INTRODUCTION

Small ruminants are a substantial portion of Nigeria’s livestock, and are an important source
of livelihood for smallholder farmers. They are considered as a source of food (meat and
milk), income (when the animal or its products are sold) and social value. Small ruminants
are preferred because of their adaptation to harsh environments, reproductive success with a
short gestation period, and ability to produce nutritious human food from low-value feedstuff.
Small ruminants enjoy access to export markets such as the Middle East, thus contributing to
national GDP, and production is particularly prominent in rural communities. Research found
that about 35% of the meat supply from slaughter-houses in Nigeria comes from sheep and
goats.

Small ruminant population by geographic zone in Nigeria (NASS 2011)

SMALL RUMINANTS FACT SHEET IN NIGERIA

 Nigeria has the largest small ruminant herd in Africa – followed by Sudan, Chad,
Ethiopia and Kenya.
 There are 73.8 million goats and 42.1 million sheep – mainly indigenous breeds.
 Small ruminants are kept by smallholder farmers for meat, hides, wool and, to a lesser
extent, milk.
 Small ruminant population is concentrated in the North of Nigeria.
 Gross production value of goat and sheep meat in 2016 was US $373.1 and $73.4 mil-
lion, respectively.
 MAJOR SHEEP BREEDS

The four primary breeds of sheep in Nigeria are:

 Balami: Predominantly found in Northeastern Nigeria. They are the largest breed,
featuring a white, hairy coat, a pronounced convex face, and large, droopy ears. Rams
are heavily horned and fast-growing.
 Uda: Commonly raised in the Sahelo-Sudan savanna zones and renowned for their
trekking ability. They have distinct bi-colored coats (front is brown or black, rear is
white) and long, pendulous ears.
 Yankasa: The most numerous and widespread breed in the country, typically found
in the Sudan and Northern Guinea savannas. They feature white coats with brown or
black patches around the eyes, ears, and muzzle.
 West African Dwarf (WAD) Sheep: These are stout, short-legged sheep found pre-
dominantly in the humid southern forest zones of Nigeria. They are highly valued for
their resilience and resistance to trypanosomosis (sleeping sickness).

Figure 1: Balami Ram

 Figure 2: Yankasa Ram

Figure 3: Uda Ram

MAJOR GOAT BREEDS

Nigerian goats are vital for meat, milk, and high-quality leather production.
 Red Sokoto (Maradi): Localized mainly in North-western Nigeria, particularly
Sokoto province. They are uniformly dark red in colour and are highly prized for their
skins, which are globally renowned for high-quality leather (often called Morocco
leather).
 Sahel (Desert Goat): Found in the extreme northern, arid Sahel regions. They are
tall, leggy, and well-adapted to surviving in hot, dry environments with sparse vegeta-
tion.
 West African Dwarf (WAD) Goat: Just like WAD sheep, these goats are heavily
concentrated in the southern rainforest belts. They are small, compact, highly tolerant
to humid tropical climates, and possess natural resistance to trypanosomosis.
 Figure 4: Sokoto Red Goat

Figure 5: Sahel Goat

Figure 6: West African Dwarf Goat

 SYSTEMS OF SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA

Extensive System (free-range system)

Under this system, sheep and goats are allowed to roam about scavenging for food (forages).
Sheep and goats raised under this system are very destructive to crops, and are often prone to
disease and risk of theft. The animals move about freely to feed on forages/grasses, which are
abundantly available during the raining season, and on other feed source such as left-over
foods/ kitchen wastes and refuse dumps. Hardly are the animals provided supplementary
feeds and even shelter by their keepers. The animals, thus squat around corridors or available
shades in the compounds.

Semi – intensive System

Small ruminants are housed and often released for grazing and browsing of forages, with
their movements regulated and as such are released to fend for themselves in the early and
late hours of the day, after which they are kept indoors over the night. The animals feed on
natural pasture and kitchen wastes or by-products of processed foods/farm produce,
especially during the rainy season. Animals are fed with by-products from farm produce,
especially during dry season when pastures are hardly available for free grazing. Some of the
small ruminants are kept on a ‘modified intensive management system’ whereby the animals
are mostly tethered or kept in a guarded enclosure and fed on cut-and-feed forages and by-
products of farm produce.

