DYSTOCIA: A MENACE TO RUMINANT PROCUCTIVITY - A REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.7091Keywords:
Breeding, neonate, fetal cause, maternal cause, ruminantsAbstract
Ruminants contribute significantly to meat production in Nigeria as animal protein source in human nutrition. And thus there is ever increasing demand on this product due to ever increasing human population. Hence, there is need to intensify the production to meet the demand. However, these animals are faced with some reproductive problems that adversely affect the production and well-being of the animal. Dystocia is one of the most paramountreproductive problems affecting ruminants especially cattle and sheep. Statistics revealed that approximately 77% incidence of dystocia occurs in sheep and 23% in goats and these could be due to fetal mal-presentation, infection-ringworm, heredity, prolapse, poor nutrition, sex, age of the female animal, gestation length and so on. This reproductive disorder leads to economic loss. In order to
reduce the incidence of dystocia (difficulty at birth) in ruminant animals, various methods like good/controlled nutrition, adequate breeding knowledge, and good hygiene management practices could be employed. Thus, this review x-rays the causes and management of dystocia in ruminants.
