Reterospective Study On Calf Mortality In Dairy Farms In Gondar Town
Volume 1 - Issue 5, November 2017 Edition
[Download Full Paper]
Author(s)
Esubalew Sisay, Debeb Dessie
Keywords
Calf, Dairy Farms, Gondar town, Mortality, Retrospective study, Risk Factors
Abstract
A retrospective study was conducted on calf mortality in dairy farms in Gondar town from October 2013 to May, 2014 with the objective assessing the extent of calf mortality, investigating potential risk factors related to calf death. A total of 909 calves born from September 2010 to November 2013 in 20 dairy farms in the town were included in the study. Data on calf mortality and associated risk factors were collected by using a pretested questionnaire and from farm records. The overall calf mortality rate was 21.45%. Disease conditions or syndromes recorded or mentioned as causes of calf death were diarrhoea (11.55%), pneumonia (3.74%), septicaemia (3.41%), hypothermia (0.99%), trauma (1.21%) and other miscellaneous causes (0.55%). Among the 12 risk factors assessed for their association with calf mortality, parity of the dam, feeding of colostrums, calves care takers and their experience, calving pen, bedding and measures taken to treat sick calves were significantly related to calf mortality. Calves of exotic (37.5%) breed were having the highest mortality rate. Calves from older cows (30.5%) and heifers (24.8%) also showed high mortality rate. Low mortality rate (20.02%) and (4.23% ) were recorded in calves feeding colostrum and having calving pens than non-feeders and calves born in multiple cow calving pens (33.68%) and (22.91%) respectively. Mortality rate of 13.23, 16.35, 27.3 and 27.08% were recorded from educated, with more experience, non-educated and with less experienced attendants, respectively. Large numbers of calf mortality (25.51%) were recorded in farms assessed by technicians as compared to taking to clinic (17.24%) and veterinarians’ supervision (16.36%). In conclusion, high calf mortality was observed in Gondar town due to various factors. Therefore, dairy owners should give prime attention to calf management especially in avoiding calf diarrhoea and pneumonia, and should give emphasis to colostrum feeding to reduce calf mortality.
References
[1] Abdullatief, E. M., Mansour, I., Atif, E., Abdelgadir, Ibtisam, E. M. and Zubeir, E. l., 2014. Major causes and risk factors associated with calf mortality in dairy farms in Khartoum State, Sudan. Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, 6(5), p. 145-153
[2] Amuamuta, A., B., Asseeged, G. and Goshu., 2006. Mortality analysis of Fogera calves and their Friesian crosses in Andassa Cattle Breeding and Improvement ranch, North West Ethiopia. Revue De Medecine Veterinaire, 157, P. 525-529.
[3] Andrew, B., 1988. Causes of dystokia in Friesian dairy heifers and its effects on subsequent performance. International journal of current research, 6, p. 143-151.
[4] Asseged, B. and Birhanu, M., 2004. Survival analysis of calves and reproductive performance of cows in commercial dairy farms in and around Addis Ababa. Tropical Animimal Health Production., 36, p.663-672.
[5] Bath,D.L.,Dckinson,F.N.,Tucker,H.A.andAppleman,R.D.,1998.Dairycattle:principles,practices,problems,profits.3rd ed. USA: LEA and Fibiger and Philadelphia.
[6] Beam, A.L., Lombard, J.E., Kopral, C.A., Garber, L.P., Winter, A.L., Hicks, J.A.and Schlater, J.L., 2009. Prevalence of failure of passive transfer of immunity in newborn heifer calves and associated management practices on U.S. dairy operations. Journal of Dairy Science, 92, p. 3973-3980.
[7] CSA, 2008. Data for livestock population in Gondar city.
[8] Darsema, G., 2008. Major causes of calf mortality in dairy farm and two cattle ranches in Western region, North Western Ethiopia. Ethiopian veterinary journal, 12, p. 59-68.
[9] El -Zubeir, and Mahala, A. G., 2011. An overview of the management practices and constrains at the dairy camps in Khartoum State, Sudan. Research Opinions in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, p. 425-428.
[10] El-Nazeir, B. A., 2005. An assessment of management and husbandry practices in some dairy farms in Khartoum State. MSc. Thesis, University of Khartoum, Sudan. Ethiopia. Faculty of veterinary medicine, Addis Ababa University, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
[11] Fries, R. and Ruvinsky, A. , 1999. The genetics of cattle. 3rd ed. UK: Cabi Publishing.
[12] Gaya, H., Delaitre, J.C. and Preston, T.R., 2004. Effect of Restricted suckling and bucket feeding on the Growth Rate of Males and on milk Yield Research carried out with technical assistance provided by the FAO/UNDP project.