Intensive System

Sheep and goats under this system are usually managed on ‘zero grazing’. It is common in
areas with high population density and intense agricultural activities. Land scarcity and
labour shortages are the major limiting factors to small ruminant production. Four feeding
practices are found in this system; tethering, stall feeding, intense use of cultivated
forages/pastures and integration with tree crops. Feeding and watering troughs are provided
based on the stock strength. The animals are often fed with concentrates and mostly on
roughages.
FEED AND FEEDING

Small ruminant management in the tropics relies primarily on year-round natural grazing,
browsing, and locally available agricultural by-products. Optimal feeding requires matching
diverse feed resources—like grasses, legumes, and crop residues—to the animals' specific life
stages while ensuring continuous access to clean water and mineral supplements.
Key Components of Diets
 Forage & Browse: In tropical environments, small ruminants rely on rangelands.
Goats are primarily selective browsers (preferring shrubs, leaves, and tree pods),
while sheep are grazers (preferring grasses, forbs, and legumes).
 Crop Residues & By-products: During the dry season when natural grasses dry out
and lose nutritional value, native forages are typically supplemented with fibrous crop
residues (e.g., maize stover, rice straw, groundnut vines) and agro-industrial by-
products (e.g., cassava peels, wheat bran, and brewers' grains).

Managing Nutritional Requirements

 Dry Matter Intake (DMI): Adult small ruminants generally require an average daily
DMI of 3% to 4% of their body weight to maintain health and productivity.
 Targeted Feeding: Pregnant, lactating, and growing animals require significantly
higher crude protein and energy levels than maintenance animals.
 Cut-and-Carry Systems: Instead of allowing animals to graze freely, zero-grazing or
cut-and-carry systems are highly effective for maximizing nutrient intake and protect-
ing pastures from heavy internal parasite loads.
 Essential Supplements
 Minerals: Tropical forages are notoriously deficient in certain minerals. Free-choice
salt (sodium chloride) and locally sourced multi-nutrient blocks are vital to maintain
digestion and herd health.
 Protein & Nitrogen: Because tropical grasses often have low digestibility, urea-
molasses blocks can be introduced to provide essential fermentable nitrogen, aiding
rumen microbes in breaking down fibrous crop residues.

Practical Feeding Strategies for Smallholder Systems

 Legume Intercropping: Integrating high-protein, nitrogen-fixing plants (such as
Leucaena leucocephala or Gliricidia sepium) into farming systems creates a sustain-
able, year-round source of nutritious feed.
 Parasite Management: Strategic feeding and specific dietary inclusions (like con-
densed tannins found in certain browse plants) play a holistic role in managing
gastrointestinal nematode infections, which are common and devastating in tropical
grazing environments.
 Pelleted Feed: Commercializing small ruminant farms often involves milling and pel-
letizing grasses, maize, and bran to ensure the herd consumes a complete, balanced ra-
tion without selective eating.

REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

Small ruminants (sheep and goats) are highly valued for their rapid generation intervals, high
prolificacy, and ability to convert diverse vegetation into high-quality protein. They are
economically vital, particularly in smallholder and tropical farming systems, due to their
short gestation periods and adaptability to varying climates.
 Gestation Length: Approximately 150 days.
 Puberty: Generally, occurs between 6–10 months, heavily influenced by nutrition
and breed.
 Oestrous Cycle:
o Goats: 18–22 days (average 21 days).
o Sheep: 14–19 days (average 17 days).
 Seasonality: Both species show seasonal anestrus (reproductive inactivity), often
triggered by increasing day length (long days).
 Year-Round Cycling: Unlike temperate climates where breeding is strictly dictated
by day length (photoperiod), small ruminants in the tropics experience little variation
in daylight hours. This allows ewes and does to exhibit oestrus year-round. However,
conception rates typically peak during the late rainy season or early dry season. This
timing ensures that lactation and kidding/lambing happen when high-quality green
forage is readily available.
 Male Effect: The introduction of a male to females can stimulate the onset of the
breeding season.
 Economic Value: Their small size allows for lower investment costs, and their pro-
lificacy (twins/triplets) improves overall profitability.
 Key Differences
 Feeding behaviour: Goats are browsers, while sheep are grazers, leading to different
grazing systems.
 Reproductive performance: Goats often display higher litter sizes and shorter breed-
ing intervals under certain, intensive management conditions.

