internal parasites, fortnightly. This is highly frequent and costly compared pure Zulu sheep which are treated only when symptoms of parasitism are observed. A spray or a dip was used by 62% of the sheep owners for controlling external parasites. Gastro-intestinal parasites were predominantly controlled by drenching when it was found necessary. Some did not use any medication to control the internal and the external parasites. Zulu sheep received treatment for external (58.3% flocks) and gastro-intestinal (60.4% flocks) parasites when showing ill health. More than 80% of farmers obtained medication for sheep through private drug suppliers. Only 3.1% indicated that they sourced help from extension services and government veterinary while 12.5% had no access to veterinary help. A high percentage of mortality of lambs followed by the ewes (mature females) was reported, the main source of death being drought and diseases. The lambs were also reported to have been killed by dogs and other predators and a small percentage (3.1%) by gastro intestinal parasites. When characterising the distances between ewes and lambs of Zulu sheep in the grazing areas from birth till weaning, we found that an increase in distance between the mothers and lambs is caused by the decrease of milk production and maternal role. The decrease in suckling and lying behaviour in lambs is encouraged by the increase in grazing, which will enable them to acquire nutrients to grow older. This increase in distance between lambs and their mothers as the lamb grows may be the cause of subjecting lambs to predation in places without shepherds. It has also been found that male lambs move too far from the ewe than the female lambs because they tend to look for sites with nutritional characteristics than safety from predators. This makes them more them more exposed to predation compared to female lambs
internal parasites, fortnightly. This is highly frequent and costly compared pure Zulu sheep which are treated only when symptoms of parasitism are observed. A spray or a dip was used by 62% of the sheep owners for controlling external parasites. Gastro-intestinal parasites were predominantly controlled by drenching when it was found necessary. Some did not use any medication to control the internal and the external parasites. Zulu sheep received treatment for external (58.3% flocks) and gastro-intestinal (60.4% flocks) parasites when showing ill health. More than 80% of farmers obtained medication for sheep through private drug suppliers. Only 3.1% indicated that they sourced help from extension services and government veterinary while 12.5% had no access to veterinary help. A high percentage of mortality of lambs followed by the ewes (mature females) was reported, the main source of death being drought and diseases. The lambs were also reported to have been killed by dogs and other predators and a small percentage (3.1%) by gastro intestinal parasites. When characterising the distances between ewes and lambs of Zulu sheep in the grazing areas from birth till weaning, we found that an increase in distance between the mothers and lambs is caused by the decrease of milk production and maternal role. The decrease in suckling and lying behaviour in lambs is encouraged by the increase in grazing, which will enable them to acquire nutrients to grow older. This increase in distance between lambs and their mothers as the lamb grows may be the cause of subjecting lambs to predation in places without shepherds. It has also been found that male lambs move too far from the ewe than the female lambs because they tend to look for sites with nutritional characteristics than safety from predators. This makes them more them more exposed to predation compared to female lambs
Nguni-Sheep-in-KwaZulu-Natall.docx