Banner
Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive
Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive

volume 49 issue 3 (june 2015) : 373-377,   Doi: 10.5958/0976-0555.2015.00131.4

Challenges of smallholder sheep and goat keeping in rural communities of Aguata Agricultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria

I
I.A. Enwelu
E
E.L. Ezeuko1
N
N.S. Machebe*
1Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Cite article:- Enwelu I.A., Ezeuko1 E.L., Machebe* N.S. (2025). Challenges of smallholder sheep and goat keeping in rural communities of Aguata Agricultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 49(3): 373-377. doi: 10.5958/0976-0555.2015.00131.4.

ABSTRACT

Livestock accounts substantially for the income as well as the physical and intellectual development of rural households which are primary drivers of the present government transformation agenda. The study ascertained the challenges of smallholder sheep and goat keeping in rural communities of Aguata Agricultural Zone of Anambra State. Interview schedule was developed and used to collect data from 72 respondents. The main primary occupations of the respondents were farming (43.1%) and trading (41.7%). About 43.0% and 40.3% earned annual income of between 10,000.00 to 20,000 Nigeria Naira ($57.5 to $115) and less than 10,000 Naira ($57.5), respectively, from keeping of sheep and goat. The average number of goat kept per household was seven while that of sheep was five. Majority (65.3%) of the respondents preferred keeping of goats to sheep (33.3%) while only 1.4% had no choice. About 72% of the respondents used intensive management system while 27.8% were engaged in semi-intensive management system. The major challenges of keeping sheep and goat in the zone were diseases attack (Mean [M] = 1.19), lack of veterinary services (M = 1.19) and lack of feeds (M =1.00). The causes of high mortality in sheep and goat were perceived to be diseases (M = 1.44) and poor feeding (M = 1.03). The study concluded that the number of sheep and goat kept was very few and as such uneconomical. They consequently faced challenges of attack of diseases, lack of veterinary services and lack of animal feeds.

REFERENCES

  1. Adesehinwa, A. O. K, and Okunlola, J.O. (2004). Socio-economic constraints to ruminant production in Ondo and Ekiti States. Moor J. Agric. Res. 1: 93—97.
  2. Ajala, M. K. (2004). Peri-urban small ruminant production in Northern Guinea savanna, Nigeria. Asian J. of Anim and Vet.Adv. 3: 138—146.
  3. Mandal A., Prasad H., Kumar A., Roy, R., and Nagendra Sharma (2007) Factors associated with lamb mortalities in Muzaffarnagari sheep. Small Ruminant Research, 71 (1–3): 273-279.
  4. Chah, J.M., Igbokwe, E. M. and Chah, K.F. (2009). Ethno-veterinary medicine used in small ruminant health in the eastern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria (Online retrieved 15th August, 2010 from http://www.irrd.org/irrd2./12/chah.
  5. Chukwuka, I.C., Okoli, N. J., Okeudo, M.N., Opara, U. Herbert, I. Ogbuewu, P. and Ekenyem, B. U. (2010). Reproductive potentials of West African Dwarf sheep and goat (Online-retrieved 20th August, 2010 from http://scialert.net/ abstract/?doi=rdvs 2010.86.100.)
  6. Ezekwe, A. G. (2009). Trend in animal production in Nigeria. In: B. C. Echezona (Ed.) General Agriculture: Principles and Practices, A Publication of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, pp. 41-45.
  7. Hamito, D. (2008). Preface. In: Sheep and Goat Production Handbook for Ethiopia, P.5.
  8. Hirpa, A. and Abebe, G. (2008). Economic Importance of Sheep and Goats. In: Sheep and Goat Production Handbook for Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Pp.1-4.
  9. Kirk J.H. and Anderson B.C. (1982). Reducing lamb mortality: a two-year study. Vet. Med. Small Anim. Clin. 77:1247-1252.
  10. Lebbie, S.H.B. (2004). Goats under Household Conditions. Small Rum. Res. 51: 131 – 136.
  11. Ochepo, G.O. and Momoh, M. (2010). Developing the Dairy Goat Industry in Nigeria: A Review. Proc. 35th Conf., Nig. Soc. For Anim. Prod. 14 – 17 March. University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Pp. 530 – 532.
  12. Okoli, C. G., Okoli U. Okrondu V. and Opara, M.N. (2006). Environmental and public Health issue of animal food product delivery system in Imo State, Nigeria. J. Health Allied Sci.
  13. Nuru Saka (2001). Paper 1: Livestock Research in Nigeria. Keynote Address (Director National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) www.fao.org/wairdocs/ILRI/x5463E/x5463e07.htm
  14. Ndofor-Foleng, H. M., Osita, C.O. and Machebe, N. S. (2012). Sheep and goat production management. In S. C. Eze, C. C. Onyeonagu, P. I. Ezeaku and N. S. Machebe (Eds.). Handbook of Practical Agriculture, a Production of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, pp.7-20
  15. Okunlola, O.O., Amuda, A.J. and Ayanwamide, F.M.(2010). Farmers Perception of Livestock Farming in Oyo State: A case study of small ruminant farmers. Proc. 35th Conf., Nig. Soc. For Anim. Prod. 14 – 17 March, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
  16. Ozung, P.O., Nsa, E. E., Ebegbulem, V. N. and Ubua, J. A. (2011). The potentials of small ruminant production in Cross River Rain Forest Zone of Nigeria: A Review. Conti. J. Anim. and Vet. Res., 3 (1): 33 - 37, © Wilolud Journals http://www.wiloludjournal.com
  17. Padmakumar V (1998). Farmers’ reliance on ethnoveterinary practices to cope with common cattle ailments. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor 6 (2): 14-15. http://www.iss.nl/ikdm/IKDM/IKDM/6-2/ padmakum.html
  18. Ramßrez-Bribiesca, J.E, Tortola JL, Hernandez LM, and Huerta M (2001) Main causes of mortalities in Dairy goat kids from Mexican plateau. Small Rum. Res., 41:77-80.
  19. Winrock International (1983). Sheep and Goats in Developing Countries: Their Present and Potential Role. A World Bank Technical Paper, Winrock Int’l., Morrilton, Arkansas, U.S.A 72110 – 9537.
Published In
Indian Journal of Animal Research
Article Metrics
Metrics Icon
0
Views
0
Citations
Reviewed By
Share Article
Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    volume 49 issue 3 (june 2015) : 373-377,   Doi: 10.5958/0976-0555.2015.00131.4

