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Thumbi SM, Bronsvoort MBM, Kiara H, Toye PG, Poole J, Ndila M, Conradie I, Jennings A, Handel IG, Coetzer JAW, Steyl J, Hanotte O, Woolhouse MEJ. Mortality in East African shorthorn zebu cattle under one year: predictors of infectious-disease mortality. BMC Vet Res 2013; 9:175. [PMID: 24010500 PMCID: PMC3848692 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious livestock diseases remain a major threat to attaining food security and are a source of economic and livelihood losses for people dependent on livestock for their livelihood. Knowledge of the vital infectious diseases that account for the majority of deaths is crucial in determining disease control strategies and in the allocation of limited funds available for disease control. Here we have estimated the mortality rates in zebu cattle raised in a smallholder mixed farming system during their first year of life, identified the periods of increased risk of death and the risk factors for calf mortality, and through analysis of post-mortem data, determined the aetiologies of calf mortality in this population. A longitudinal cohort study of 548 zebu cattle was conducted between 2007 and 2010. Each calf was followed during its first year of life or until lost from the study. Calves were randomly selected from 20 sub-locations and recruited within a week of birth from different farms over a 45 km radius area centered on Busia in the Western part of Kenya. The data comprised of 481.1 calf years of observation. Clinical examinations, sample collection and analysis were carried out at 5 week intervals, from birth until one year old. Cox proportional hazard models with frailty terms were used for the statistical analysis of risk factors. A standardized post-mortem examination was conducted on all animals that died during the study and appropriate samples collected. RESULTS The all-cause mortality rate was estimated at 16.1 (13.0-19.2; 95% CI) per 100 calf years at risk. The Cox models identified high infection intensity with Theileria spp., the most lethal of which causes East Coast Fever disease, infection with Trypanosome spp., and helminth infections as measured by Strongyle spp. eggs per gram of faeces as the three important infections statistically associated with infectious disease mortality in these calves. Analysis of post-mortem data identified East Coast Fever as the main cause of death accounting for 40% of all deaths, haemonchosis 12% and heartwater disease 7%. CONCLUSION The findings demonstrate the impact of endemic parasitic diseases in indigenous animals expected to be well adapted against disease pressures. Additionally, agreement between results of Cox models using data from simple diagnostic procedures and results from post-mortem analysis underline the potential use such diagnostic data to reduce calf mortality. The control strategies for the identified infectious diseases have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Thumbi
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7090, USA
- Kenya Medical Research Institute/CDC Public Health and Research Collaboration, P.O BOX, 1578, Kisumu 40100, Kenya
| | - Mark BMdec Bronsvoort
- The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Henry Kiara
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - PG Toye
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Jane Poole
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Mary Ndila
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Ilana Conradie
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Amy Jennings
- The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian G Handel
- The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Edinburgh, UK
| | - JAW Coetzer
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Johan Steyl
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Mark EJ Woolhouse
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
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Cozma A, Martin B, Guiadeur M, Pradel P, Tixier E, Ferlay A. Influence of calf presence during milking on yield, composition, fatty acid profile and lipolytic system of milk in Prim’Holstein and Salers cow breeds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s13594-012-0094-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Millogo V, Norell L, Ouédraogo GA, Svennersten-Sjaunja K, Agenäs S. Effect of different hand-milking techniques on milk production and teat treatment in Zebu dairy cattle. Trop Anim Health Prod 2011; 44:1017-25. [PMID: 22167534 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-011-0035-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to test three different hand-milking techniques ("pull down", "thumb in", and "full hand grip") and their effects on milk production and teat treatment. This is important since milk production in many tropical areas still rely on hand-milking. The study was carried out at a peri-urban farm in the Bobo-Dioulasso area in Burkina Faso. Twelve indigenous Zebu cows in early lactation were used in the study. The sequences of the treatments (hand-milking techniques) and the milkers were balanced for carry-over effects between successive periods and days, respectively. The sequences were constructed by using special Latin squares. Yield and composition of saleable milk was not affected by milking technique but there were differences between the milkers in milk yield. There was also a significant interaction for saleable milk yield between milker and milking technique. Hemoglobin in milk was measured as an indicator of teat damage. The hemoglobin content was numerically higher in post-milking strip milk samples than in saleable milk. It was concluded that the amount of milk removed depends mainly on the milker and how well the milking technique works for the individual milker. No effect of milking technique was observed on teat treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinsoun Millogo
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7024, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
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