[13] Godden, S.M., 2008.Colostrum management for dairy calves. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 24, p. 19–39.
[14] GARDOG, 2012.Gondar Agricultural and Rural Development Office, North Gondar Zone. .Agricultural Office Report of Livestock Resource.
[15] Gorden, P.J. and Plummer. P., 2001. Control, management and prevention of bovine respiratory disease in dairy calves and cows. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 26, p.243-259.
[16] Gulliksen, S.M., Lie, K.I., Loken, T., Osterås, O., 2009.Calf mortality in Norwegian dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science, 92, p.82-95.
[17] Hassen, Y. and Brannag, E., 1996. Calving performance and mortality in Danish Jersey cattle at Ada Berga state farm, Ethiopia. The proceeding of the 10th conference of Ethiopian veterinary Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[18] Heinrichs, A. J. and Radostits, O.M., 2001. Health and production management of dairy calves and replacement heifers. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Company.
[19] ILCA, 1998. Anima reproduction for African countries, report of a joint seminar by international foundation for science and Swedish international program on animal production ILCA 1997-1998, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[20] Lema, M., Kassa, T. and Tagagne, A., 2001. Clinically manifested major health problems of cross breed dairy herds in urban and peri-urban production systems in the central high land of Ethiopia. Tropical Animimal Health Production, 33, P. 85-93.
[21] Lundborg, G. K., Svensson, E. C. and Oltenacu, P. A., 2005. Herd-level risk factors for infectious diseases in Swedish dairy calves aged 0-90 days. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 68, 123-143.
[22] Mdegela, R. H., Kusiluka, L. J. M, Kapaga, M., karimuribo, E. D., Turuka, F. M., Bundala, A., Kivaria, F., Kabula, B., Manjurano, A., Loken, T. and kambarage, D.M., 2004. Prevalence and determinants of mastitis and milk borne zoonoses in small holder dairy farming sector in kibaha and morgoro districts in Eastern Tanzania. Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 51, p. 123-128.
[23] Nuraddis, I., Ashebir, A. and Shiferaw, M., 2011. Assessment of Reproductive Performances of Cross breed Dairy Cattle (Holstein Friesian X Zebu) in Gondar Town. Global Veterinarian, 6 (6), p. 561-566.
[24] Razzaq, M. A., Bedair, M., Abbas ,S. and Al-Mutawa, T., 2009. Economic impact of calf mortality on dairy Farms in Kuwait. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 29(3), p. 97-101.
[25] Shiferaw, Y., Yohannes, A., Yilma, Y., Gebrewold, A., Gojjam, Y., 2002. Dairy husbandry and health management at holleta. Proceeding of the 16th conference of the Ethiopian veterinary association. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Pp. 103-119.
[26] Shiferaw,Y., Bekana, M., Tenhagen, B.A. and Kassa, T., 2003. Reproductive performance of crossed dairy cows in different production Systems in the central high lands of Ethiopia. Tropical Animimal. Health Production, 35, p. 55-561.
[27] Sisay, A. and Ebro, A., 1998. Growth performance of Boran and Their Semmintal cross calves. Proceeding of 6th national conference of the Ethiopian society of animal production (ESAP). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[28] Sivula, N.J., Ames, T.R. and Marsh, W. E., 1996 .Management risk factor for Morbidity and mortality in Minnesota dairy heifer and calves. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 27, p. 273-182.
[29] Svensson, C., K. Lundborg, U. Emanuelson, and,Olsson, S.O., 2003.Morbidity in Swedish dairy calves from birth to 90 days of age and individual calf-level risk factors for infectious diseases. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 58, P.179–197.
[30] Tegegne, A. and Gebrewold, A., 1998. Prospects for peri-urban dairy development in Ethiopia. In Stoltenow, C.L. and Vincent L.L., 2003, Proceeding of 5th national conference, the Ethiopian society of animal production (ESAP), 15-17 May 1998, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[31] Thrusfield, M., 2005. Veterinary epidemiology.3rd ed. Australia: Black well.
[32] Waver, D. M., Tyler, J. W., Vanmeter, D. C., Hostlewr, D. E. and Barrington G. M., 2000. Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulin in calves. Journal of Veterinary Internal Mededicine, 14, p. 569-577.
[33] Wudu, T., Kelay, B., Mekonnen, H. M.,Tesfu ,K., 2008. Calf morbidity and mortality in smallholder dairy farms in Ada’a Liben district of Oromia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 40, p. 369-376.
[34] Zucali,M., 2013.Management risk factors for calf mortality in intensive Italian dairy farms. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 12(2), p. 35-33.