    Challenges of smallholder sheep and goat keeping in rural communities of Aguata Agricultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria

    I
    I.A. Enwelu
    E
    E.L. Ezeuko1
    N
    N.S. Machebe*
    1Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
    Cite article:- Enwelu I.A., Ezeuko1 E.L., Machebe* N.S. (2025). Challenges of smallholder sheep and goat keeping in rural communities of Aguata Agricultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 49(3): 373-377. doi: 10.5958/0976-0555.2015.00131.4.

    ABSTRACT

    Livestock accounts substantially for the income as well as the physical and intellectual development of rural households which are primary drivers of the present government transformation agenda. The study ascertained the challenges of smallholder sheep and goat keeping in rural communities of Aguata Agricultural Zone of Anambra State. Interview schedule was developed and used to collect data from 72 respondents. The main primary occupations of the respondents were farming (43.1%) and trading (41.7%). About 43.0% and 40.3% earned annual income of between 10,000.00 to 20,000 Nigeria Naira ($57.5 to $115) and less than 10,000 Naira ($57.5), respectively, from keeping of sheep and goat. The average number of goat kept per household was seven while that of sheep was five. Majority (65.3%) of the respondents preferred keeping of goats to sheep (33.3%) while only 1.4% had no choice. About 72% of the respondents used intensive management system while 27.8% were engaged in semi-intensive management system. The major challenges of keeping sheep and goat in the zone were diseases attack (Mean [M] = 1.19), lack of veterinary services (M = 1.19) and lack of feeds (M =1.00). The causes of high mortality in sheep and goat were perceived to be diseases (M = 1.44) and poor feeding (M = 1.03). The study concluded that the number of sheep and goat kept was very few and as such uneconomical. They consequently faced challenges of attack of diseases, lack of veterinary services and lack of animal feeds.