Strategic Herd Management

Since tropical breeders can be mated at any time, farmers can plan their breeding calendars
strategically to avoid adverse conditions (like heavy rains predisposes to foot rot and new
born pneumonia):
1. Timing Births: Target births for the onset of the dry season to maximize survival
rates for kids and lambs.
2. Forage Availability: Align peak lactation with the most abundant pasture months.
3. Supplementation: Since pasture quality fluctuates, strategic supplemental feeding
before and during the breeding window is crucial for maintaining pregnancy rates

Feeding the lamb or kid

o Bottle Feeding - lambs and kids requires getting them crucial colostrum in
their first 24 hours. After that, they should be fed high-quality milk replacer at
about \(10\%\) to \(15\%\) of their body weight daily, fed frequently at first
and gradually weaned by 8 to 12 weeks of age

o Creep Feeding: refers to the use of supplemental feed for the nursing lamb or kid.

Weaning
Lambs and kids can be weaned as early as 3 or 4 weeks, but better results may occur if wean-
ing is delayed until 8 to 12 weeks.

Issues affecting production

 Seasonal feed shortages (natural grasses, crop residues).

 Limited access to veterinary services.
 Genetic potential of small ruminant breeds currently used.
 Suboptimal farm management.
 Diseases that cause mortality or affect reproduction.
 Cost of feed
 Inadequate extension services

Opportunities for small ruminants

 Current and estimated future meat supply does not meet growing demand.
 Demand of both mutton and goat meat is estimated to increase by 216% while supply
is estimated to increase by 159% by 2050 (FAO 2018).
 Population growth, increasing income, and change in consumer taste are likely to
drive demand rise of high-quality meat products.
 COMMON DISEASES OF SMALL RUMINANTS
Despite the large number of sheep and goats, their productivity is low, mainly due to
diseases, poor feed, and inferior breeds. The diseases have significant economic implications
due to mortality and production losses. Depending on the disease, they may also impact trade
and export and hinder the introduction of new, more productive breeds. The ability to control
diseases more efficiently is often limited due to financial constraints. In the case of infection
with internal parasites, a lack of knowledge about the epidemiology of the disease, as well as
the availability of appropriate anthelmintics and the development of resistance against
commonly used anthelmintics, are often barriers. The control of viral diseases depends on the
accessibility, quality, and handling of vaccines, whereas in bacterial diseases, increasing
antibiotic resistance and inappropriate antimicrobial treatments pose challenges, as well as
the availability of appropriate vaccines and their use. In the case of ectoparasitic infections, a
strategic, regular, and appropriate antiparasitic treatment approach is often not achieved
The following diseases are identified as the most common affecting small ruminant in
Nigeria:

Helminthic Infections in Small Ruminants

Disease Causative Agents Clinical Signs Management

Condition
Parasitic Haemonchus contortus Weight loss, poor growth, Grazing
Gastroenteritis diarrhea (scours), anemia Management
(PGE) Oesophagostomum (pale mucous membranes),
columbianum bottle jaw, and decreased Strategic
milk production. deworming
Trichostrongylus
colubriformis Good nutrition
Lungworm Dictyocaulus filaria Persistent Coughing fenbendazole,
infestation oxfendazole, and
Mullarius capillaris Respiratory Distress (Dys- albendazole)
pnea)
Protostrongylus
rufescens Weight Loss and Unthrifti-
ness

Nasal Discharge
Fasciolosis Fasciola gigantica Progressive Weight Loss Strategic
and Emaciation: deworming

Anemia Avoiding grazing

in contaminated
Submandibular Edema waterlogged
("Bottle Jaw"): areas.

Reduced Productivity

Diarrhea and Digestive

Disturbances
 Rough/Dry HairCoat

Abdominal Pain

Ascites
Cerebral larval stage of the Circling, head tilting or Surgical removal
coenurosis tapeworm Taenia pressing, ataxia, visual of the cyst is
("gid" or multiceps (Coenurus impairment (blindness), and effective,
"staggers") cerebralis) erratic movement.
Treatment with
praziquantel can
be effective in
some cases.

Prevention
involves regular
deworming of
dogs (using
praziquantel),
restricting dogs
from eating raw
sheep brains, and
proper disposal
of carcasses.

Viral diseases

Disease Causative Agent Clinical Signs Management

Condition
Peste des PPR Virus sudden high fever, mouth No specific
petits sores, foul-smelling treatment for
ruminants diarrhoea, and pneumonia PPR, supportive
(PPR) care and
treatment of
bacterial and
parasitic co-
infections may
decrease
mortality.
Sheep and Pox Virus Initial high fever, followed by No specific
goat pox lesions (papules/nodules) on antiviral
sparsely wooled areas treatment
(muzzle, ears, udder). Severe exists;
cases involve internal lesions management
in the lungs and focuses on
gastrointestinal tract. supportive care
for secondary
bacterial
 infections.
Contagious Parapox Virus scabby lesions (pustules) here is no
ecthyma (orf) appear on the muzzle, lips, specific
and occasionally on teats, treatment for
feet, or vulva. In severe cases, the virus, but
lambs/kids cannot nurse, and supportive care,
severe infections can occur in such as topical
goats. antiseptics and
antibiotics for
secondary
infections, can
be used.

