Veterinärmedizinische Wissenschaft und Technologie

Study on the Major Dairy Cows Reproductive Problems in and Around Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Aschalew Ayisheshim, Shimeles Abegaz and Awole Mohammed

A cross sectional study was conducted commencing from October 2014 to April 2015 in urban and peri-urban areas of Gondar town, of the Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia to identify the major reproductive problems in dairy cows. A total of 401 dairy cows were examined for the major reproductive problems by classifying the methods of studying as questionnaire survey and regular follow up. Owner of 401 cows from 80 dairy farms and small holder farmers (households) were questioned for the major reproductive problems and found 100 (24.9%) affected animals and again from 401 dairy cows owner of 100 cows from 15 dairy farms and small holder farmers (households) were regularly followed and out of them 37 (37.0%) have at least one of the reproductive problems. The questionnaire survey of reproductive problems according to their relative importance were 24 (6.0%) anestrous, 18 (4.5%) repeat breeder,16 (4.0%) endometritis, 15 (3.7%) dystocia, 11 (2.7%) abortion, 8 (2.0%) mixed cases and 7 (1.7%) retained fetal membrane (RFM). Parallel to questionnaire survey regular follow up study was takes place on 100 dairy cows from 15 dairy farms and small holder farmers (households) and out of them 7 (7.0%) anestrous, 6 (6.0%) abortion, 6 (6.0%) dystocia, 6 (6.0%) endometritis, 5 (5.0%) RFM, 4 (4.0%) mixed cases, and 3 (3.0%) was repeat breeders. SPSS version 20 was used for chi-square test and p<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. The prevalence of reproductive problems showed statistically significant difference (p<0.05) with respect to parity, age, body condition score, farm scale, cleanness, methods of service and types of feeding practice, but significantly associated with respect to breed in both questionnaire survey and regular follow methods of study. This result shows no significant difference (p>0.05), between the two study methodology within the reproductive problems. This particular study indicates that an reproductive problem, which includes anoestrus, RFM, abortion, dystocia, endometritis and repeat breeding, were one of the major factor for the low fertilizing ability of dairy cows in urban and peri-urban area of Gondar town. Therefore, the dairy breeders should be providing additional feed to fulfill nutritional requirement of animal, improving cleanness and feeding practice of the animal.