Incidence of footrot infection in sheep and goats in Minna

Abstract

The incidence of footrot infection in sheep and goats was studied in the university Research farm, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria for aperiod of one year. The percentage number of animals affected in the herd was 32.6 % and 32.4% for both sheep and goats, respectively. Infection was found to be more prevalent during the wet season of the year. The source of infection was linked to different market areas within Niger State where the animals were purchased and brought to the farm at different times. All the animals used in the experiment were managed through semi-intensive system. The experiment tends to reveal that through supplementary feeding coupled with the treatment, the weight of the animals appreciated. It wasdiscovered that treatment methods using antibiotics, like penicillin- streptomycin at a higher dose combined with feet trimming gave the best result of 62.5% and 66.6% cure respectively. While the other method using same antibiotic at alower dose combined with foot bath gave a lower result of 28.5% and 50% cure for both sheep and goats, respectively.