Bacterial diseases

Disease Causative Agent Clinical Signs Management

Condition
Contagious Mycoplasma Acute, severe Antibiotics can be
caprine capricolum subsp. respiratory distress effective if given
pleuropneumonia capripneumoniae including high fever, early, but chronic
(CCPP) (Mccp) nasal discharge, deep carriers often
cough, and severe, remain.
often unilateral,
pleuropneumonia.
Matitis Staphylococcus Visible changes includ- Antibiotics (e.g.,
ing abnormal milk intramammary
Streptococcus spp., (clots, color change), infusions,
swelling, pain, and sys- injectables) are
E. coli temic illness (fever, de- used, but
pression). treatment is less
Mannheimia effective for
haemolytica. Chronic: Often chronic cases.
presents as fibrosis
(hardening) or
abscesses in the udder.
Pneumonic Mannheimia Symptoms include high Early intervention
pasteurellosis haemolytica fever, severe with antibiotics
Pasteurella multocida depression, loss of and non-steroidal
appetite, rapid/difficult anti-inflammatory
breathing, and thick drugs (NSAIDs)
nasal discharge. for fever is
The disease causes crucial.
intense inflammation of
the lungs (pneumonia)
and chest lining
(pleuritis).
Botulism Clostridium botulinum Progressive Paralysis Due to the
severity of
Muscle Weakness paralysis,
 treatment is rarely
Drooling and Swallow- successful,
ing Difficulties although some
slightly affected
Sudden Death animals may
recover with
intensive nursing
Brucellosis Brucella melitensis In Ewes and Does: Vaccination
Brucella ovis abortion during the last
third of gestation, fol- Testing and cull-
lowed by retained pla- ing.
centas, metritis, and re-
duced milk yield. Biosecurity

In Males (Rams and

Bucks): epididymitis
and orchitis which often
lead to infertility and
poor semen quality

Nutritional and Metabolic diseases

Disease Cause Clinical Signs Management

Condition
Pregnancy severe negative Loss of appetite, teeth Early
Toxaemia energy balance grinding, staggering, intervention is
trembling, recumbency critical, typically
(downed), and coma. using oral
glucose
solutions,
propylene glycol,
or calcium
borogluconate to
raise blood
sugar.
Ruminal inability to eructate Distension of the left Immediate
Tympany (Bloat) (belch) gas, leading to flank Treatment: Ad-
its accumulation in the minister anti-
rumen. Respiratory distress and foaming agents
open-mouth breathing. like mineral oil,
poloxalene (e.g.,
Restlessness, kicking at 25–50g doses),
the abdomen, and via drench or
frequent lying down and stomach tube to
rising break down the
foam.

Emergency In-
tervention: If
 the animal can-
not breathe, a
veterinarian may
use a trochar and
cannula or per-
form a rumeno-
tomy to release
gas.

Prevention:
Avoid turning
hungry animals
out onto lush
pasture, provide
coarse hay
before grazing,
and ensure
adequate water.
Hypomagnesemia low blood Early Signs: Restless- Requires
(Grass Tetany) magnesium, typically ness, irritability, muscle emergency
occurring when tremors (twitching), and veterinary
grazing lush, rapidly separation from the flock. intervention,
growing spring often involving
pastures Acute Stage: Staggering, the slow,
uncoordinated gait ("stag- intravenous
gers"), grinding teeth, ex- injection of
cessive salivation, and vi- calcium and
ciousness. magnesium
solutions.
Final Stage: Animal
goes down, exhibits
convulsions (paddling),
and dies quickly if
untreated.
White Muscle deficiency of selenium Skeletal Muscle Af- Injectable
Disease (\(Se\)) and/or fected: Stiff gait, reluct- selenium/vitamin
(Nutritional Vitamin E, leading to ance to move, arched E products (e.g.,
Myodegeneration) degeneration of back, trembling, or inab- Bo-Se) can be
skeletal and cardiac ility to rise. administered, but
muscles severely affected
Cardiac Muscle Af- muscle tissue
fected: Sudden death, cannot be
severe dyspnea (breathing repaired.
difficulty), fever, and
rapid, irregular heart rate.

