Abstract
A longitudinal observational study on calf morbidity and mortality was conducted in smallholder dairy farms in Ada’a Liben district of Oromia, Ethiopia. A total of 185 calves from 112 market oriented smallholder dairy farms were selected randomly and regularly monitored for clinical health problems up to six months of age. Information on potential risk factors was collected by personal observation during the regular visit to farms and from questionnaire survey conducted during the study period.
The overall incidences of crude morbidity and crude mortality were 62 % and 22%, respectively. The most frequent disease syndrome was calf diarrhea with the incidence of 39% followed by joint ill 6%. The other disease conditions/syndromes diagnosed include navel ill, pneumonia, septicemic conditions, congenital problems and miscellaneous cases. Age of the calves, age at first colostrum ingestion and cleanness of the calf barns significantly influenced morbidity. Older calves (greater than three months of age) were at lower risk of crude morbidity than younger calves (less than three months of age) (HR = 0.42, P = 0.001). Higher risk of crude morbidity was observed in calves that ingested their first colostrum meal later than 6 hours of age compared to those that ingested colostrum earlier (HR = 2.24, P = 0.001). Similarly, calves housed in unclean barns were at higher risk of morbidity than calves housed in clean barns (HR = 1.75, P = 0.024). Of the 20 potential risk factors investigated, age was the only factor that was found significantly associated with mortality (HR = 0.04, P = 0.001). Calves older than three months of age were at lower risk of mortality than younger calves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altman, D.G., 1991. Practical statistics for medical research. (Chapman and Hall, London).
Amoki, O.T., 2001. Management of dairy calves in Holleta area, central highlands of Ethiopia. (Unpublished MSc thesis, Addis Ababa University).
Bath, D.L., Dickinson, F.R., Tucker, H.A., Appleman, R.D., 1985. Dairy Cattle: Problems, Practices, Problems and Profits, 3rd ed.( Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia). pp 325–338.
Bendali, F., Bichet, H., Schelcher, F., Sanna, M., 1999. Pattern of diarrhea in newborn calves in south- west France. Veterinary research 30, 61–74.
Blowey, R.W., 1990. Veterinary Book for Dairy Farmers. 2nd ed. (Farming press Ltd., Ipswich). pp 15–33.
Bruning-Fann, C. and Kaneene, J.B., 1992. Environmental and managemental risk factors associated with morbidity and mortality in perinatal and preweaning calves: A review from an epidemiological perspective. Veterinary Bulletin 62, 399–413.
Debanth, N.C., Sil, B.K., Seslim, S.A. Prodhan, M.A.M., Howlader, M.M.R., 1990. A retrospective study of calf mortality and morbidity on smallholder traditional farms in Bangladesh. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 9, 1–7.
Gitau, G.K., McDermott, J.J., Waltner-Toew, D., Lissemore, K. D., Osuma, J.M., Muriuki, D., 1994. Factors Influencing calf morbidity and mortality in smallholder dairy farms in Kambu district of Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 21, 167–177.
Heinrichs, A.J. and Radostits, O.M., 2001. Health and production management of dairy calves and replacement heifers. In: Radostits, O.M. (ed.): Herd Health, Food Animal Production Medicine, 3rd ed. (W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia). pp 333–395.
Hussien, N., 1998. A study on calf mortality at Adamitulu livestock research center. In: Proceeding of 5th conference of Ethiopian society of animal science (ESAP) 15–17 May 1997, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp 157–162.
ILRI, 1996. ILRI annual project report 1995, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp 74–75.
Jenney, B.F., Graling, G.E., Glaze, T.M., 1981. Management factors associated with calf mortality in South Carolina diary herds. Journal of Dairy science 70, 2284–2289.
Lance, S.E., Miller, G.Y., Hancock, D.D., Bartlet, P.C., Heider, L.E., Moeschberger, M.L., 1992. Effects of environment and management on mortality in preweaned dairy calves. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association 201, 1197–1202.
Lemma, M., Kassa, T., Tegegne, T., 2001. Clinically manifested major health problems of crossbred dairy herds in urban and periurban production systems in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production 33, 85–93.
le Rousie, S., Klein, N., Houngaton, S., Charleston, B.,2000. Use of colostrum from rotavirus- immunized cows as single feed to prevent rotavirus. Veterinary Record 147, 160–161.
Martin, S.W., Meek, A.H., Willeberg, P., 1987. Veterinary Epidemiology: Principle and Methods. (Iowa State University Press, Iowa).
Matte, J.J., Girard, G. C., Seosne, J.R., Brisson, G.J., 1982. Absorption of colostral immunoglobulin G in new born calf. Journal of Dairy Science 65, 1765–1770.
National Meteorological Service agency, 2000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Otte, M.J. and Chilonda, P., 2000. Cattle and Small Ruminant Production in sub-Saharan Africa - a systemic Review. (FOA, Rome).
Roy, J.H., 1990. The Calf. 5th ed. (Butterworth, London).
Shiferaw, Y., Yohannes, A., Yilma, Y., Gebrewold, A., Gojjam, Y., 2002. Dairy husbandry and health management at Holleta. In: Proceeding of the 16th conference of the Ethiopian veterinary association. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp 103–119.
Sivula, N.J., Ames, T.R., Marsh, W.E., Werdin, R.E., 1996. Descriptive epidemiology of morbidity and mortality in Minnesota dairy heifers calves. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 27, 155–171.
Tarabla, H.D. and Dodd, K., 1990. Association between farmers` personal characters, management practices and farm performance. British Veterinary Journal 146, 157–164.
Virtala, A.M., Mechor, G.D., Grohn, Y.Y., Erb, H.N., 1996. Morbidity from non-respiratory disease and mortality in dairy heifers during the first three months of life. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association 208, 2043–2046.
Waltner-Toews, D., Martin, S.W., Merk, A.H., 1986a. Effect of calfhood disease on survivorship and age at first calving. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research 50, 314–317.
Waltner-Toews, D., Martin, S.W., Merk, A.H., 1986b. Dairy calf management, morbidity and mortality in Ontario Holstein herds. II Age and seasonal patterns. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 4, 125–135.
Wittum, T.E. and Perino, L.J., 1995. Passive immune status at postpartum hour 24 and long term health performance or calves. American journal of Veterinary Research 56, 1149–1154.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wudu, T., Kelay, B., Mekonnen, H.M. et al. Calf morbidity and mortality in smallholder dairy farms in Ada’a Liben district of Oromia, Ethiopia. Trop Anim Health Prod 40, 369–376 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-007-9104-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-007-9104-3