Diseases Affecting Livestock in Al-Shuhaymiyah Sub-Districtfor the Year (2023–2024)

Abstract

      The research aims to identify the diseases affecting livestock in the Al-Shuhaymiyah

 sub-district based on agricultural districts. Al-Shuhaymiyah possesses a large livestock population, estimated at around 34,603 heads, distributed among cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats. The role of labor and experience in animal husbandry plays a significant part in explaining the spatial variation in livestock numbers between one district and another for the year 2023–2024. In addition, the size of the agricultural areas across different parts of the study region also plays a role, Despite the large number of livestock, the diseases affecting them result in reduced production of milk and meat, and in some cases, lead to animal deaths, which negatively impacts livestock numbers in the Al-Shuhaymiyah sub-district. This is despite the availability of large areas suitable for growing fodder crops such as alfalfa, clover, and mixed feeds, As for the key findings of the research, the total number of recorded disease cases reached 10,516. Among them, miscellaneous diseases had the highest incidence with 4,035 cases, while fungal diseases had the lowest, with 874 cases. The study also concluded that some diseases, such as hemorrhagic fever, cannot be controlled and may result in the death of the infected animal.