**Background:** Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are a major constraint to goat productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, causing anaemia, weight loss, reduced fertility, and mortality. Nguni goats are well-adapted to harsh conditions but remain vulnerable to parasitic infections. The FAMACHA scoring system and packed cell volume (PCV) are established tools for detecting anaemia associated with blood-feeding nematodes like *Haemonchus contortus*. However, the relationship between faecal egg count (FEC) and health indicators across different classes of Nguni goats and across seasons had not been characterized. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of GIN infection in different goat classes and the relationship between FEC and health status (BCS, FAMACHA, PCV).
**Methods:** The study was conducted in Jozini municipality, uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (27° 24′ S, 32° 11′ E), a subtropical semi-arid area with average annual rainfall of 600 mm. A total of 120 Nguni goats (40 weaners >3 months, 40 does >1 year, 40 bucks >1 year) from eight villages were enrolled. Goats were managed under traditional extensive systems with no deworming or veterinary treatment. Data were collected once per season from May 2018 to February 2019 across four seasons: cool-dry (August), hot-dry (November), hot-wet (February), and post-rainy (May). Body weight was estimated using a heart-girth tape. BCS was scored on a 1–5 scale. FAMACHA scores (1–5) were assessed using a laminated chart. PCV was measured via the micro-haematocrit method from jugular blood samples. FEC was determined using the McMaster technique (2 g faeces in 58 ml of 40% sugar solution). Larval cultures were incubated at 26–28°C for 7 days and L3 larvae identified per Van Wyk and Mayhew (2013). Data were analysed using PROC GLM in SAS 2012 with season, class, and their interaction as fixed effects and FEC as a covariate. Correlations were assessed using PROC CORR and regressions using PROC REG.
**Key Results:** *Strongyloides* was the most prevalent egg type across all seasons, followed by *Haemonchus contortus*, *Trichostrongylus*, and *Oesophagostomum*. There was a significant interaction between season and class on BCS (P<0.05). Class significantly affected BCS (P<0.001), FAMACHA (P<0.001), and PCV (P<0.05). Season significantly affected FAMACHA (P<0.001) and BCS (P<0.01) but not PCV (not significant). FEC as a covariate did not significantly affect BCS. All goat classes had the highest BCS in the post-rainy season. Weaners had the lowest PCV in the post-rainy season (24.6 ± 0.79%), while does and bucks had the highest PCV in that season (27.4 ± 0.86% and 29.3 ± 1.03%, respectively). FAMACHA scores were lower during the post-rainy season in all classes. Negative correlations between FAMACHA and BCS were observed in weaners and does across all seasons but not in bucks. PCV and BCS were correlated during dry seasons for weaners. A weak positive relationship between FAMACHA and FEC was observed in does and bucks during the hot-dry season (r=0.14 and r=0.12, respectively). PCV and FEC showed a significant negative relationship in weaners during the post-rainy season (r=−0.25), in does during the hot-dry season (r=−0.34), and in bucks during the cool-dry season (r=−0.40). Regression analyses showed that in weaners, the rate of increase in FAMACHA score with rising FEC was higher (P<0.01) in the hot-wet and post-rainy seasons. In does, the rate of change in FAMACHA was similar between hot-wet and hot-dry seasons. FEC was generally low in bucks except in the cool-dry season. The decline in PCV with increasing FEC was faster during wet seasons in weaners and does (P<0.01).
**Clinical Implications:** The study demonstrates that weaner goats are more susceptible to GIN infection and its health consequences than adult does and bucks, particularly during the cool-dry season. The positive linear relationship between FAMACHA score and FEC supports the use of the FAMACHA chart as a practical, low-cost tool for resource-limited farmers to identify anaemic goats requiring anthelmintic treatment, potentially eliminating the need for laboratory FEC determination. The seasonal patterns of GIN infection and class-specific differences in health indicators suggest that targeted management strategies—such as providing iron supplementation to weaners and adjusting deworming schedules by season—could improve goat health and productivity. The resilience of adult goats, reflected in weak correlations between worm burden and PCV, indicates that Nguni goats have developed some degree of adaptation to local parasite pressure through repeated natural exposure.