Prevalence of Retained Foetal Membranes and Associated Risk Factors in Cross Breed Holstein Friesian Dairy Cows Managed in Small and Large Scale Dairy Farms of Selected Districts of Sidama and Oromia Regional States

Abstract

A retrospective study was carried out to analyze the prevalence and risk factors associated with retained foetal membranes (RFM) in crossbred dairy cows managed under various farm scales and farming systems in Southern and Oromia regional states. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select dairy farm households. The three districts was selected purposively based on the potential of dairy production system. A total of 120 households were selected randomly, 48 from Wondo Genet, 41 from Shashemene and 31 respondents from Hawassa districts. Data on the prevalence of RFM was collected mainly by two approaches: the first by monitoring smallholder and large scale dairy farms where total of 500 calvings had occurred between September 2020. The second form of data collection was by using secondary data from large scale dairy farms. The study was complimented by household survey, where the perceptions of farmers about risk factors and possible mitigation practices followed by farmers to prevent RFM. The result shows that out of the monitored calvings, 69 calvings (13.8%) had RFM. RFM progressively and significantly increased with the advancing age of the cow which is 9.2%, 14.4%, 15.4% and 15.3% respectively for. Parity of the cow was categorized as 1-2, 3-6 and >7. It was observed that 6.9%, 13% and 74.3% respectively. The prevalence of RFM in cows with poor, medium and good body condition is recorded as 18.6%, 4.3% and 66.7% out of positive cows respectively. The sex of delivered calf has its own impact on the prevalence of RFM where the incidence of RFM for female calves born was 10.7% and for male it was 17.5%. The incidence of RFM was also affected by blood levels of crossbred cows where 50%, 75% and 87.5% crossbred had 32.1%, 12.1% and 13.3% RFM prevalence, respectively. In conclusion, the prevalence of RFM in the present study area was so high, requiring special attention to be given, by considering important predisposing factors. In this study, the impacts of other important factors, such as effect of nutritional status of cows, were not considered, which might require further studies.