Animal Biodiversity Directorate

Assessment of Diseases and Their Management at Community Based Sheep and Goat
Conservation and Breed Improvement Programs

Aweke Engdawork (DVM)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

June, 2020
Background and Methodology

Sheep and goats are both small ruminants with cosmopolitan distributions as being kept for their
numerous advantages in every agricultural system (CSA, 2013). In Ethiopia, the livestock sector
is characterized by less productivity due to morbidity and mortality caused by different animal
diseases. Infectious, non-infectious and parasitic diseases are all prevalent in the country with
seasonal and temporal variation. Parasitic diseases are incriminated as one of the major and
common infectious diseases of livestock’s around the world. It is among the major contributors
of livestock poor productivity on every agro-farming system (Asaye and Alemneh, 2015).

Diseases can vary from subclinical disease where the animal appear healthy but perform below
their full potential, chronic disease resulting in various degrees of morbidity resulting in
underperformance and perhaps death and acute disease with high mortality (Jorgen and Brian,
1994). Livestock could be infected with different classes of diseases, including bacterial, viral
fungal, rickettsial and parasitic diseases; possessing a significant health problem and production
loss. Cases of abortion, lamb and kids’ mortality, flock morbidity and mortality, seasonal
epidemics are evident in most agro-ecologies and production systems of the country.

The assessment survey was conducted at Fagita Lekuma, Borena, Arsi and Ginchi community
based sheep and goat conservation and breed improvement programs. The assessment was
conducted by collecting information on common animal diseases in their production
environment, cases of abortion, neonatal mortality, flocks morbidity and mortality, and diseases
control and prevention strategies. The relevant data was collected using both farmers’
participatory discussion and local animal health experts’ point of view.
1. Fagita Lekuma District

A. Farmers’ participatory discussion

I. Cases of diseases in the flock

Diseases are common in each household’s, causing morbidity and death with variant
extent throughout the year

II. Abortion and stillbirth in the flock

Cases of abortion and stillbirth are common in the flocks, but not recorded in every
household’s

III. Seasons animals mostly got sickness

Most farmers agreed on that most diseases are prevalent during spring (April, May), and
autumn (October and November)

IV. Common signs animals manifest

During diseases occurrence animals show a range of clinical signs, but the common signs
include:-
 Coughing
 Nasal discharge
 Bottle jaw
 Nodules around muzzle and face

V. Measures taken for diseased animals

Most farmers bring their animals to the surrounding veterinary clinics, especially if the
case becomes hard or acute
VI. Feeding system and supplementations

Most farmers rears on grazing with some supplementations of salt, crop residues and
concentrates during dry seasons

VII. Diseases control and prevention strategies

Vaccinations have been conducted for common animal diseases like sheep pox, PPR and
pasteurollosis by the regional and Woreda Livestock agencies.

B. Animal health experts’ point of view

I. Prevalence of infectious and non-infectious diseases

The prevalence of infectious diseases are high, while prevalence of non-infectious

diseases are low to some extent

II. Awareness of community in bringing diseased animals to clinic

The local experts agreed on that the community a good awareness and habit of bringing
diseased animals to the clinic

III. Seasons animals mostly got sickness, and their assumptions

 There are different animal diseases which become highly prevalent during wet
seasons, while others become prevalent in the dry seasons

 Their probable assumptions are, poor maintenance, lactating seasons and favorable
seasonal conditions

IV. Common animal diseases

The common infectious diseases are pasteurollosis, fascilosis, lungworm, brucellosis and
anthrax infections; while bloat becomes the predominant case of non-infectious diseases
 V. Diseases control and prevention strategies

 Vaccination for pasteurollosis and anthrax during autumn and winter seasons
 Deworming to common internal parasites during early autumn and summer

2. Borena (South Wollo) District

A. Farmers’ participatory discussion

I. Cases of diseases in the flock

There is high occurrence of animal diseases in each member of the community, with high
rate sheep death

II. Abortion and stillbirth in the flock

Abortion and stillbirth are common in the flocks associated with stress, feed shortage and
diseases

III. Seasons animals mostly got sickness

Most animals got diseases during spring and autumn, especially in May and October

IV. Common signs animals manifest

During diseases occurrence animals show a range of clinical signs, but the common signs
include:-
 Lameness
 Nasal and oral discharge
 Swelling of abdomen
 Bottle jaw
 Nodules around muzzle, face and non-hairy skin
V. Measures taken for diseased animals

Most farmers bring their animals to the surrounding veterinary clinics, especially if the
case becomes hard or acute

VI. Feeding system and supplementations

Grazing is the main means of rearing with straw and legumes during dry seasons

VII. Diseases control and prevention strategies

Even shortage of vaccine is a big challenge, vaccinations is conducted to some diseases being
high risk in the district.

