This work was conducted at the Abolfashafeesh and AL-Sheikh Helal Communities (located at the eastern of Salamyeh region) related to Hama steppe (Syria) where drought was predominant during 2007 and 2008 seasons. This study presents descriptive statistics for data derived from field survey, aiming to recognize the drought impact on health problems spread among small ruminants. The results showed that ewes percentage in the herds under study was only (62.80%); this is because of selling the large part of them due to drought and decrease in grazing lands. The large herds )greater than 150 heads( were condensed in Abolfashafeesh rather than AL-Sheikh Helal. Results also indicated that the most serious health problems detected were for pneumonia (20.1%), mastitis (17.2%), indo/ecto parasites (16.8%), enteritis (16.7%), abortion (7.5%), birth defects (7.5%), misfielding (5%), feeding poisons (4%), contagious ecthyma (2%), and retention secundinarum (1.2%). In addition, some abnormal habits
)2%( were detected especially)appetite and abnormal feeding(. Data also showed that the economic conditions of steppe inhabitants have been changed negatively due to seasonal movement to seek pastures which consequently resulted in keeper's instability. Moreover, the decreasing prices of animals due to drought caused intensive weakness and regression in milk production which finally resulted in an increase of 5% in lamp death compared with previous seasons. The Results also emphasis the importance of facing health disorders caused by drought and fodder by application of sustainable policy for the natural resources and following some procedures by which the health and production of small ruminants can be developed and improved (i.e. by providing of veterinary and health care especially, supporting sheep keepers in steppe regions).
Additionally the study highlighted the necessity for conducting researches that study the effect of drought on animal production sector and ways of mitigating these effects.
Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands.
2014.
The Effect of Drought on Spreading Health Problems of Small Ruminants in Hama Steppe
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