_1776568729 20260419031849000 Rovedar Daryoushbabazadeh@gmail.com Rovedar Farm Animal Health and Nutrition Farm Anim. Health Nutr. 2980-7905 03 28 2026 5 1 Hassan Abubakar Bodinga https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8584-7951 Salisu Buhari https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0229-5522 Umar Salisu Ahmad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8007-9729 Ibrahim Yusuf Olamilekan Ekaete Ime Oviawe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9856-786X Nura Abubakar https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7644-5952 Shittu Basit Opeyemi Introduction: Reticulum impaction is an important but underreported gastrointestinal disorder of small ruminants. Reticulum impaction results from mechanical obstruction due to ingestion of indigestible foreign materials, leading to reduced feed intake, altered rumen motility, weight loss, and sometimes death. This report aimed to share a rare clinical documentation of fatal reticulum impaction following surgical intervention in a Uda ram under semi-intensive management conditions.Case report: A 3-year-old Uda ram weighing 60 kg was presented to the large animal unit of the veterinary teaching hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria, with a 2-week history of inappetence. The ram was managed semi-intensively in a herd and fed on wheat bran and bean husk. Physical examination revealed dullness, unilateral left prescapular lymphadenopathy, slight pallor of ocular and oral mucous membranes, and a firm mass in the left paralumbar region, although vital parameters were all normal. Hematological analysis revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis. A tentative diagnosis of rumen impaction was made based on clinical examination findings. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed reticulum impaction with compacted foreign materials. Despite improvement after post-operative medication with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, multivitamins, and iron supplementation, the ram developed complications such as diarrhea, tachycardia, and tachypnea, culminating in slaughter by the owner on day five post-surgery. Conclusion: This case highlighted the importance of early detection of reticulum impaction for the prevention of severe consequences following surgical intervention, and feeding a high-quality diet in small ruminant production. 03 28 2026 1 5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 10.58803/fahn.v5i1.100 https://fahn.rovedar.com/index.php/FAHN/article/view/100 https://fahn.rovedar.com/index.php/FAHN/article/download/100/132 https://fahn.rovedar.com/index.php/FAHN/article/download/100/132 10.14202/vetworld.2018.1307-1315 10.4102/ojvr.v82i1.881 10.1016/S0921-4488(96)00938-8 10.1016/B978-0-12-409527-4.00015-8 10.1007/s44338-025-00159-7 10.1016/j.cvfa.2017.06.002 10.31783/elsr.2024.101154161 10.1002/9781119688327.ch12 Braun U. Traumatic reticuloperitonitis in cattle. Merck veterinary manual. 2024. Available at: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-ruminant-forestomach/traumatic-reticuloperitonitis-in-cattle 10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1989 10.1016/j.cvsm.2021.11.002 Kumar K, Singh S, Kumar G, Bajia NP, and Antoine D. Surgical management of reticulo-rumen impaction in a bullock: A case report. Rumin Sci. 2022; 11(2): 525-526. Available at: https://www.anandpub.com/archive/december-2022-11-2/# 10.1016/B978-0-323-62463-3.00014-1 10.1002/vms3.952 Odedire JA, Akinropo TF, and Odeyinka SM. Evaluation of the nutritional performance of Balami and Uda rams on fattening programme in the humid tropics. Niger J Anim Prod. 2024; 2019: NSAP 2019 Proceedings: 212-216. Available at: https://www.njap.org.ng/index.php/njap/article/view/7557