CAUSES OF PRE AND POST-NATAL MORTALITY IN SHEEP AND GOATS IN KANO STATE

Abstract

A survey of cause of pre natal and post natal mortality in sheep and goats was conducted in three local government are of Kano state (Wudil, Gaya and Sumaila) .One Hundred and Twenty (120) structure questionnaires were used to elicit information from the respondents. Target audience were farmers, veterinary health workers, butchers and small ruminant sales points. All of the respondents interviewed were educated and their main (59.20%) occupation was both crop and livestock production. From the data obtained, it showed that extensive system is the major (56.70%) management practice whereby majority (69.20%) of the stock owner have recorded mortality, even though only few (7.50%) of the respondents ever carryout post mortem inspection. Diseases (26.00%) and poor nutrition (25.00%) are regarded as the major causes of mortality especially during the rainy season with diarrhea (27.90%) and gastro intestinal parasite (24.20%) being the most common diseases.