Sheep In Ghana Research Articles

Taenia hydatigena in goat and sheep in Ghana: a cross-sectional abattoir survey in Northern and Upper West Regions.

Parasitic infections are a major setback to livestock production in Ghana but the disease situation in many localities is poorly understood. A study to determine the prevalence and distribution of Taenia hydatigena in goats and sheep was carried out in two major municipal abattoirs in Tamale and Wa. A total of 538 goats and 256 sheep were screened for cysts during a cross-sectional survey which revealed a prevalence of 22.34% and 33.96% in goats from Tamale and Wa, respectively, and 22.66% in sheep from Tamale. Infection was common in male and female, young and old animals alike. Animals considered in the study originated from various localities within Northern and Upper West Regions and T. hydatigena infection was thought to be autochthonous, depicting a wide distribution of the cestode infection in small ruminants. Our data represent the importance of T. hydatigena infection in goat and sheep production and provide a base for subsequent epidemiological studies in Ghana.

Multivariate characterisation of the phenotypic traits of Djallonke and Sahel sheep in Northern Ghana

The characterisation of the small ruminant populations in developing countries will play a major role in the maintenance of the genetic resources as the basis for future improvement in livestock production. The present study aimed at morphological characterisation of the two main breeds of sheep in Ghana by assessing variation within and between breed populations using principal component and discriminant analyses. The two breeds were the Sahel and the Djallonke sheep of both sexes and of two groups namely, young (1 year old, consisting of 74 animals) and mature sheep (≥ 2 years old, comprising 219 animals). The analysis of variance revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences in the morphological traits of the Sahel and the Djallonke sheep breeds with higher values recorded for the former. Sexual dimorphism was in favour of male animals in all the morphological traits examined. Mature animals also had comparative advantage over the young. Two principal components were extracted to discern the structure of the two genetic groups. The most discriminating traits between the two sheep breeds were rump height, height at withers, neck girth and pin-bone width. Mahalanobis distance between the two genetic groups was 5.723 (P < 0.0001). The developed discriminant functions clearly discriminated and classified the Sahel and the Djallonke sheep into their breeds of origin, thus yielding 100, 93.4 and 90.4 % accurate classification for the rams, ewes and the overall sheep population, respectively. The present approach would greatly help in establishing management and conservation policies for the sustainable production of the two Ghanaian sheep breeds.

Is growth rate more important than survival and reproduction in sheep farming in Ghana?

The local Djallonké sheep in Ghana is characterized by slow growth and low reproductive rates, but is resistant to most diseases and parasites (survival traits). In an attempt to improve the performance of the local sheep, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has chosen growth rate as the breeding objective. This is being achieved through the Open Nucleus Breeding Scheme, with the Ejura Sheep Breeding Station being the nucleus farm. The objective of this work was to find out which of the three traits (survival, growth rate and reproduction) is worth including in the breeding objective in the sheep breeding scheme in Ghana. The study was carried out at Ejura Sheep Breeding Station. The method used to compare the three traits involved calculating the economic values of the three traits by using computer models. The economic value of a trait was defined as the marginal profit per ewe per year resulting from a unit increase or decrease in the average value of a trait, whilst holding the average levels of all other traits constant, and at a discount rate of 0 and 12.5%. The results of the study indicated that on average, traits associated with survival had the highest average discounted (12.5% over the lifetime of the breeding ewe-5.6667 years) economic value (¢3330.04 or $0.36). This was followed by reproduction (¢1944.72 or $0.21) with growth rate recording the lowest average discounted economic value of ¢703.96 or $0.08. This means that the order of importance of the three traits with respect to profit maximization in the sheep industry is survival > reproduction > growth rate. It was concluded that all three traits (survival, reproduction and growth rate) should be included in the breeding objective of the sheep breeding scheme in Ghana, instead of concentrating only on growth traits.Journal of Science & Technology (Ghana) Vol. 27 (2) 2007: pp. 23-32

Observations on the gastrointestinal parasites of sheep in Ghana.

