Assessment of Major Causes of Calf Mortality in Urban and Periurban Dairy Production System of Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional calf mortality study was conducted in urban and periurban dairy farms in Addis Ababa, special zones of Oromia and Amhara regions in July and August 2015. e objectives of the study were to estimate the annual mortality and to assess the major causes of calf mortality in the dairy farms. One-year retrospective data on calf mortality were collected from 330 farms by face-to-face interview using the pretested and structured questionnaire format and direct observation of farm practices. A logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify the predictor variables associated with early calf mortality. Data were analysed using Statistical Package, Stata SE for Windows, version 12.0. e annual mean calf mortality from birth-to-weaning was reported as 18.5% (95% CI: 12.6, 24.3%). e prenatal loss due to fetal death and stillbirth was 10.1% (95% CI: 6.7, 13.6%). e overall annual loss due to fetal death and calf preweaning mortality was 26.7% (95% CI: 21.2, 32.2%). Age-specific mortality declined with increased age, and the highest mortality was recorded during the first month of life extending up to the third month of age. Disease was the most important causes of calf mortality (73.2%). Among the diseases, diarrhea (63%) and respiratory disorders (17%) were the important causes of calf mortality. Malpractices in calf management were identified, including restricted colostrum and milk feeding, poor care and supplemental feeding, and poor health management. Interventions in dairy cattle health and farm husbandry are recommended to control calf mortality.

Causes and Flock Level Risk Factors of Sheep and Goat Abortion in Three Agroecology Zones in Ethiopia

“…Our findings revealed that abortion is widely prevalent in goat flocks compared to sheep flocks. The present study is consistent with previous studies in Ethiopia (22,31,33) and elsewhere (32). Almost all interviewed sheep and goat owners also confirmed the higher susceptibility of does to abortion than ewes.…”

“…In contrary, a lower abortion rate has been reported from Jordan, 10.6% in does and 2.0% in ewes (33); from Nigerian, 10.8% in does (34) and from Mexico, 3.5% in does (35). Similarly, the higher abortion percentage in lowland flocks than in highland flocks is in agreement with the report of Gebremedhin et al (22) and Fentie (31) in Ethiopia. Mixed crop-livestock and pastoral production systems are practiced in dryland agro-ecosystems where multiple stressors such as the cumulative effects of poor nutrition, excessive heat, and the need to walk long distances to source feed and water compromise the production and reproduction performance of small ruminants (36).…”

“…This study found overall annual abortion percentage of 16.1% in doe and 12.5% in ewe, which is in the range of previous reports from the mixed crop-livestock and pastoral production systems in Ethiopia, 9.3-40.9% for doe and 7.5-36.4% for ewes (31). Compared to the international figures, a higher abortion percentage of 43.7% for does and 35.6% for ewes was reported from Egypt (32).…”

A Longitudinal Study of Cattle Productivity in Intensive Dairy Farms in Central Ethiopia

“…Death during birth or shortly after birth was recorded in 12.8% of calves. High neonatal calf mortality was also observed in dairy farms by Fentie et al ( 24 ). High calf mortality was one of the major complaints of the farm owners in our study.…”

Impact of calf housing improvement and farmer training on finances, management and animal welfare perceptions of Kenyan smallholder dairy farmers

“…The most substantial savings were due to a decrease in requirements of bedding materials such as sawdust or wood shavings. Elsewhere, improved hygiene in calf pens as a result of housing upgrades had farreaching effects in optimizing growth and reducing disease and deaths (Fentie et al, 2020). Gitau et al (2010) identified gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions as a leading cause of calf mortality in the Nairobi peri-urban area, and suggested suitable housing as a possible remedy.…”