Impact evaluation of a small ruminant flock health intervention on animal health, welfare, and farmer income in Ethiopia

This study evaluated the impact of a flock health intervention addressing key animal health and welfare challenges in small ruminants in Ethiopia through scheduled deworming and vaccination, complemented by flock health management training for smallholder farmers in two districts: Doyogena and Angollelana Tara. The study employed a randomized controlled trial, which was conducted for one year from May 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024, to measure the intervention’s effectiveness on animal health, animal welfare and farmer income. Post-intervention results showed lower morbidity (21% vs. 33% in Doyogena; 13% vs. 19% in Angollelana Tara) and mortality rates (6% vs. 9% in both districts) in treatment groups compared with control groups. However, only the reduction in morbidity in Doyogena was statistically significant (P < 0.05); the other differences lacked strong statistical support (P > 0.05). Most of the health and welfare indicators such as FAMACHA score, DAG score, body condition score, and hair coat condition recorded during the intervention showed improvement in the treatment group as compared with the control group with strong evidence (mostly P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal strongyle prevalence and worm burden decreased in treatment groups in both districts with strong evidence (P < 0.05) in Doyogena district. In Doyogena, prevalence decreased from 64% to 37%, and worm burden dropped from 500 to 290 EPG in the treatment group, compared with an increase in the control group (74% to 98% prevalence; 468 to 824 EPG worm burden). Economically, treatment flocks generated a higher annual gross margin than control flocks in both districts, a difference that was statistically significant in Doyogena (P < 0.05). Overall, the intervention led to substantial improvements in animal health, welfare, and farmer profitability, with the potential for expansion to similar production systems.