Table 1 Definitions of scenarios for the partial budget analysis. Scenario-specific input parameters are given in Table 3
Scenario 1: Farmers who consult veterinarians and test for schistosomiasis in their animals | Scenario 2: Farmers who do not consult veterinarians or test or treat their animals | Reasoning | Information source for reasoning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Testing strategy | A defined proportion of sicka animals will be tested | No sick animal is tested | Not all farmers test the animals. Those who have health-seeking behaviour might not be able to afford the cost of testing of sick animals | Primary data: Survey |
Treatment strategy | A defined proportion of tested animals will be treated and a defined proportion of untested animals will be treated | No sick animals is treated for schistosomiasis | Not all farmers who test can afford the treatment costs for all the animals. Not all farmers can afford the treatment costs for all sick animals | Primary data: Survey |
Effectiveness of treatment | The sick animals that are treated with praziquantel recover following the treatment | Not applicable | Praziquantel is the medical treatment most commonly used and it is known to be effective | Primary data: Survey; literature [35] |
Replacement strategy | Treated animals will recover and not be replaced. The majority of untreated sick animals, irrespective of age, will be sold at a lower market price. A proportion of the animals sold will be replaced with the same type of animal (young for young, adult for adult) | The majority of sick animals, irrespective of age, will be sold at a lower market price. A proportion of the animals sold will be replaced with the same type of animal (young for young, adult for adult) | Sick animals in the herd will lose value and condition, hence the need to replace them with new ones | Primary data: Group discussion |
Feed and supplement quantity | No change in feed and supplement quantity for sick animals | No change in feed and supplement quantity for sick animals | There will not be an increase in feed quantity for sick animals, but they will lose condition, because of the higher energy requirement | Primary data: Group discussion and survey; expert opinion |
Milk yield and lactation duration | Sick animals will have reduced milk yield and a shorter lactation period compared to healthy females | Sick animals will have reduced milk yield and a shorter lactation period compared to healthy females | Animals that are sick because of schistosomiasis have a lower milk yield and a shorter lactation period | Literature: [33] |