    REFERENCES

    1. Adesehinwa, A. O. K, and Okunlola, J.O. (2004). Socio-economic constraints to ruminant production in Ondo and Ekiti States. Moor J. Agric. Res. 1: 93—97.
    2. Ajala, M. K. (2004). Peri-urban small ruminant production in Northern Guinea savanna, Nigeria. Asian J. of Anim and Vet.Adv. 3: 138—146.
    3. Mandal A., Prasad H., Kumar A., Roy, R., and Nagendra Sharma (2007) Factors associated with lamb mortalities in Muzaffarnagari sheep. Small Ruminant Research, 71 (1–3): 273-279.
    4. Chah, J.M., Igbokwe, E. M. and Chah, K.F. (2009). Ethno-veterinary medicine used in small ruminant health in the eastern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria (Online retrieved 15th August, 2010 from http://www.irrd.org/irrd2./12/chah.
    5. Chukwuka, I.C., Okoli, N. J., Okeudo, M.N., Opara, U. Herbert, I. Ogbuewu, P. and Ekenyem, B. U. (2010). Reproductive potentials of West African Dwarf sheep and goat (Online-retrieved 20th August, 2010 from http://scialert.net/ abstract/?doi=rdvs 2010.86.100.)
    6. Ezekwe, A. G. (2009). Trend in animal production in Nigeria. In: B. C. Echezona (Ed.) General Agriculture: Principles and Practices, A Publication of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, pp. 41-45.
    7. Hamito, D. (2008). Preface. In: Sheep and Goat Production Handbook for Ethiopia, P.5.
    8. Hirpa, A. and Abebe, G. (2008). Economic Importance of Sheep and Goats. In: Sheep and Goat Production Handbook for Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Pp.1-4.
    9. Kirk J.H. and Anderson B.C. (1982). Reducing lamb mortality: a two-year study. Vet. Med. Small Anim. Clin. 77:1247-1252.
    10. Lebbie, S.H.B. (2004). Goats under Household Conditions. Small Rum. Res. 51: 131 – 136.
    11. Ochepo, G.O. and Momoh, M. (2010). Developing the Dairy Goat Industry in Nigeria: A Review. Proc. 35th Conf., Nig. Soc. For Anim. Prod. 14 – 17 March. University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Pp. 530 – 532.
    12. Okoli, C. G., Okoli U. Okrondu V. and Opara, M.N. (2006). Environmental and public Health issue of animal food product delivery system in Imo State, Nigeria. J. Health Allied Sci.
    13. Nuru Saka (2001). Paper 1: Livestock Research in Nigeria. Keynote Address (Director National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) www.fao.org/wairdocs/ILRI/x5463E/x5463e07.htm
    14. Ndofor-Foleng, H. M., Osita, C.O. and Machebe, N. S. (2012). Sheep and goat production management. In S. C. Eze, C. C. Onyeonagu, P. I. Ezeaku and N. S. Machebe (Eds.). Handbook of Practical Agriculture, a Production of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, pp.7-20
    15. Okunlola, O.O., Amuda, A.J. and Ayanwamide, F.M.(2010). Farmers Perception of Livestock Farming in Oyo State: A case study of small ruminant farmers. Proc. 35th Conf., Nig. Soc. For Anim. Prod. 14 – 17 March, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
    16. Ozung, P.O., Nsa, E. E., Ebegbulem, V. N. and Ubua, J. A. (2011). The potentials of small ruminant production in Cross River Rain Forest Zone of Nigeria: A Review. Conti. J. Anim. and Vet. Res., 3 (1): 33 - 37, © Wilolud Journals http://www.wiloludjournal.com
    17. Padmakumar V (1998). Farmers’ reliance on ethnoveterinary practices to cope with common cattle ailments. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor 6 (2): 14-15. http://www.iss.nl/ikdm/IKDM/IKDM/6-2/ padmakum.html
    18. Ramßrez-Bribiesca, J.E, Tortola JL, Hernandez LM, and Huerta M (2001) Main causes of mortalities in Dairy goat kids from Mexican plateau. Small Rum. Res., 41:77-80.
    19. Winrock International (1983). Sheep and Goats in Developing Countries: Their Present and Potential Role. A World Bank Technical Paper, Winrock Int’l., Morrilton, Arkansas, U.S.A 72110 – 9537.
    In this Article
      Contact us
      Follow us
      Published In
      Indian Journal of Animal Research

      Editorial Board

      View all (0)