Abstract

“Ekek” is an Amharic word for itch. In sheep this is an allergic dermatitis which causes itching and is characterised by small nodules on the grain layer of the skin which are not apparent while the animal is alive but appear after the skin is processed in the tannery. It is mostly caused b’ sheep lice Bovicola avis and the sheep ked Melophagus ovinus.

Seventy local male sheep were bought from the local village markets of Meket District in Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia based on their lice and keds infestation. These were identified using ear tags and tattoo and were divided into five groups. Groups I to IV had 12 sheep each and group V had 22 sheep, ten of which were slaughtered on day 0.

The lice and keds on the sheep were counted in 10cm partings at six locations on each side of the sheep on the neck, chest, shoulder, back, rump, and belly and the lice and keds score was calculated.

The sheep in groups I and II were treated with Diazinon and those in group III with Amitraz. Group IV was sheared using mechanical shearing scissors and group V was kept as control.

The sheep treated with either the insecticide or by shearing showed better skin quality and more body weight gain in the three months trial period than the sheep in the control group. All the skins of the sheep in the control group were graded as rejects because of the lesions caused by lice and ked bites which were characterised by black or brown discoloration of the affected site or by circular, raised nodular lesions which coalesce to form irregular shapes.