Ethnoveterinary Practices in the Treatment of Skin Disease (Mange) in Small Ruminants in Kwara State, Nigeria

This survey investigates the ethnoveterinary practices in the treatment of skin diseases in small ruminants in Ifelodun and Irepodun L.G.As of Kwara State between June and December 2011. The aim of this study is to investigate the benefits and problems associated with ethnoveterinary practices among small ruminants' livestock in Ifelodun and Irepodun L.G.As of Kwara State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 162 randomly selected farmers using multi-stage sampling technique. The study uses descriptive statistics to analyse the data. Majority of the respondents are male and mostly subsistence farmers. It was a hobby to majority of the farmers to keep small ruminants. About 60% kept them on semi-intensive system with flock size of 75-105 sheep/goat per farmer. All of the respondents agree that mange is the commonest skin disease in the area. Majority of respondents treated the skin disease with used engine oil, sulphur, kerosene and battery carbon. All the respondents found this local medicament accessible, easy, simple, cheap and affordable. Based on the findings, ethnoveterinary practice can enhance good health and productivity of small ruminants. Therefore it recommends that policy makers should formulate policies that would enhance the integration of conventional animal treatment with indigenous (ethnoveterinary) treatment of domestic animal. In addition, there is need for more research into other diseases of small ruminants that are treated by ethnoveterinary practice among the rural livestock owners in Nigeria.