Factors associated with diseases and mortality of calves in Morogoro, Tanzania
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Date
1997
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was aimed at elucidating the influence of management and other factors
associated with diseases and mortality of calves managed under intensive, semi intensive
and free range systems practised by stale farms, parastatal farms and small scale dairy
producers in the region.
Management factors include bucket feeding versus suckling of colostrum, administration
of post colostra! feeds, housing and disease control schemes. Other factors were breeds
of cattle and season of the year. A total of 368 calves were involved in the study over
a period covering one rain
season and one dry season. 138 calves were from
Kingolwira Prisons farm (KPF), 127 from Mlali, 57 from Azam Estate, 22 from
Magadu dairy Unit and 24 from SUA farm. All these farms are within a radius of 50
kilometers from Morogoro town and were selected on the basis of differing management
systems, herd size and access to the farm by road.
The study was conducted through questionnaires, clinical examination and laboratory
analysis for hematological, parasitological and pathological parameters.
Prevalence of diarrhoea was significantly high in bucket fed calves than suckeld calves
“(Pc0.001). Bovine coronavirus, rotavirus and Escherichia coli K 99 antigens were
detected in 61% of faecal samples collected, and mixed infection of 2 or all of these
organisms was frequent. Helminthosis was observed in both weaned and unweaned calves but calves less than 1
month old were relatively less affected as compared to older calves "(P <0.001).
Haemonchus spp, Trichostnmgylus spp, Strongyloides papillosus, Oesophagostonium spp
and Cooperia oncophora were the most frequently isolated worms, where they accounted
for 35.5%, 15.5%, 15.5%, 31.1% and 2.2% respectively. Toxocara vindorum
infestation was detected in only 4 calves of less than 28 days at Mlali farm where water
buffaloes graze with cattle. Other diseases were, pneumonia, cutaneous mycosis which
subsided with increasing age, bovine parasitic otitis, cases of Beta hemolytic E. coll
otitis and alopecia of unknown cause.
Mortality rate among calves was 25%, 17.4%, 13.6%, 8.7% and 7.8% for SUA farm,
KPF, Magadu dairy unit, Azam Estate and Mlali farms respectively. Weaned and
unweaned calf mortality contributed equally to total calf mortality. Helminthosis was the
cause of mortality in weaned calves, whereas, pneumonia and diarrhoea were the main
causes of death in unweaned calves. Coccidiosis was not a serious disease in calves
managed under semi intensive and free range systems as it was in intensively managed
calves.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Diseases, Calves mortality, Free range systems, Small scale dairy, Morogoro, Tanzania