Abstract

This paper examined the use of endogenous knowledge in treating pests and diseases of goats and sheep in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty rearers of small ruminants in the study area. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule and analysed using frequency counts and chi-square. Majority (88.3%) of the respondents were female, while 60.0% had one form of education or the other. The mean age was 50.7?16.5years. The most used method in treating pests of small ruminants were adding shea butter oil and salt in treating mange? 1.23 ? 0.67, hand picking of tick ? 1.08 ? 0.76 and rubbing the body of animal with palm kernel oil and salt for lice 0.45 ? 0.77, while those of diseases include treating helminthiasis with lime orange and grinded pawpaw seed ? 1.51 ? 0.63, using solution of charcoal and bitter leaf for diarrhoea? 1.30 ? 0.64, and treating catarrh with tobacco snuff and pepper ? 1.26 ? 0.63. Larger proportion (71.7%) of the respondents were categorized as high level users of endogenous methods. Educational level, marital status and sex do not significantly affect the level of use of endogenous knowledge. Endogenous knowledge is still relevant in managing common pest and diseases of small ruminants in the rural areas. It is therefore recommended that the knowledge be documented and incorporated in preventive and curative medicine for ease of passage from generation to generation so as to prevent it from extinction.

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