₦airaland Forum

Mid to late-term abortion in sheep & goats: What every livestock farmer should know.

Losing lambs or kids in the last trimester is often caused by infection; here's a quick explanatory guide:

Main Causes & Carriers

- Toxoplasma gondii spread by cat feces contaminating feed/water.
- Chlamydia abortus: spread through contact with infected placenta/discharge.
- Brucella melitensis: spread via infected animals or bucks, milk and birth fluids (can infect humans too)
- Campylobacter fetus: spread through contaminated feed, water or a carrier animal.
- Salmonella & Listeria: less common, linked to spoiled feed or dirty water

The mother often looks perfectly healthy, the fetus is the one that suffers, either dying in the womb or being born weak and dying soon shortly afterwards.

Treatment:

- Isolate aborting animals immediately to stop spread
- Antibiotics (oxytetracycline) can help control chlamydia/campylobacter losses in the flock
- Supportive care: fluids, warmth and nutrition for the mother
- No effective treatment once toxoplasma has damaged the fetus; focus shifts to prevention
- Always consult your vet for the next line of action

Prevention:

- Quarantine and test new animals before adding to the flock
- Vaccinate against Brucella and Chlamydia where available
- Keep cats away from feed and water sources (toxoplasma control)
- Provide clean water, good ventilation and low-stress housing
- Physical trauma: Rough handling, overcrowding or chasing by dogs.
- Avoid transport/heavy work during afternoon heat
- Ensure proper nutrition: selenium, vitamin E, A and D3
- Dispose of aborted fetuses/placenta safely by burying it deep in the ground or burning it and disinfect the area of contact (wear gloves; some of these are zoonotic meaning it can spread from animals to humans)

Still available, distance is not a barrier

Never let your livestock watch you go get their feed or hay from the store. And please, don’t let them know where you keep the storage.

Load the feed first. Then call them.
If they see you fetching it or know where it’s kept, wahala.

They'll follow you to the feed room, or wait by the feed store door, ramming their heads or bleating non-stop at times at the feed store door; even when it's nowhere near feeding time.

That’s not hunger. That’s bad conditioning.
They are farm animals, not bosses. We feed them on our schedule, not theirs. That's why I believe farm animals should be conditioned to your feeding schedule, not the other way around

Train them to meet feed already prepared. Not to train you. A consistent routine keeps them calmer and makes farm management much easier. Otherwise, they'll have you working on demand instead of on your own timetable!

Who else has dealt with “feed-time alarm” animals? 👀

OTUNBAODUNARO:
How can I get Ladoum sheep to rear

contact Iso integrated farms:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Kbaf21Ay5/

The Ladoum sheep is truly a giant among sheep breeds.

Originally developed in Senegal, the Ladoum is admired for its impressive height, muscular build, long drooping ears and elegant appearance. Beyond its beauty, it is known for its calm temperament, rapid growth and strong value as a premium breeding animal across West Africa.

For many livestock farmers, owning quality Ladoum genetics isn't just about prestige; it's an investment in improving flock quality and producing exceptional offspring.

When small ruminants regurgitate their food to chew it again, a tiny bit of fluid or feed can accidentally slip into their windpipe. This causes a quick cough to clear the airway. Most of the time, it is completely normal and nothing to worry about!

However, it becomes a problem if the coughing is paired with other warning signs.
Keep a close eye on them if you see:

1. Thick mucus sneezes or catarrh coming from the nose
2. Heavy, laboured or pulsating breathing (sides moving fast) If you only hear a random cough during cud-chewing, your animal is likely just fine. But if you see fluid or heavy breathing, it could be a sign of a respiratory infection or aspiration pneumonia and it is time to call the Vet.

Yesterday evening, I planted Super Napier pasture grass using a slight variation of the Tumbukiza method. The idea is to keep a continuous cycle going; harvest the mature grass, replant the stem cuttings in other new areas, and gradually expand the pasture over time. Napier grass also has excellent drought tolerance and quickly regrows once the rains return.

Super Napier is one of the best tropical forages a livestock farmer can grow. Under good management, it typically contains 12–18% crude protein, has high digestibility and is rich in energy, fiber, calcium and other essential minerals. It also produces a huge amount of biomass, making it an excellent choice for cut-and-carry feeding systems.

Lesson learned the hard way. 😅

While trying to give a young ram an oral liquid medication, I made the mistake of using my fingers to wedge his mouth open. I assumed he'd only have the usual upper dental pad and lower incisors like every sheep.

