Effects of Nutritional Practices and Production Systems on Small Ruminants’ Health in Rural Households in Ekiti State, Nigeria
M. K. Adegun
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
K. A. Abdu-Raheem
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Adedapo, A. Oluwamuyiwa *
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study assessed the effect of nutritional practices and production systems on the health of small ruminant animals reared among rural households in Ekiti State. A total number of 120 rural households were interviewed using a multi-stage random sampling procedure to elicit information from them. About 78.32 percent were within their active age range, 50.00 percent were married with minimum household size of 5 persons, had least educational qualification and 41.66 percent reared sheep and goats. Disease outbreak (50.00%), accident (33.33%) and stillbirth (16.66%) are the common factors responsible for mortality experienced by the farmers, while diarrhea is the prevalent disease experienced by them. More than half (58.13%) of the respondents practices self-medication by purchasing antibiotics meant for humans from medicine stores and very few of them (18.33%) received intervention from the government in terms of medication. Only 33.00% of them offer supplementary feeding to their animals during the dry season. Chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship (p=0.05) between nutritional practices and the health system of the small ruminants. Also, the Pearson Moment Product Correlation also revealed that a significant correlation (rcal= 0.927) exists between production systems and the health of small ruminants in the study area which is significant at 0.05 level of probability. The study, concludes that if animals are poorly managed and fed, they could be predisposed to diseases and injuries.
Keywords: Nutritional practices, production system, rural households, small ruminants, supplements
How to Cite
Downloads
References
Devendra C. Investments on pro-poor development projects on goats: ensuring success for improved livelihoods. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2013; 26(1):1-18.
Wodajo HD, Gemeda BA, Kinati W, Mulem AA, Eerdewijk A. Small ruminants’ research. 84; 1-10: V, and Wieland B. Contributions of small ruminants to food security for Ethiopian small farmers; 2020.
Oluwatayo IB, Oluwatayo TB. Small ruminants as a source of financial security among women in rural Southwest Nigeria. J Agribus Rural Dev. 2018; 3(49):333-41.
Akinmoladun OF, Muchenje V, Fon FN, Mpendulo CT. Small ruminants: Farmers’ hope in a world threatened by water scarcity. Animals (Basel). 2019;9(7): 456-61.
FAOSTAT; 2018.
Available:http://www.fao.org/faostat.
Fakoya EO, Oloruntoba A. Socio-economic state of small ruminant production among farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. J Hum Soc Sci Creat Arts. 2009;4(1):90-100.
Kosgey IS, Baker R. L. Udo H.M.J, and Van Arendonk SAM. Successes and Failures of small ruminants breeding projects in the tropics: A review. Small Ruminants Research. 2006;6(1): 13-28.
Anaeto M, Tayo GO, Chioma GO, Ajao AO, Peters TA. Health and nutrition practices among smallholder sheep and goat farmers in Ogun State Nigeria. Livest Res Rural Dev. 2009;21:Article #197.
Chah JM1. Obi UP, Ndofor-Foleng HM. Afr J Agric Res. Management practices and perceived training needs of small ruminant farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria. 2013;8(22):2713-21.
Adegun MK, Fajemilehin SOK, Ajayi DD, Ojo JO. Haemato-biochemical profile of Yankasa rams fed varying levels ofPanicum maximum- concentrate mix under intensive feedlot in southwestern Nigeria. J Anim Sci Res. 2018;2(2):1-7.
Lanyasunya TP, Musa HH, Yang Z. P, Mekki D. M, and E.A. Mukisira. Pak J Nutr. Effects of Poor Nutrition on Reproduction of Dairy Stock on Smallholder Farms in the Tropics. 2005;4(2):117-22.
Lawal-Adebowale OA. Dynamics of ruminant livestock management in the context of the Nigerian agricultural system. Intech. 2012;4:61-80.
Steinfeld H, Gerber P, Wassenaar T, Castel V, Rosales M, de Haan C. Livestock׳s long shadow: environmental issues and options. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2006;79-82.
Wanapat M, Cherdthong A, Phesatcha K, Kang S. Dietary sources and their effects on animal production and environmental sustainability. Anim Nutr (Zhongguoxu Mu Shouyixue Hui). 2015;1(3):96-103.
Lamidi AA, Ologbose FI. Dry season feeds and feeding: A treat to sustainable ruminant animal production in Nigeria. J Agric Soc Res. 2014;14:18-31.
Keusch GT. The history of nutrition: Malnutrition, infection and immunity. J Nutr. 2003;133(1):336S-40S.
Phengvichith V, Ledin I. Effect of a diet high in energy and protein on growth, carcass characteristics and parasite resistance in goats. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2007;39(1):59-70.
Oladeji JO, Oyesola OB. Small ruminant production among farmers in Iseyin Local Government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. J Agric Food Inf. 2008;9(3):256-65.
Ajala MK, Lamidi OS, Otaru SM. Peri-urban small ruminant production in Northern Guinea savanna. Nigeria. Asian J Anim Vet Adv. 2008;3(3):138-46.
Hamzat AO, Amao SR. Evaluation of challenges facing small ruminants production in Oyo metropolis, Southern Guinea savanna environment of Nigeria. Int J Agric For Fish. 2017;5(4):34-8.
Amole T, Zijlstra M, Descheemaeker K, Ayantunde AA. Simulation of small ruminant system productivity in the humid tropics of southwestern Nigeria [ILRI Project report]. 2014;32.
Abu-Shanab E. Education level as a technology adoption moderator. Proceedings of the 3rd IEEE international conference on computer research and development (ICCRD 2011). 2011;1:324-328.
Omoike A. Prevalence of diseases among sheep and goats in Edo State Nigeria. J Agric Soc Res. 2006;6(2):23-31.
Dipeolu MA. Healthy meat for wealth. 29th Inaugural Lecture. Abeokuta: Federal University of Agriculture; 2010.
Adesehinwa AOK, Okunlola JO. Socio-economic constraints to ruminant production in Ondo and Ekiti States. Moor J. Agric Res. 2000;1:93-7.
Dossa LH, Sangaré M, Buerkert A, Schlecht E. Production objectives and breeding practices of urban goat and sheep keepers in West Africa: regional analysis and implications for the development of supportive breeding programs. Springerplus. 2015;4:281.
Faizal A, Kwasi OY. Socio-economic characteristics of subsistent ruminant farmers in three regions of northern Ghana. Asian Business Consortium Ajase. 2014;3(8):93-108.
Grinin L, Korotayew A, Tausch A. Afterword: new Kondratieff wave and forthcoming global science transformation. Economic cycles, crises and the global periphery, International perspectives on social policy, administration and practice. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. 2016;(Chapter 6):161-80.
Offor EI, Ekweanya NM, Oleka AC. Effects of socio-economic factors on small ruminant production in Ohafia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria. Agro-Sci. 2018;17(3):7-11.
Sanusi M, Zahraddeen D, Mahmood AJ. Characterization of smallholder sheep and goats farming in Bauchi, Northeastern Nigeria. Anim Prod Res Adv. 2010;6(2): 133-8.