Study on the Sero-Prevalence of Small Ruminant Brucellosis in and Around Bule Hora District of Western Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State and Southern Ethiopia

The small ruminant population of Ethiopia is estimated to be nearly 23.33 million goats and 23.62 million sheep. About 75% of the sheep population is reared in the high lands while over 76% of the goat population is found in the lowland pastoral areas of the country. Despite having a large number of small ruminants compared to other African countries, Ethiopia does not exploit small ruminant production to its full potential. This is because of small ruminant production is constrained by the compound effect of diseases, poor feeding, poor management and low genetic endowment. Among many factors that limit economic return from small ruminants production diseases stand in the front line. One of such disease that hampers the productivity of small ruminants is brucellosis. It is also one of the infectious diseases considered as most constraints for ovine and caprine productivity in Ethiopia.