Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Temporal dynamics of dairy health and production in rural smallholder communities in Northern Vietnam

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this field study was to describe the temporal pattern of dairy cattle health and production and associated risk factors in rural smallholder communities in northern Vietnam, one of the target areas of the government's dairy development programme. A total of 99 dairy farms (11 per commune) were recruited from 9 of 32 communes in Ba Vi District, Ha Tay Province, using random two-stage cluster sampling. All dairy cattle present on the selected farms were included. After the initial questionnaire survey was conducted, farms were visited to collect follow-up information at 3-monthly intervals over a period of one year. The results suggest that offtake as well as mortality are important productivity indices because farmers sell or slaughter dairy cattle that are in poor health at low prices during summer months. Changes in relation to the farming operation suggest that for the farmers adopting dairy production it has become one of the main agricultural activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CFI:

comparative fit index

DVS:

The District Veterinary Station in Ba Vi, Ha Tay Province, Vietnam

EV:

expected value

GEE:

generalized estimating equation method

LCA:

latent curve analysis

MLM:

multilevel modelling

RMSEA:

root mean-square error of approximation

SEM:

structural equation modelling

USD:

US dollar

VD:

Vietnamese Dong

References

  • Acock, A.C. and Li, F., 1999. Latent Growth Curve Analysis: A Gentle Introduction, (Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR)

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon., 2005. Discover Vietnam. http://www.discover-vietnam.com/html/info.htm#climate Accessed 20 March 2005)

  • Bebe, B.O., Udo, H.M.J., Rowlands, G.J. and Thorpe, W., 2003. Smallholder dairy systems in the Kenya highlands: cattle population dynamics under increasing intensification. Livestock Production Science, 82, 211–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P.M., 1995. EQS Structural Equations Program Manual, (Multivariate Software, Inc., Encino, CA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P.M. and Wu, E.J.C., 1995. EQS for Windows User's Guide, (Multivariate Software, Inc., Encino, CA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brand, A. and Varner, M., 2001. Monitoring reproductive performance: objectives, reproductive indices and materials and methods. In: A. Brand, J.P.T.M. Noordhuizen and Y.H. Schukken (eds), Herd Health and Production Management in Dairy Practice, (Wageningen Pers, Wageningen), 283–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou, C.P., Bentler, P.M. and Pentz, M.A., 1998. Comparisons of two statistical approaches to study growth curves: the multilevel model and the latent curve analysis. Structural Equation Modeling, 5, 247–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, T.K.L., Yokogawa, H. and Kawaguchi, T., 2004. Dairy production in Vietnam: opportunities and challenges. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture Kyushu University, 49, 179–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Do, K.T. and Hoang, K.G., 2001. Dairy Cattle Production in Vietnam And Development Plan For 2002–2010, (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohoo, I., Martin, W. and Stryhn, H., 2003. Veterinary Epidemiologic Research, (AVC Inc., Prince Edward Island)

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agriculture Organization, 2004. FAOSTAT. http:// faostat.fao.org/default.jsp (Accessed 6 April 2004)

  • French, N.P., Tyrer, J. and Hirst, W.M., 2001. Smallholder dairy farming in the Chikwaka communal land, Zimbabwe: birth, death and demographic trends. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 48, 101–112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • General Statistical Office, 2001. Statistical Yearbook 2000, (Statistical Publishing House, Hanoi)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gitau, G.K., McDermott, J.J., Waltnertoews, D., Lissemore, K.D., Osumo, J.M. and Muriuki, D., 1994. Factors influencing calf morbidity and mortality in smallholder dairy farms in Kiambu District of Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 21, 167–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, L.E. and Morgan, K.L., 1993. Mortality in early born, housed lambs in South-West England. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 17, 251–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grohn, Y.T., McDermott, J.J., Schukken, Y.H., Hertl, J.A. and Eicker, S.W., 1999. Analysis of correlated continuous repeated observations: modelling the effect of ketosis on milk yield in dairy cows. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 39, 137–153

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holland, W.G., Luong, T.T., Nguyen, L.A., Do, T.T. and Vercruysse, J., 2000. The epidemiology of nematode and fluke infections in cattle in the Red River Delta in Vietnam. Veterinary Parasitology, 93, 141–147

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horton, N.J. and Lipsitz, S.R., 1999. Review of software to fit generalized estimating equation regression models. The American Statistician, 53, 160–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hox, J.J., 2002. Multilevel Analysis. Techniques and Applications, (Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers, Mahwah, NJ)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutabarat, T.S.P.N., 1995. The development of an animal health information system for Indonesia, (PhD thesis, Massey University)

  • Huttner, K., Leidl, K., Pfeiffer, D.U., Kasambara, D. and Jere, F.B.D., 2001. The effect of a community-based animal health service programme on livestock mortality, off-take and selected husbandry applications—a field study in northern Malawi. Livestock Production Science, 72, 263–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kano, Y., Miura, A., 2002. Amos, Eqs, Calis niyoru gurafikaru tahenryo kaiseki: me de miru kyobunsan-kouzou-bunseki [Graphical Multivariate Analysis with Amos, Eqs and Calis: A Visual Approach to Covariance Structure Analysis (in Japanese)], 2nd edn, (Gendai-Sugakusha, Kyoto)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, F., Acockand A.C., 1999. Latent Curve Analysis: A Manual for Research Data Analysts, (Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maloo, S.H., Rowlands, G.J., Thorpe, W., Gettinby, G. and Perry, B.D., 2001. A longitudinal study of disease incidence and case-fatality risks on small-holder dairy farms in coastal Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 52, 17–29

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matthewman, R.W., 1993. Dairying, (Macmillan Education Ltd, London and Basingstoke)

    Google Scholar 

  • McArdle, J.J. and Epstein, D., 1987. Latent growth curves within developmental structural equation models. Child Development, 58, 110–133

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDermott, J.J., Gitau, G.K., O'callaghan, C.J., Omore, A.O., Odima, P.A., Kyule, M.N. and Kilungo, J.K., 1992. Field research project to assess health and production indices on Kenyan smallholder dairy farms. In: P.W. Daniels, S. Holden, E. Lewin and S. Dadi (eds), Livestock Services for Smallholders, Proceedings of an International Seminar held in Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 1992, 77–80.

