Awareness and control methods of gastrointestinal parasites of merino sheep among farmers of Maseru district, Lesotho

This study evaluated the prevalence and control methods for gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) in sheep in the two agro-ecological zones of the district of Maseru, Lesotho. Data were collected among 174 randomly selected farmers of Matsieng (lowlands) and Nyakosoba (foothills). The majority (80%) of farmers interviewed in both agro-ecological zones were aware of the GIPs problems with tapeworms being the most familiar and said to be occurring during warm seasons (summer and autumn) whereas liver flukes (trematodes) were said to predominate in dry seasons (winter and spring). In total 89% of farmers reported higher prevalence of GIPs in their herds and associated them with lamb mortality in summer and autumn. All farmers indicated that they use anthelmintics for treating GIPs in animals and 93% of them reported that these drugs were effective although some animals never recovered even when treated, thus suggesting existence of some drug resistance. Among those interviewed, 45% indicated that their sheep are kept in non-roofed enclosures which were cleaned only after rains to avoid the mud. Communal grazing is used as a main source of animal feeding of which different livestock species share the same rangelands. About 83% of farmers believed that grazing lands were the main source of GIPs for their sheep. The results of the present study reveal that farmers are aware of GIPs but have little knowledge on proper management skills.