Abstract

Ruminants play an essential socio-economic role in Nigeria, yet their productivity is affected by a wide range of infectious and non-infectious diseases. This study examined the pattern of disease occurrence in cattle, sheep and goats presented to the Veterinary Clinic Sokoto, Aliyu Jodi Road, between 2021 and 2023, with emphasis on illness duration, body system involvement and demographic influences. Data from 298 cattle, 7,145 sheep and 4,797 goats were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to determine the associations between disease patterns and age, sex and breed. Helminthosis emerged as the most frequently diagnosed disease across all illness durations, accounting for the majority of peracute, acute, subacute and chronic cases in cattle, sheep and goats. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) was the leading cause of chronic disease in cattle. Across all species, the gastrointestinal system was the most affected body system, followed by musculoskeletal, cutaneous, reproductive and respiratory systems, with notable respiratory–gastrointestinal comorbidities in goats. Demographic analysis revealed that age significantly (p

Key words: Demographics, Disease, Duration, Illness, Ruminants