Annals of the New York Academy of SciencesVolume 849, Issue 1 p. 470-473 Observations on the Gastrointestinal Parasites of Sheep in Ghana † A. D. AGYEI, Corresponding Author A. D. AGYEI Animal Research Institute (CSIR), P.O.Box 20, Achimota, GhanaTel: 233 21 401846; Fax: 233 21 402588.Search for more papers by this author A. D. AGYEI, Corresponding Author A. D. AGYEI Animal Research Institute (CSIR), P.O.Box 20, Achimota, GhanaTel: 233 21 401846; Fax: 233 21 402588.Search for more papers by this author First published: 07 February 2006 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb11099.xCitations: 1 † Grateful acknowledgment is due to IFS for funding the project and to CTA for sponsorship. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume849, Issue1TROPICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE: MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY, HEMOPARASITES AND THEIR VECTORS, AND GENERAL TOPICSJune 1998Pages 470-473 RelatedInformation

Chemical composition and rumen degradability of protein of browse and shrubs fed to sheep in Ghana

The chemical composition and protein degradability of Antiaris africana, Delonix regia, Milletia thonningii, Khaya senegalensis, Griffonia simplicifolia, Ritchea reflexa and Securinega virosa as well as treated or untreated rice straw were studied. The rice straw was treated with either sodium hydroxide (4.42 per cent w/w) or urea (7.55 per cent w/w) was used in the treatment of the straw. Wethers averaging 23.2 1 0.60 kg liveweight and fitted with rumen canulae were fed with the straw and browse and 5 g sample placed in a nylon bag and incubated in the rumen. Data were fitted to the equation P = a + b(1-e-et) where P is extent of degradation at time t, a is percentage loss of water soluble component, b is percentage loss of water insoluble component, c is rate of degradation of component b, and (a + b) is the maximum percentage loss of protein. Significant differences (P

Influence of month and climatic factors on the period of birth, litter size, birth weight and preweaning mortality of sheep in Ghana

Relationships between month and clinatic factors-rainfall, ambient temperature, relative humidity (RH) and temperature-humidity index (THI)-with time of parturition, litter size, birth weight and preweaning mortality were studied in Djallonke and Dja lonke x Sahelian sheep. Births (4142) occurred all year round although there were significant differences in the number of births per month. Maximum litter size did not coincide with the maximum births. Peak conceptions occurred in the early parts of the major rainy season. There were also significant differences in birth weights and mortalities (%) per month. Maximum and minimum values (of birth weighs and mortalities) occurred in the latter part of the rainy seasons and dry periods respectively. There were significant positive correlations between litter size and cumulative rainfall in the 4th–6th months periods prior to lambing. Birth weights of both males and females were positively and significantly associated with minimum temperature and cumulative rain-fall in the 2- and 3-months period prior to lambing respectively. There were significant positive correlations between mortality and minimum and maximum RH and cumulative rainfall in the 3 months after lambing.

Reproductive performance, pre-weaning growth rate and pre-weaning lamb mortality of Djallonké sheep in Ghana.

Production records for a flock of Djallonké sheep kept in the forest belt of Ghana were analysed to determine the effects of some environmental factors on the performance of the breed. The period under study covered April 1969 to November 1979. The mean ages at first conception and first lambing and the mean lambing interval were 498, 638 and 264 days respectively. The overall twinning rate and prolificacy were 30.7 and 130.6% respectively. The season of birth and age of dam had significant (P less than 0.05) effects on prolificacy and twinning rate. The birth weights of the lambs were affected significantly (P less than 0.05) by age of dam, type of birth, sex and season of birth with the mean birth weight being 1.77 kg. Weaning weight (mean of 8.36 kg) and pre-weaning growth rate (mean of 0.076 kg/day) were affected significantly (P less than 0.05) by types of birth. Type of birth significantly (P less than 0.05) affected pre-weaning mortality of lambs (overall mean of 20.95%).

Observations on Nematode Infections of Goats and Sheep in West Africa

An account is given of the results of preliminary studies of the worm-burden of goats and sheep in Ghana, West Africa, based on fortnightly counts of nematode eggs in their faeces over a period of three years, 1954 to 1956, inclusive. Only eggs of nematodes and Moniezia expansa were encountered apart from an occasional egg of Schistosoma sp., probably S. bovis, in two sheep. Four centres were involved in these investigations differing appreciably in regard to the amount and distribution of the rainfall. It would seem from the results obtained that:—There are in the drier regions two distinct periods in the year when worm-egg production in goats and sheep reaches a high level compared with that at other times of the year, a high peak of production in June, sometimes a month either earlier or later, and a slight peak in November or December.There are seasonal variations in the forest belt regions but here the peaks of egg-production are less evident and more irregular in respect to the time of their occurrences in different years.

Diseases of Sheep in Ghana (Gold Coast)

Diseases of Sheep in Ghana (Gold Coast)