%0 Journal Article
%T Pre-Weaning Morbidity and Mortality of Crossbred Calves in Bahir Dar Zuria and Gozamen Districts of Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia
%A Yeshwas Ferede
%A Hailu Mazengia
%A Tewodros Bimrew
%A Addisu Bitew
%A Mohammed Nega
%A Adebabay Kebede
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 1
%N 3
%P 1-8
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2014
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1100600
%X <p class="MsoNormal">
	<span lang="EN-US">A cross-sectional study was conducted
from September 2009 to August 2010 with the objective of determining calf
morbidity and mortality rates, to investigate the potential risk factors for
mortality and morbidity and to determine the type and prevalence of major
diseases of crossbred calves in Bahir Dar Zuria and Gozamen districts of Amhara
Region. A total of 148 respondents engaged in small holder crossbred dairying
were interviewed using a structured questionnaire survey about their calf
management practices and major calf health problems encountered. About 396
crossbred calves were considered for this study. The overall magnitude of
morbidity and mortality rates of crossbred calves were 58.4% and 30.7%,
respectively. Higher mortality of crossbred calves was found in Gozamen
district (39.6 %) than in Bahir Dar Zuria district (29.9 %). The major calf
diseases found were diarrhea (21.4%), pneumonia (18.6%), septicemic conditions
(12.4%) and navel ill (8.1%) and miscellaneous cases (39.5%). Risk factors such
as study location, blood level, age, colostrum feeding and time of colostrum
feeding were found to have statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05) effects on
crossbred calf mortality rate in both districts. Exotic genetic influence, age,
colostrum feeding and time of colostrum feeding were also the major risk
factors found statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05) to affect calf morbidity.
In conclusion, the magnitude of calf morbidity and mortality rates found in
this study were much higher than economically tolerable level and could affect
the productivity of the dairy farms through mainly decreasing the availability
of replacement stock. It is therefore, suggested that implementation of
improved calf management practices and optimization of more adaptable blood
level of crossbred cattle in the study areas would significantly reduce calf
mortality and morbidity.</span> 
</p>
%K Bahir Dar Zuria
%K Crossbred Calves
%K Gozamen
%K Morbidity Rate
%K Mortality Rate
%K Pre-Weaning
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/3065202