Big surprise, I got bitten at both the front of my index and thumb fingers. On closer inspection, this young ram appears to have a rare developmental dental abnormality, with teeth where I would never expect them in a sheep. This young ram doesn't have diastema - the gap between the lower incisors and lower molars, even his upper dental pad seemed sharp and toothed to my surprise🤦

The marks on my two fingers are my reminder that livestock can always surprise you. From now on, it's a proper drenching syringe through the side of the mouth, never my fingers again!

so much work to do today... strengthen me I pray🙏

*modified

see before & after pics attached below

Still available

Made two more young ram purchases yesterday and I've already booked three young Uda ewe lambs.

Officially, I now have a lot more ruminant mouths to feed and care for. 🤦

Game face: ON. 💪🐑

My Recent Purchase #1

I took a gamble on buying a young adult Yankasa × Balami cross ram aka a koroji ram breed. I'll be calling him WAF.

My Observations

His backbone, hips and pelvic bones are quite prominent, which suggests he has lost a good amount of body condition.

His hooves are also overgrown and need trimming.

A Quick 5-Point Physical Health Check

Beginners, take note. This is a simple health check you can carry out on goats and sheep before buying them.

1. Eyes – ✅
No signs of severe anemia. I checked his lower eyelids using the FAMACHA method. Very pale eyelids usually indicate anemia, often caused by internal parasites. WAF's eyelids look normal.

2. Backbone – ❌
His body condition is poor. The prominent backbone suggests he may be carrying a heavy internal parasite burden or has been underfed.

3. Jaw – ✅
No bottle jaw, i.e swollen jaw, which is a good sign. I also checked his teeth to estimate his age, and he's < 2 years old.

4. Coat – ❌
His coat is rough and a little dirty, showing he hasn't been well cared for, although it still has some natural fullness.

5. Tail – ❌
The tail area is dirty, which may indicate diarrhea or poor hygiene. I also found signs of external parasites (mites and lice). I've already prepared him for a bath followed by an ectoparasite pour-on treatment.

1st step treatment plan

The next step is to deworm him and give him a multivitamin once a week for the next three weeks.

Despite his condition, one thing stood out; his appetite. He never stopped eating while I was observing him and that was the biggest reason I decided to take a chance on him.

With proper feeding, parasite control and good management, I'm hopeful WAF will make a full recovery.

My Background Story

I started as a livestock farm assistant and worked my way up to becoming a livestock farm supervisor over the course of 6 years at a somewhat mega livestock and vegetable crop farm located on the outskirts of the nation's capital. Those years gave me extensive hands-on experience and I am well-versed in practical livestock management.

Recently, I resigned from my job to focus full-time on growing my own livestock business (currently operating a temporary farmstead at my backyard) alongside a small agric supply shop business that I owned and I don't regret that decision one bit.

Throughout 2026, I'll be sharing valuable tips, practical insights and plenty of gems here for free.

By God's willing, 2027 is going to be an incredibly busy year for me. The only thing I may have time to do on this thread will be to post occasional pictures of my progress reports.

I'm also putting some finishing touches on my eBook (pertaining to running a commercial goat & sheep farming stuffs) because I don't want to rush it. It contains practical knowledge and real-world insights that very few people share, not even most livestock content creators on Facebook or many professionals in the livestock industry. It covers what it truly takes to start and run a serious livestock farming operation.

Although my experience extends beyond goats and sheep to other livestock such as cattle and pigs, etc. I don't want to overwhelm this thread by going beyond its intended scope. So, I'll do my best to keep my posts focused on goats and sheep, especially since that's what this thread is all about.

See you soon and keep winning.
An old photo of me in the farm 2yrs ago.

a cow, sheep or goat does not have four stomachs, but it will be coherent to say it has four chambers of the stomach.

Rumen✓
Reticulum✓
Omasum✓
Abomasum✓

The rainy season nightmare: 🤐
Don't wait for PPR to strike before taking action.

A routine PPR vaccination is far cheaper than treating an outbreak. Since PPR is a viral disease, there is no drug that completely kills the virus. Treatment only focuses on supportive care, NS fluids, antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections, pain relief, vitamins and good nutrition to help infected goats or sheep recover and reduce mortality.

Prevention is always better than treatment. Vaccinate your flock on schedule, strengthen your herd's immunity and save yourself from unnecessary veterinary expenses and avoidable losses.

Vaccinate today at a fraction of a cost and protect your investment tomorrow. Dm for support.

