Socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and usage of Trypanocides by cattle farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to evaluate the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and usage of trypanocides by cattle farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. A total of 143 respondents were sampled from 13 cattle markets in Yewa, Egba and Ijebu zones using a stratified proportionate random sampling. The results obtained revealed that majority (40%) were between 21 and 40 years of age which indicated that cattle production is an adult dominated activity. Majority of the respondents practiced Islam with about 21 to 40years of experience in cattle production. However, it was recorded that most (80%, 90.9% and 94%) of the respondents in the zones have the knowledge about trypanosomosis. Whilst majority of the respondents believed that fly bites and seasons are the major causes of trypanosomosis. The sign that projects the occurrence of infection were mainly loss appetite (27.3% in Egba, 30% in Ijebu and 24% in Yewa) and loss of weight (28% in Yewa, 23.6% in Egba and 27.5% in Ijebu) respectively.Moreover, majority (64% in Yewa, 63.6% in Egba and 62.5% in Ijebu) of the respondents practiced self-medication in tackling the occurrence of trypanosomosis while consulting Veterinarians in the management of trypanosomosis is poor (8% in Yewa, 10.9% in Egba and 12.5% in Ijebu). It is concluded that high usage of trypanocidesmay result to high prevalence of drug residues in the edible animal organs and milk obtained from animals in the three geopolitical zones of Ogun State. It is however recommended that effective control of trypanosomosis in cattle or livestock generally is dependent on the appropriate chemotherapeutic strategies designed to combat the infection. This requiresregular inspection and administration of drugs should be strictly handled by Veterinary experts in the field.