Mortality in small ruminants and implications for livelihoods of their keepers in the Savelugu-Nanton district of the Northern region of Ghana

Abstract

Despite the many roles small ruminants play in the livelihoods of rural small holder farmers, high mortality in small ruminants has been identified as the major constraint impeding productivity, and hence the livelihoods of small ruminant keepers. In the Savelugu-Nanton district estimated losses in livestock output due to mortality of small ruminants are in the tune of 35%. The present study focuses on the implications of these losses due to mortality in small ruminants in the district and suggests ways of reducing the losses. A multi-stage sampling procedure involving randomization, stratification and purposive sampling was employed. Data collection, processing and analyses were done from October 2004 to January 2005. The results of the study revealed that certain socio-economic and cultural information of the respondents have an effect on mortality of small ruminants. Included in this list were the main occupation of the farmer and the level of education. Small ruminant keepers (n=179) were mostly crop farmers (98%) and therefore had little time for their animals. About 56% had no formal education, making technology transfer in animal health an uphill task. About 90% of respondents had no access to animal health services (technical officers and a veterinary clinic) and supporting institutions such as drug centers and markets. The production systems practiced were predominantly the extensive (62%) and the semi-intensive (38%) systems. Mortality in both production systems depended on the type of management, with the extensive system registering 25.5% of mortality in sheep and 24.3% in goats. The mortalities for the semi- intensive system were 30.3% and 24.1 % for sheep and goats respectively. These differences could be attributed to poor sanitary conditions of the pens and the uncontrollable nature of breeding practiced. The major causes of death were found to be diarrhoea diseases (24.7%), respiratory syndromes (20.8%) and starvation (20.25%). The mortality rate for lambs and kids born in the dry season peaked at 60%, while those born in the rainy season recorded nearly 40%, due to stunted growth, heavy worm burden and tick infestation. Based on the findings, small ruminant keeping in the district needs careful education in order for farmers to realize the potential in these animals. To the rural smallholder small ruminant keeper, cash at hand from the sale of his animals, is worthier than getting meat for consumption. The cash is used to satisfy various ends such as customary rites and festivals, purchasing agricultural inputs, building houses and purchasing sufficient grain for the lean season. Unless farmers start viewing livestock keeping as a business, livestock development efforts would stagnate for a long time to come. Livestock specialists have a vital role to play by encouraging the use of simple but cost effective mortality reducing strategies in a systemic way.