A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to May 2017 in and around Sebeta town with the aim of assessing the prevalence of mastitis, isolation of aerobic bacterial and fungal causal agents and assessing antimicrobial resistance pattern of isolated Staphylococcus species in dairy cows. From a total of 383 dairy cows, 220 (57.4%) were found to be positive for mastitis of which 10.4% were affected by clinical mastitis and 47% by subclinical mastitis. Mastitis was more likely to occur in cows above 8 years of age (OR = 16.9, 95% CI = 7.8-36.00) and in those cows washed by hand before milking (OR =7.8, 95% CI = 4.2-14.6) as compared to those subjected to udder washing and drying using towels. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated bacterial species (25%) followed by Streptococcus agalactiae (12.3%) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus species (10.5%). Yarrowia lipolytica (10.9%) and Candida etchellsii (7.3%) were the major yeast species isolated, while Aspergillus (6.8%), Mucor (5.9%), Penicillium (3.6%) and Fusarium (3.6%) were the major filamentous fungi species identified from the cultured milk samples. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the isolated Staphylococcus species were highly resistant to penicillin G (93.1%) and oxytetracycline (79.3%) but were susceptible to vancomycin (100%), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (96.6%), ampicillin (89.7%) and erythromycin (86.2%). It could be concluded that bovine mastitis is a major challenge to the dairy producers in and around Sebeta towns. Appropriate control and preventative measures must be instituted and dairy farmers and workers must be trained on proper milking and hygiene practices in order to reduce the prevalence of mastitis in this region. The penicillin resistant S. aureus could be a source of serious infection in humans as well and hence comprehensive studies including molecular characteristics of drug resistance gene of S. aureus especially of methicillin-resistant should be conducted as farm animals, primarily dairy cattle might serves as a reservoir of infection for humans. In 2% of the cases, only fungal species were identified as causes of mastitis, hence further investigation regarding their pathogenicity and contribution to bovine mastitis is needed.

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Abstract:Infection with Haemonchus species in sheep at Arsi-Negele district was determined by differential third-stage larvae and the objective was to evaluate the validation of FAMACHA© chart in the diagnosis of Haemonchus infection. The animal's anemia level was determined by using the FAMACHA© method and their corresponding PCV (packed cell volume) were determined by haematocrit centrifugation method. The color of the ocular membrane of all animals was scored 1 to 5 using the FAMACHA© card and blood samples were collected from each animal for determination of PCV. Fecal samples also collected from sampled animals tested for fecal egg counts (FEC), and fecal culture for identification of third stage larvae of Haemonchus species. All sheep studied were negative for Fasciola and were not heavily infested by lice and ticks. A highly significant negative correlations [(R-square = 0.28, Coef. = -0.78); (R-square= 0.58, Coef= -0.34)] was observed between Haemonchus larvae and PCV, and PCV and eye color respectively. Positive correlations [(R-square= 0.19, Coef. = 1.53); (Rsquare=0.274, Coef= 0.05)] was observed between FAMACHA© score and Haemonchus infection, and FAMACHA© score and egg per gram of faces (EPG) respectively. The PCV of the Haemonchus positive sheep had a strong negative correlation with the EPG (R-square=0.53, Coef= -0.023). We evaluated the validity of FAMACHA© eye scoring to measure severely infested sheep and got strong correlation among FAMACHA© eye scoring, PCV and Fecal culture positivity. As a conclusion the FAMACHA© anaemia scoring guide can be used to treat only severely anemic sheep and hence reduce mass treatment and this reduce chance of drug resistance.

Study was carried out in Adaa and Adama zuria districts of Oromia Regional State with objective of assessing the existing dairy feeding practices, major dairy feeds and mineral resource at farm level. A cross-sectional study design was employed to assess dairy cattle feed and mineral resources. Then multistage sampling method was employed to select the study sample units, which had expected to be representative of the whole population, found in the study area. The districts were selected purposively, based on the number of dairy farm concentration. The result showed that the primary constraints for dairy owners were shortage of land (17.3, 14.6%); followed by feed shortage (13.4, 11.4%) in Ada'a and Adama Zuria districts, respectively. In the current study, 67.7% of respondents from Ada'a and, 89.4% from Adama zuria district did not grow any improved forages due to different cases. The survey indicated that 48.8% of dairy farmers from Ada'a and 43.9% from Adama zuria district did not supplement dairy animals with minerals due to lack of awareness and mineral availability. The results showed that feed type difference and feeding practice variability based on feed availability and season of the study area. Therefore, Alternative feed production awareness and skills such as development of improved forages, proficient feed application technologies and natural pastureland improvement measures should be taken. The contribution of improved forage in dairy feed was very low due to lack of awareness and shortage of improved forage seeds and land in the area. To alleviate this problem, awareness creation and model nursery sites should be established for demonstration in potential districts so that dissemination and utilization of these feeds are very important. Due to unaffordable costs of commercial dairy feeds including concentrate feeds and, minerals, provision of common salt and locally available natural soil/bole as mineral source should be encouraged.

Study was carried out in Adaa and Adama zuria districts of Oromia Regional State with objective of assessing the existing dairy feeding practices, major dairy feeds and mineral resource at farm level. A cross-sectional study design was employed to assess dairy cattle feed and mineral resources. Then multistage sampling method was employed to select the study sample units, which had expected to be representative of the whole population, found in the study area. The districts were selected purposively, based on the number of dairy farm concentration. The result showed that the primary constraints for dairy owners were shortage of land (17.3, 14.6%); followed by feed shortage (13.4, 11.4%) in Ada'a and Adama Zuria districts, respectively. In the current study, 67.7% of respondents from Ada'a and, 89.4% from Adama zuria district did not grow any improved forages due to different cases. The survey indicated that 48.8% of dairy farmers from Ada'a and 43.9% from Adama zuria district did not supplement dairy animals with minerals due to lack of awareness and mineral availability. The results showed that feed type difference and feeding practice variability based on feed availability and season of the study area. Therefore, Alternative feed production awareness and skills such as development of improved forages, proficient feed application technologies and natural pastureland improvement measures should be taken. The contribution of improved forage in dairy feed was very low due to lack of awareness and shortage of improved forage seeds and land in the area. To alleviate this problem, awareness creation and model nursery sites should be established for demonstration in potential districts so that dissemination and utilization of these feeds are very important. Due to unaffordable costs of commercial dairy feeds including concentrate feeds and, minerals, provision of common salt and locally available natural soil/bole as mineral source should be encouraged.