B. Animal health experts’ point of view

I. Prevalence of infectious and non-infectious diseases

The prevalence of infectious diseases are high, while prevalence of non-infectious

diseases are low to some extent

II. Awareness of community in bringing diseased animals to clinic

The awareness of the community in bringing diseased animals to the clinic is considered
to be poor according to the expert suggestions

III. Seasons animals mostly got sickness, and their assumptions

 Diseases are highly prevalent on autumn and early summer

IV. Common animal diseases

The common infectious diseases are pasteurollosis, PPR, anthrax, sheep and goat pox,
Fasciolosis and brucellosis infections; while bloat becomes the predominant case of non-
infectious diseases
 V. Diseases control and prevention strategies

 Vaccination for sheep pox, pasteurollosis and anthrax

 Deworming to common internal parasites during early autumn and summer

3. Limu Bilbilo District (Arsi goat)

A. Farmers’ participatory discussion

I. Cases of diseases in the flock

It is common that animals diseases are occurring in each community, causing poor body
condition and productivity, and death in some members of the flock

II. Abortion and stillbirth in the flock

Cases of abortion and stillbirth are not common in Arsi goat production systems

III. Seasons animals mostly got sickness

Most of the time animals got diseases around the summer season

IV. Common signs animals manifest

During diseases occurrence animals show a range of clinical signs, but the common signs
include:-
 Coughing
 diarrhea

V. Measures taken for diseased animals

Most farmers bring their animals to the surrounding veterinary clinics

VI. Feeding system and supplementations

Grazing is the main means of feeding system with barley and it’s residue
supplementation during winter

VII. Diseases control and prevention strategies

The farmers agreed on that no vaccination and deworming have been given to their animals

B. Animal health experts’ point of view

I. Prevalence of infectious and non-infectious diseases

The prevalence of infectious diseases are moderate, while prevalence of non-infectious

diseases are low in the district

II. Awareness of community in bringing diseased animals to clinic

The local experts agreed on that the community a good awareness and habit of bringing
diseased animals to the clinic

III. Seasons animals mostly got sickness, and their assumptions

 At the end of summer and rainy seasons

IV. Common animal diseases

The common infectious diseases are ovine pasteurollosis, Sheep and goat pox etc. while
bloat and mechanical injuries becomes the predominant case of non-infectious diseases

V. Diseases control and prevention strategies

 Vaccination for
 ovine pasteurollosis
 sheep pox
  Deworming to round worms and liver flukes from June to August

4. Ginchi District

A. Animal health experts’ point of view

I. Prevalence of infectious and non-infectious diseases

There is high prevalence of infectious diseases, while prevalence of non-infectious

diseases are moderate in the district

II. Awareness of community in bringing diseased animals to clinic

The awareness of the community in bringing diseased animals to Veterinary clinic is

slightly good

III. Seasons animals mostly got sickness, and their assumptions

 Winter

IV. Common animal diseases

The common infectious diseases are ovine pasteurollosis, Sheep and goat pox and liver
fluke, while bloat and mechanical injuries becomes the predominant case of non-
infectious diseases

V. Diseases control and prevention strategies

 Vaccination for
 ovine pasteurollosis
 Anthrax
 sheep and goat pox
 Deworming to round worms and liver flukes
Conclusion and Recommendations

Livestock diseases are with cosmopolitan distribution, possessing significant health and
productivity effect in every production environment. Many diseases outbreaks happened in
various parts of the country, resulting in mass abortion in the flock, neonatal mortality and death
of huge number of animals. Subclinical diseases are major contributors of production loss with
significant effect on weight gain, growth rate, fertility, meat and milk, and wool production.
Cases of abortion, stillbirth and poor fertility has detrimental effect on the livestock production,
hence major challenges for the ongoing sheep and goat in-situ conservation and breed
improvement actions.

Based on the aforementioned ideas, the following recommendations are forwarded:

 Major diseases constraints of health and productivity should be identified in each in-situ
conservation sites
 Diseases control and prevention strategies should be wisely planned and regularly
implemented
 Active participation of farmers, woredas and kebelles livestock and animal health offices,
and any concerned bodies should be maintained
References

Asaye, M. and Alemneh, T. (2015): Prevalence of Lungworm Infection of Small Ruminants in

and Around Bahir Dar City, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Journal of Veterinary
Science Technology, 12: 2157-7579.

CSA (Central Statistical Authority). 2009. Ethiopian agricultural sample survey. Vol II. Report
on livestock and livestock characteristics. Statistical Bulletin 388. CSA, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.

Jorgen, H. and Brian, P. (1994): The epidemiology, diagnosis and control of helminth parasites
of ruminants. Published by the International Laboratory for Research on Animal
Diseases, Printed by the International Livestock Centre for Africa Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Pp: 245-261.