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A study of West African Dwarf goats over a 5 year period indicated that these animals are not seasonal breeders but kid throughout the year. Sixty-five per cent of does kidded twice a year and multiple births accounted for 59% of all births. Seventy-two per cent of all deaths were of kids under 3 months of age. Pneumonia and starvation were the main causes of death. It is suggested that this is potentially a prolific breed which with proper husbandry and selection could help to meet the need for animal protein in sub-Saharan West Africa.

Direction of research on dermatophilosis, where such direction exists in Africa may lie with the Ministry of Agriculture as in Ghana or Ministry of Science and Technology as in the Cameroon or a special agency as in Nigeria. In the majority of countries on the continent no such direction exists. Research is carried out at one or a combination of specialised laboratories; in university laboratories, at veterinary laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture or Ministry of Science and Technology. Though research is ongoing on as large a number of topics as possible there is the need to focus on certain key areas in an effort to find solutions to the control and prevention of the disease in the quickest possible time. This should include finding a cheap but cost effective means for its control and prevention. Due to limited resources in manpower, finance, equipment, chemicals and reagents, collaborative efforts both within the region and with outside agencies are called for. The time is now to have a regional research centre dedicated to research on the disease.

A study conducted into the utilisation by sheep of herbage under a mango/cashew plantation at Kade (Ghana) showed the native herb, Asystasia gangetica to be the most preferred herbage. Centrosema pubescens was preferred to Pueraria phaseoloides. The physical condition of the herbage affected their preference but the crude protein content did not have any influence. The mean daily digestible dry matter intake of yearling rams (g/kg W0.75) was 34, 31 and 39 for animals on Brachiaria lata/Pueraria phaseoloides, Pueraria phaseoloides and Centrosema pubescens/Aystasia gangetica stands respectively. Intake was not correlated with crude protein levels of the herbage. The mean carrying capacity of the associations was found to be between 11 and 18 sheep/ha/annum.