Abstract The greatest prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode infection in the small holder sheep and goat flocks. Sheep and goat flocks in the Cuddalore area had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal nematode infection during the rainy season, notably during the north east monsoon, than at any other time of year. Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Oesophagostomum spp., and Bunostomum spp. were the most often found gastrointestinal nematodes in the small holder sheep and goat flocks in the Cuddalore area. In all the small holder sheep and goat flocks in the Cuddalore area, the mean faecal egg counts of gastrointestinal nematodes were found to be highest during the rainy season, followed by winter and summer.