Goats management practices, prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal nematodes in goats in West Division, Lira City

Abstract

This was a cross sectional study which aimed at determining goat’s management practices and the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in goats in West Division,Lira City. Data collection was carried out between March and May 2023 .Both questionnaire and biological samples were used in the study. Fresh fecal samples were obtained from the rectum of the selected goats from randomly selected households, preserved in 70% alcohol, labeled, packed in sample bags and transported to Central diagnostic laboratory at COVAB, Makerere University for Laboratory analysis. At the laboratory, floatation method and McMaster technique were used to determine the presence and the number of eggs per gram respectively. The overall prevalence of nematodes in the goats sampled was 72.6%. Female goats had a higher prevalence (49.3%) compared to the males (23.3%). The Small East African goats had the highest prevalence (66%) while the cross breeds had the lowest prevalence (1.43%). Worm eggs were detected in goats in all the four selected Wards however, the highest (21.18%) prevalence was recorded in goats from Omito Ward (17.36%) and the lowest prevalence (16.31%) in goats from Barapwo Ward. All the breeds sampled had some individual goats infected with nematodes, though at different proportions. The highest mean EPG was recorded in cross breeds, though not statistically significant (p> 0.05). Farmers in Lira City West should consider deworming their animals and practicing good management practices to control nematodes. Tethering (93.8%) was the main management system used by farmers followed by extensive (0.38%), semi-intensive (0.25) and none of the farmers used intensive management system. Majority of the farmers (75/80) reportedly dewormed their animals whereas (5/80) did not use dewormers. Of the 80 respondents in this study, 35 (43.8%) dewormed at intervals of 2-3 months, 12 (16.3%) dewormed monthly, 28 (35%) farmers dewormed only when their goats fell sick and 5 (6.25%) did not deworm at all.