Health prophylaxis in goat breeding in southern and central Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

A survey on the health prophylaxis in goat farming was conducted, in five regions of southern and central Côte d’Ivoire, within 45 goat farms. It aimed to appreciate the methods of breeders in animal management, identify common diseases, describe their symptoms and take inventory of products used to treat them. The results revealed that 93.3 % of farmers have not received any training on farming techniques against 6.7 % of breeders coming from a farming school. The feed is ensured mainly by urban fodder (48.9 %) and natural pastures (51.1%); none breeder has a modern pasture. Most farmers (77.8 %) have never practiced the disinfection of their farms and livestock equipment. Evoking semiotics, 75.6 % of
farmers have found cases of death without symptoms. The observed frequency of diarrhea was 88.9 %, including 13.3 % of bloody diarrhea. Furthermore, 62.2 % of farmers claimed to have seen worms in feces. Slimming frequent symptom is estimated by 15.6 % of livestock farmers and signs of loss of appetite in 13.3
% of them. Only 6.7 % of farmers used treatments, once per quarter, of their animals; while 75.6 % did so occasionally. Veterinary drugs used are: Levamisole (6.7 %), Albendazole (71.2%), Ivermectin (13.3 %) and oxytetracycline (8.9 %). Incorrect use of these products by some breeders may cause the resistance of
gastrointestinal parasites.

Keywords: Investigation, health prophylaxis, dwarf goats, Ivory Coast