Abstract:
This study into the diseases responsible for the uneven distribution of goat and
sheep in the sub humid areas in Nigeria as one of the major hinderances in sheep
and goat production despite the potentiality of this region to sustain small
ruminants. A survey of the types and causes of major diseases of small ruminants
was carried out in Edo State of Nigeria which presents variants of climatic conditions
that cut across the humid areas of Nigeria and Africa. The study covered a period of
five years (1997‐2002) in three local government areas of the state. A total of 316
small ruminants’ cases of major diseases made up of 25 cases in sheep and 291 cases
in goats were recorded. Pneumonia contacted by the ruminants was 17%,
helminthosis was 10% and was 6% as the most predominated diseases that occurred
during the wet seasons than the period of dry season. Mange was high during the
dry seasons and seemed to be confined almost exclusively to goats. Statistical
analysis using a three‐factor analysis of variance revealed that seasonal distribution
of diseases was a significant factor (p<0.05), diseases and the type of the small
ruminant that contacted the diseases were significant factor (p<0.05). Most of the
major diseases were frequently contracted during the wet seasons. In the Humid
areas, there is need to sensitize farmers about ruminants’ health care management
programmes especially intensive feeding method during wet season and deworming
during onset or immediately after the wet season against gastro intestinal
parasites as well as the improvement of indigenous breed through semi intensive
management system by the farmers.