  • Meredith, W. and Tisak, J., 1990. Latent curve analysis. Psychometrika, 55, 107–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), 2000. Project for Development of Dairy Production in Vietnam 2000 to 2010, (MARD, Hanoi)

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthen, B.O., 1997. Latent variable modeling with longitudinal and multilevel data. In: A. Raftery (ed.), Sociological Methodology 1997, (Blackwell Publishers, Boston, MA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthen, B.O. and Khoo, S.T., 1998. Longitudinal studies of achievement growth using latent variable modeling. Learning and Individual Differences, 10, 73–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neuman, W.L., 1994. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, 2nd edn, (Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ngategize, P.K., 1989. Economic evaluation of improved management for Zebu cattle in northern Tanzania. Agricultural Systems, 31, 305–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, Q.S. and Dinh, V.B., 2001. The smallholder dairy production and marketing systems in Vietnam. In: D. Rangnekar and W. Thorpe (eds), Smallholder Dairy Production and Marketing—Opportunities and Constraints, (International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagot, J., 1992. Animal Production in the Tropics, (Macmillan Education Ltd, London and Basingstoke)

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, W.J.A. and Wilson, R.T., 1999. An Introduction to Animal Husbandry in the Tropics, 5th edn, (Blackwell Science, Oxford)

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, B.D., Mwanaumo, B., Schels, H.F., Eicher, E. and Zaman, M.R., 1984. A study of health and productivity of traditionally managed cattle in Zambia. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2, 633–653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quach, T.X. and Kawaguchi, T., 2003. A study on the limiting factors of dairy production development in Hanoi Vietnam—a case study in Phudong and Vinhngoc communes. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture Kyushu University, 47, 477–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Radostits, O.M., 2001. Herd Health: Food Animal Production Medicine, 3rd edn, (W. B. Saunders, Philadeiphia)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, W.A. and Homewood, K.M., 1986. Cattle dynamics in a pastoralist community in Ngorongoro, Tanzania, during the 1982–3 drought. Agricultural Systems, 22, 33—51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy, J.H.B., 1990. The calf, Vol. 1, Management of Health, 5th edn, (Butterworths, London)

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, K., Kanameda, M., Pfeiffer, D.U., 2004. Comparison of the characteristics of dairy and non-dairy farming households in a rural smallholder community in northern Vietnam, In: S.W.J. Reid, F.D. Menzies and A.M. Russell (eds), Proceedings of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Martigny, 2004, 166–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Ta, N.S., 2003. Survey on dairy cattle production in Ba Vi District, Ha Tay Province, (report submitted to Strengthening Capacity of National Institute of Veterinary Research Project, Hanoi)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrusfield, M., 1995. Veterinary Epidemiology, 2nd edn, (Blackwell Science, Oxford)

    Google Scholar 

  • Trost, S.G., Sallis, J.F., Pate, R.R., Freedson, P.S., Taylor, W.C. and Dowda, M., 2003. Evaluating a model of parental influence on youth physical activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25, 277–282

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waldner, C.L., Ribble, C.S., Janzen, E.D. and Campbell, J.R., 2001. Associations between oil- and gas-well sites, processing facilities, flaring, and beef cattle reproduction and calf mortality in western Canada. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 50, 1–17

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wendorf, C.A., 2002. Comparisons of structural equation modeling and hierarchical linear modeling approaches to couples' data. Structural Equation Modeling, 9, 126–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willett, J.B. and Sayer, A.G., 1994. Using covariance structure analysis to detect correlates and predictors of individual change over time. Psychological Bulletin, 116, 363–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank, 1994. Red River Delta Master Plan, Background Report 10, Livestock, (Ministry of Science Technology and Environment, Hanoi)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwart, D. and Jong, R.D., 2001. Animal health and dairy production in developing countries. In: A. Brand, J.P.T.M. Noordhuizen and Y.H. Schukken (eds), Herd Health and Production Management in Dairy Practice, (Wageningen Pers, Wageningen), 511–543

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology Division, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts., AL9 7TA, UK

    K. Suzuki & D. U. Pfeiffer

  2. Rural Development Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency, 2–1-1, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-8558, Japan

    K. Suzuki & D. U. Pfeiffer

  3. National Institute of Veterinary Research, Truong Chinh, Hanoi, Vietnam

    M. Kanameda, S. Tachibana, T. Ogawa & T. T. S. Dang

Authors
  1. K. Suzuki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Kanameda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Tachibana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. Ogawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. T. T. S. Dang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. U. Pfeiffer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Suzuki.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Suzuki, K., Kanameda, M., Tachibana, S. et al. Temporal dynamics of dairy health and production in rural smallholder communities in Northern Vietnam. Trop Anim Health Prod 38, 415–429 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-006-4336-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-006-4336-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation