Master of Public Health in Epidemiology

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Author: search.filters.author.BIRUK ALEMU BASORESubject: search.filters.subject.Central region

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    ASSESSMENT OF CALF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY RATE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS ON SMALLHOLDER DAIRY FARMS IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF CENTRAL REGION, ETHIOPIA
    (hawassa universty, 2024-05) BIRUK ALEMU BASORE
    The dairy sector in Ethiopia is crucial for the agricultural economy by improving smallholder farmers’ livelihood. However, challenges with calf morbidity and mortality hinder the industries development. A longitudinal study was conducted from December 2022 to May 2023, on 204 calves in selected 120 smallholder dairy farms of three districts of central region, Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to estimate calf morbidity and mortality rate, and to identify predisposing risk factors in the first six months of life. Survival analysis using the Kaplan–Meier (K-M) method, and Cox proportional hazard regression were employed to compute the life-to event data on morbidity and mortality. The total crude morbidity and mortality rates for calves in the study areas were 13 and 4 cases per 100 calf months at risk, respectively. The study revealed that the cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality and all-cause morbidity were 21% and 54%, respectively. Diarrhea was the most commonly diagnosed disease syndrome, leading to 25% morbidity and 14.7% mortality. The morbidity rate in males was 1.86 times higher than female (p<0.05). The calf born from assisted dam during calving had a higher risk of morbidity than calf born from not assisted dam (HR=1.93, p<0.05). The study also revealed that non-concrete farm floors are related significantly to a greater risk of morbidity (HR = 2.88, p<0.05) than concrete floors. The risk of morbidity was decreased by 49%, 53%, 79% and 73% in calves that were fed colostrum, weaned after 90 days, born to local breed dams, and in calves older than 90 days, respectively when other parameters held constant. Likewise, the mortality risk was higher on assisted calving (HR=7.7, p<0.05), on calves born outdoors (HR = 27.3, p<0.05), on early separation of the calf (HR = 7.68, p<0.05), and in non-concrete floor farms (HR=9.18, p<0.05). By holding other model parameters constant, the risk of mortality was decreased by 75%, 77%, 95%, 97%, and 85% in calves that were reared in urban area, consumed colostrum of their dam, got presence of dam during hand feeding, weaned after 90 days of their age, and in calves older than 90 days, respectively. The high rates of calf morbidity and mortality in the current study area pose a significant challenge to dairy sector's development. Hence, enhancing good management practices and conducting further confirmatory investigations are suggested to address and reduce risk factors for calf health problems and mortality.