Farm management practices associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the influence of farm management practices on the prevalence of Gastrointestinal Nematodes (GIN) of small ruminants in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State Nigeria using centrifugal floatation technique and Questionnaire survey. Out of 700 samples examined, an overall prevalence of 29.00% was recorded with Goats having the highest prevalence (29.64%) as compared to Sheep (28.32%) and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Farmers that attended only primary (80.88%) and no formal education (61.54%) had ruminants that were more infected than secondary (31.25%) and tertiary education (5.26%) farmers and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Farmers who did not deworm (37.92%) had the highest frequency of GIN among the ruminants than those who practiced deworming (22.39%) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Farmers who clean weekly (42.33%) had ruminants that were more infected than those who clean daily (19.0%) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Farmers who use well (39.41) had ruminants that are more infected than those using borehole (24.51%) and river (17.86%) as their source of water for the small ruminants and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Farmers who had regular veterinary supervision (13.82) had ruminants that were less infected than those with irregular veterinary supervision (43.33%) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Results of this study shows that farm management practices greatly affect the prevalence of GIN in small ruminants. Hence improvement in the management practices, education of farmers on the use of anthelmintics and the importance of veterinary supervision will help prevent and control the transmission of GIN.