SURVEY ON SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION AGAINST PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANT IN MOYAMBA AND KAILAHUN DISTRICTS, SIERRA LEONE

Am Conteh,Bundu Wt,Nm Kallon,Sesay Ar,Dh Jojo

doi:10.29121/granthaalayah.v8.i2.2020.215

Am Conteh, Bundu Wt + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v8.i2.2020.215

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Abstract

Goats and sheep production which significantly contributes to improving nutritional status, economic growth and socio-cultural practices in the rural settings of Sierra Leone are faced with several challenges. The survey on Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV) was carried out to investigate the: current status of small ruminant production, and the presence of antibodies against PPRV. Information was obtained through Focus Group Discussion in the respondents’ local dialects from 150 participants. From the results obtained, 58.7% and 41.7% of the respondents were male and female while 77.3% and 22.7% were married and single respectively. 53.3% of the respondents never illiterate while 46.7% have some basic education. The main reasons for keeping goats and sheep were for traditional, economic, religious and food. Continuous disease outbreaks; high mortality; poor animal healthcare and extension services, lack of credit facility, theft, and poor marketing facility. Pestes des petits Ruminant, mange, Respiratory infection, and diarrhea were the main diseases affecting goats and sheep. A total of 356 serum samples from goats (264) and sheep (92) were collected in both districts and analyzed using the competitive ELISA kit for the detection of antibodies against PPRV. The result revealed an overall prevalence of 62.1% antibodies [goats, 73.1%, (193/264) and sheep, 30.4%, (28/92)]. Young goats (65.9%), and sheep (34.7%) showed the highest seropositivity of PPRV followed by adult males and females. There is a need to improve traditional practices of small ruminant production by designing disease control programs to ensure the full participation of the veterinary, animal husbandry and extension services for a good output.

Highlights

Goats and sheep production which significantly contributes to improving nutritional status, economic growth and socio-cultural practices in the rural settings of Sierra Leone are faced with several challenges
Samples were considered positive if the Percentage Inhibition (PI) of the Optical Densities (OD) values were greater than 50% or negative if the PI is less than 45% otherwise retest, no sample was retested
Due to the household burden men carry as breadwinners followed by social lifestyle, small ruminant production is being spotted as feasible opportunities to addressing these needs

Summary

Introduction

Small ruminants (sheep and goats) production (SMP) is significant and common practices in agriculture that strengthen livelihood, economic status, socio-cultural/religious practices in both developed and developing countries. Global statistics of goat (861.9) and sheep (1078.2) million depicted that 93.5% of goats and 68.7% of sheep are found in developing continents (Africa and Asia) [1]. These animals are managed under different management systems (intensive, semi-intensive and extensive) and environments for multiple benefits. In Africa and other low-income continents, the contributions of small ruminants to food security, poverty alleviation, gender equality, sociocultural values, economic empowerment, reducing unemployment and malnutritional problems are well documented [2,3,4,5]

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