#fypシ゚viralシ #fypシ #fyp #love #viralphotochallenge #trendingnow #empirestatebuildingtrends #goatfarmers #livestockdiseaseoutbreak #ppr

It's encouraging to see Punch Newspaper spotlight the opportunities in small ruminant farming, with the right knowledge and management goat and sheep farming can create jobs, improve food security and build sustainable livelihoods.

The future of agriculture is bright, let's keep learning and growing.

https://punchng.com/youths-urged-to-embrace-sheep-goat-farming/

REPEATED ABORTIONS IN YOUR GOATS OR SHEEP? DON'T BLAME THE DOES ALONE

If your does or ewes keep losing pregnancies, don't rush to replace them or blame bad luck. The problem could be your breeding buck or ram.

Diseases such as brucellosis can be spread by infected breeding males during mating, leading to abortions, weak newborn kids or lambs, infertility and significant economic losses.

However, remember that brucellosis is only one of several possible causes of repeated abortions. Other infectious diseases, poor nutrition, toxins and management issues can also be responsible.

If you notice repeated miscarriages in your herd or flock:

- Isolate animals that abort.
- Safely dispose of aborted fetuses and placentas.
- Have both the breeding male and affected females examined and tested by a veterinarian.
- Don't guess, diagnose the real cause before making costly decisions.

A healthy breeding buck or ram is the foundation of a productive herd or flock, but good reproductive health starts with proper disease prevention, biosecurity and timely diagnosis.

Have you ever experienced repeated abortions in your goats or sheep? What was the cause and how did you solve it?

Share your experience below, your story could help another livestock farmer.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL AFTER KIDDING TO FEED YOUR DOES OR EWES WELL!

The last 2 to 3 weeks before kidding or lambing are among the most important stages of pregnancy. During this period, the unborn kids or lambs grow rapidly, while the udder prepares for colostrum and milk production.

Gradually increasing the energy and protein in the diet ("steaming up" helps support:
- Better colostrum production
- Higher milk yield after birth
- Stronger, healthier kids or lambs
- Reduced risk of pregnancy toxemia (especially in animals carrying twins or triplets)
- Better recovery after kidding or lambing

Increase concentrates gradually, provide quality forage, clean water and adequate minerals. Avoid sudden feed changes and don't overfeed, maintaining the right body condition is the goal.

Stop This Practice!

Tying a stick across a goat's mouth to force continuous chewing is not a reliable treatment for bloat. While chewing can stimulate saliva which naturally helps buffer the rumen. It cannot relieve moderate to severe bloat or remove trapped gas.

Delaying proper treatment can cost the animal its life.

The right approach:
1- Feed plenty of roughage to help prevent bloat.
2- Treat early with an anti-bloat agent or liquid paraffin when appropriate.
3- Walk the animal if it's a mild case.
4- If it's a severe or life-threatening bloat seek urgent veterinary care or perform emergency decompression only if you are trained.

Prevention saves more animals than myths. Always rely on proven livestock management practices and not unverified shortcuts.

how do you tell the estimated age of goat or sheep by merely looking at its teeth

Vitamin AD3E Injection can be a very hard-to-find vet drug in Nigeria.

Why It Matters in Livestock?

Vitamin AD3E is a must-have for healthy animals. It gives them 3 key vitamins in one shot:

1. Vitamin A: Keeps eyes, skin and fertility strong. Helps prevent night blindness and weak kids/lambs.

2. Vitamin D3: Helps bones grow well. Stops rickets and weak legs, especially in young animals.

3. Vitamin E: Boosts immunity and fertility. Prevents weak newborns and muscle problems.

Livestock farmers all over the world use it for: Poor feed, rainy season, after sickness, before breeding and for weak or stressed animals.

Super Napier cuttings
Now available in bulk
affordable pasture grass suitable for livestock feeding program. Can be harvested multiple times a year for 7-9 yrs.

high crude protein (10-18%) and low crude fiber (20-23%), which ensures maximum palatability and optimal digestibility for dairy cows, beef cattle, goats and sheep.

As a beginner goat farmer, going to the market to buy your goats for breeding is a terrible idea, I'm letting you in on a little secret, everyone ( sellers ) normally pick their worst goats from the farm or homestead to sell at the market.

It is advisable you visit the farmer or goat breeder in his homestead and select the best and performing goat breed then strike a good deal... Genetic selection is the core foundation of any successful livestock farm.

f1 kalahari-cross kids
pure kalahari red buck x local doe = bigger, faster-growing & stronger goats.

Nigerian goat breeders: cross 1 kalahari red buck with your local does. You get meat, money & hardy kids in 1 generation.

