered using crude and cruelty.
Methods. 

WAYS TO COMBAT ANIMAL BRUTALITY

There’s practically no effort to prevent such brutal cruelty. The only way of solving this massive problem is the modernization of the animal power system through techno technology and management inputs. This would result in huge economic benefits, justifying the required investment and reducing draught animal suffering concurrently. Veterinarians should expand their professional horizons and launch programs for awareness creation of the economic dimension and establishment of welfare organizations which don’t exist now in most districts in Uganda.

CONCLUSION 

Identifying the main welfare problems through welfare assessment across countries and different production systems must be documented because it plays multiple roles in animal welfare. The government should support veterinarians in creating awareness of animal welfare and issue a rule against the brutality of animals.