Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Introduction: Even though good beginnings of initiatives on calves to improve blood level of local breeds in Ethiopia through artificial insemination, health problems and calf mortality are becoming a bottle neck on livestock production and livelihood of poor farmers. The aim of the study was to know preliminary major health problems and associated risk factors of calves’ mortality. Cross-sectional study was conducted on calves from February to June 2023. Binary outcome Logistic Regression data analysis was used to summarize using Stata software version 13. Cluster random sampling technique was used to accomplish the study.
Result: A total of 218 farmers and farm owners were interviewed and feacal samples, ectoparasites and skin lesions were collected from 389 calves. The gastrointestinal parasite infection was significantly related with body condition, age and breeds of calves (p<0.05). The ectoparasites infestation was significantly related with districts, body condition, age and breeds of calves (p<0.05). The variation of ring worm prevalence among risk factors ages, breeds and farms were statistically significant (p<0.05). There were a significant difference in morbidity rate and crude mortality rate between zones, breeds, weaning ages and farm production system (p<0.05).
Conclusion: In study areas gastrointestinal parasites, ectoparasites and ring worms were major health problem of calves and responsible for high morbidity rate and crude mortality rate. Therefore, awareness on diseases prevention and husbandry practices should be made. Also, Agricultural Bureau and all stakeholders should work cooperatively to reduce morbidity and mortality of calves.