Upgrade your herd. Increase your profit (some urban buyers pay premium for big, healthy cross-goats at the market).

#KalahariRed #sahelian-cross #sokotored #GoatFarmingNigeria #goViral #highlights
#successfulgoatkids

Too much boiled rice or grain concentrates all the time will make your goat or sheep sick (thiamine deficiency problem) see photo attached. with this disease problem goat or sheep can die in 5-7 days if left untreated.

You’ll either have to slaughter it fast or pay big money for vet treatment.

Feed more grass and hay. That’s what keeps them healthy.
Less grain, more grass.
That’s the golden rule to a successful goat / sheep farming operation.

#goviral #FYI #Livestockfarming2026

The rainy season brings plenty of feed and water, but it also increases the risk of disease outbreaks on the farm. Wet floors, muddy pens and dirty water can spread; infections, foot rot, mastitis and other health problems.

For small goat and sheep farms, zinc sulfate is often the most practical and safest choice for regular footbath programs, while copper sulfate may be reserved for more severe hoof disease problems.

Good drainage, dry bedding, hoof trimming, and quarantine of affected animals remain just as important as the footbath itself.

BEST & EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEWORM YOUR GOATS & SHEEP (THAT ACTUALLY WORKS).

You’ve dewormed your animals, but they’re not gaining weight, still getting sick or even dying?
Before you blame the drug, pls read this.

COMMON MISTAKE :

Most farmers deworm immediately after feeding.
straight up bad idea oooo.
If the animal’s stomach is full, the worms stay active and may resist the drug.
You’re not deworming oooh, you’re just feeding the worms.

CORRECT DEWORMING METHOD :

Before Deworming:
Withhold feed for 4–6 hours (give water only).
This weakens the worms and increases drug effectiveness.

After Deworming:
Wait 1–2 hours before feeding
Start with light feed (e.g., bran or dry hay)
Avoid heavy or energy-dense feed immediately.

Next Day Routine:
Resume normal feeding.
Add multi-vitamins or a little palm oil for recovery support.

Deworming is not just about the drug, albendazole, ivermectin, etc. It’s about timing and preparation. Pls note: do not give albendazole during early stage of pregnancy as it could lead to some serious complication.

make sure ivermectin ( deworming inj. ) is administered by a Vet doctor because it's a strong medication as incorrect dosage could cause abortion of your pregnant does or dams.

Saw this post somewhere so I decided to share

Starting with 10 goats vs 10 sheep — what every farmer must know

Two farmers start the same journey.

Same capital.
Same land.
Same dream.

One buys 10 goats.
The other buys 10 sheep.

One year later… their stories are completely different.

Let’s talk about what really happens on the ground.

Reproduction — speed matters

Goats don’t waste time.

- They reproduce faster
- Twins are very common
- Triplets are not rare

Sheep are slower.

- Mostly single births
- Twins happen, but not as often

If your goal is quick multiplication, goats take the lead.

Feeding — the hidden cost

Goats are survivors.

- They browse (eat leaves, shrubs, anything green)
- Can thrive even in tougher conditions

Sheep are grazers.

- They depend heavily on grass
- When pasture is poor, they struggle

If your area has limited pasture, goats will save you stress.

Management — who is easier?

Sheep are simpler.

- Calm
- Easy to control
- Move as a group

Goats? Wah… goats will test your patience.

- Jumping fences
- Escaping
- Eating what they shouldn’t

If you don’t have strong fencing, goats will humble you.

Market — where is the money?

Both have demand, but it depends on timing.

Goats:

- High demand in many local markets
- Good prices during festive seasons

Sheep:

- Strong demand during specific religious seasons
- Can fetch premium prices at the right time

Smart farmers don’t just rear… they study the market.

Growth strategy — numbers vs value

Goats give you numbers faster.
Sheep can give you quality value per animal.

So the question becomes:

Do you want fast expansion?
Or controlled, premium growth?

The truth most farmers ignore

It’s not about goats vs sheep.

It’s about:

- Your feeding system
- Your market access
- Your management discipline

Because even with the “better” animal…

A careless farmer will still fail.

Final lesson

Start with 10 goats or 10 sheep…

But don’t stop at numbers.

- Track breeding
- Control feeding
- Study your market
- Build proper structures

That’s how small beginnings turn into serious agribusiness.

we are neck deep into the rainy season, be careful out there as your goat or sheep may be highly susceptible to foot rot, respiratory illnesses and parasitic infections.