General: "Tucked-up"
flank, pneumonia-like
symptoms, or white,
chalky, or dry lesions in
 muscles on necropsy.
Ruminal Acidosis sudden ingestion of Acute: Lethargy, depres- Mild cases: Im-
(Grain Overload) large amounts of sion, bloating, severe mediate with-
starch/sugars, such as diarrhoea (foul-smelling), drawal of grain,
grain (wheat, corn, and inability to stand supplying hay,
barley), lush pastures, (collapse). and potentially
or high-sugar using oral ant-
fruits/vegetables. Subacute: Reduced feed acids.
Poorly adapted diets intake, lower milk pro-
or accidental access to duction, and intermittent Severe cases:
grain storage can diarrhoea. Require veterin-
cause outbreaks. ary care, includ-
ing rumen lav-
age, oral antibi-
otics, and intra-
venous fluids to
combat acidosis.

Hypocalcemia low blood calcium Early: Hyperesthesia Immediate

(Milk Fever) primarily in late (excessive irritability), Action:
pregnancy or early stiffness, and an unsteady Subcutaneous or
lactation gait. slow intravenous
injection of
Advanced: Recumbency calcium solutions
(inability to rise), muscle (e.g., Calcium
tremors, flaccid paralysis, Borogluconate).
and often "downer" beha-
viour (sitting or lying
down), similar to dairy
cows.

Progression: Rapid
progression can occur,
leading to coma and
death if not treated.

Ectoparasite infestations
Disease Condition Causative agent Clinical Signs Management
Lousiness chewing lice Restlessness and rub- Use of insect-
(Bovicola/Damalinia bing icides
ovis)
Coat Changes Herd treatment
Sucking lice
(Linognathus species) Wool/Hair damage Nutrition

Anaemia

Unthriftiness
Mange Sarcoptes scabiei Intense itching Medication
 (often found on both) (pruritus)
Topical Dips
Demodex caprae Lesions
(more common in Quarantine
goats) Hair/Wool loss

Psoroptes ovis Production drop

Tick infestation Rhipicephalus Anemia, restlessness, use of acaricides
reduced weight gain (chemicals that
Amblyomma kill ticks).

Hyalomma

PROCESSING AND INCOME GENERATION

 Commercial Production & Breeding: Moving from traditional extensive systems to
intensive/semi-intensive farming, to fill the supply gap.
 Intensive Fattening Units: Setting up units for short-term fattening of goats and
sheep to take advantage of high prices during festive seasons.
 Small Ruminant Marketing & Logistics: Investing in the supply chain to transport
animals from the North (production base) to the South (high demand).
 Value Chain Processing: Processing and packaging meat for urban markets, which
often have higher quality standards.

CONCLUSION
Integrated small ruminant management plays a vital role in improving livestock productivity,
food security, nutrition, and rural income generation, especially in developing countries. Ef-
fective management of sheep and goats requires a comprehensive approach that combines
proper housing, nutrition, breeding, health care, processing, and marketing practices. When
these components are properly integrated, small ruminant production becomes more sustain-
able, profitable, and capable of meeting the increasing demand for animal protein and live-
stock products.
One of the major challenges affecting small ruminant production is the occurrence of diseases
such as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), pneumonia, and ectoparasitic infestations. These
diseases reduce growth rate, fertility, milk production, and overall productivity, while also
causing high mortality and economic losses. Early diagnosis, routine vaccination, strategic
deworming, proper sanitation, biosecurity measures, and good nutrition are essential for pre-
venting and controlling these diseases. Farmers and livestock managers must therefore adopt
regular veterinary care and effective herd health management practices to minimize disease
outbreaks and improve animal welfare.
Processing of small ruminant products significantly increases their economic value and mar-
ketability. Meat, milk, skin, wool, and manure obtained from sheep and goats can be pro-
cessed into various products for domestic use and commercial purposes. Value addition
through meat preservation, milk processing, hide and skin treatment, and manure utilization
creates employment opportunities and reduces post-harvest losses. Proper processing tech-
niques also improve product quality, safety, and consumer acceptance.
Small ruminant production serves as an important source of income generation for farmers,
traders, processors, and other stakeholders along the livestock value chain. Activities such as
breeding, fattening, feed production, veterinary services, meat processing, and marketing
contribute significantly to household income and poverty reduction. With increasing urbaniz-
ation and demand for animal products, investment in small ruminant enterprises has strong
potential for economic growth and rural development.

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