Reproductive disorders in dairy cattle under semi-intensive system of rearing in North-Eastern India

Seroepidemiology of bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV-1) in commercial and smallholder dairy herds in north Shewa, central highlands of Ethiopia

Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV-1) is the most important respiratory and reproductive disease-causing pathogen in dairy cattle. Despite BoAHV-1 has become widespread and a major challenge to the dairy industry, little is known about its epidemiology in dairy herds in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to May 2023 to determine the seroprevalence and potential risk factors associated with BoAHV-1 seropositivity in dairy herds in North Shewa, the central highlands of Ethiopia. A total of 511 blood samples were collected from randomly selected cattle herds (n = 142) and examined antibodies against BoAHV-1 using ELISA test. A retrospective survey was also done to gather information related to reproductive disorders. The overall seroprevalence of BoAHV-1 was 61.84% (95% CI: 57.53-65.97) at the animal level and 85.21% (95% CI: 78.28-90.21) at the herd level. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that the risk of being BoAHV-1 seropositive was nine times higher in cows older than six years (OR = 9.16; 95% CI: 3.09-27.16; P = 0.000), five times higher (OR = 4.51; 95% CI: 1.23-16.53; P = 0.019) in cows with a history of abortion, three times higher (OR = 2.75; 95% CI: 1.72-4.22; P = 0.029) in cows with a history of retained fetal membrane, and three times higher (OR = 2.83; 1.86-9.31; P = 0.03) in animals with clinical signs of ocular and/or nasal discharge. This study demonstrates a significant circulating of BoAHV-1 in the dairy cattle population in study districts. Thus, a comprehensive approach that includes strict farm biosecurity and vaccination should be practiced for effective BoAHV-1 control and prevention and to promote the growing dairy industry in the central highlands of Ethiopia.

Neglected zoonotic bacteria causes and associated risk factors of cattle abortion in different agro-ecological zones of southwest Ethiopia

Three zoonotic bacteria, Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira spp, and Brucella spp, cause cattle abortion and significant losses in the livestock sector. However, these infections were neglected diseases in Ethiopia. Between October 2020 and October 2021, a cross-sectional study was carried out in southwest Ethiopia to determine the prevalence of abortion and identify the major zoonotic bacterial causes and risk factors that contribute to abortion. Using an indirect ELISA, antibodies to Brucella abortus, Leptospira Hardjo, and Coxiella burnetii were detected in serum samples taken from 461 cattle. Potential risk factors for cattle abortion were found using a multivariable random effect logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of cattle abortion was found to be 22.56 % (95 % CI: 18.74-26.38) in the study areas. Leptospira Hardjo (OR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.04-3.00), Coxiella burnetii (OR=2.7, 95 % CI: 1.26-5.62), and Brucella abortus (OR=9.8, 95 % CI: 1.27-17.15) were all associated with the occurrence of abortion in cattle, as were their co-infections (OR=8.1, 95 % CI: 1.28-39.33). Other risk factors for cattle abortion included breed (OR=16.7, 95 % CI: 2.20-26.77), herd size (OR=2.5, 95 % CI: 1.16-4.68), breeding method (OR=2.3, 95 % CI: 1.33-3.90), and contact with dogs (OR=2.2, 95 % CI: 1.34-3.53). According to the findings of this study, Brucella abortus, Coxiella burnetii, and Leptospira Hardjo are serious zoonoses that cause significant production loss in cattle due to abortion. To prevent transmission of these zoonotic diseases, it is crucial to implement effective control measures and increase public awareness. The causes of cattle abortion in the study areas should also be isolated and characterized.

Study on categorization of factors affecting smallholder dairy production in Siltie Zone, Southern Ethiopia, applying multivariate analysis approaches

This study aims to categorize smallholder dairy farming systems through multivariate analysis. Nonlinear categorical principal component analysis (NLPCA) was used to lessen 35 variables into 4 sets of uncorrelated components. These four categories are environment-genetic interaction, management, hygiene, and genetic-related factors. Besides, within the two-step cluster analysis, a variable cluster membership was created that identified which family belonged to which cluster. For comparison purpose, hierarchical cluster analysis was used. A two-step cluster analysis results showed that most farms (41.50% and 31.90% in peri-urban and urban areas, respectively, had been in cluster 1 at the same time as most farms (66.70%) of urban areas had been in cluster 2. Overall, most (31.00% and 34.00%) of farms have been in clusters 1 and 2, respectively. Most farms in peri-urban areas had been challenged with scarcity of feed, mastitis, and animal sickness than farms within the urban and rural farming systems. Forming farmer groups as a cooperative to supply offerings together with feed processing devices, artificial insemination, and health services is usually recommended to triumph over such hassle. In addition, on account that it is primarily based on a couple of criteria, the category system evolved in this study depicts a lot better dairy farming systems with admiration to the variety of the components and the relative contribution of each component to dairy farming than do the single-criterion classifications. Hence, the results of such classifications should be seen as a start line from which to efficiently compare the modern extension system and eventually design the high-quality-fit extension models for a heterogeneous populace of smallholder dairy farmers.

Antimicrobials use and their indications in dairy farm and individual farmer production conditions in southern India

Antimicrobials use (AMU) is the key driver for development of antimicrobials resistant (AMR) pathogen in human and veterinary medicines. Therefore, understanding AMU pattern is prerequisite for focused intervention on AMR. The aim of this study was to understand the AMU pattern and their indications in dairy farm and individual farmer production conditions in southern India. Treatment registers of 6 years (2012 to 2017) containing 3178 cases from dairy farm and 12,057 cases during 2017-2019 under individual farmer production conditions were collected and analyzed by log-linear model. Seasons were classified as rainy (Jul-Oct), winter (Nov-Feb), and summer (Mar-June) as per climatic conditions in the study area. It is observed that mastitis, lameness, and reproductive problems were major health disorders among treated animals in farm and individual farmer production conditions. Season had significant influence on proportional rates of various health disorders in crossbred cows under both the production conditions. AMU pattern was different between the breeds and production conditions. Antibiotics were the most commonly used group of drugs (23-28%) than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (20%), antihistamine (17%), and nutrient supplements (14-16%). Antibiotics were mostly used for mastitis (47-67%) than other conditions like fever (18%), reproductive problems (15%), and lameness (16%). For treating mastitis, cephalosporins and gentamicin were most commonly used under individual farmer production condition, while penicillin group was frequently used in farm. It is concluded that mastitis is the most common indication for AMU in dairy animals and thus developing appropriate guidelines for mastitis treatment and control is necessary to reduce overall AMU.

Increasing the efficiency of the herd reproduction system by introducing innovative technologies into dairy farming in Northern Kazakhstan

Background and Aim: In recent years, Kazakhstan has increasingly imported breeding cows for dairy and beef production. To maintain and improve their breeding qualities of reproductive function, it is necessary to constantly monitor the herd reproduction system. The aim of this study was to increase the level of herd reproduction by introducing innovative technologies into dairy farms in Northern Kazakhstan. To achieve this goal, the AlphaVision visual insemination system (IMV Technologies, France) was used, aiding to improve the artificial insemination method in farms in Northern Kazakhstan and increased the breeding rate using sexed semen to inseminate cows. In addition, the AlphaVision device was used in the differential diagnosis of certain diseases of the reproductive organs of cows. Materials and Methods: The object of the study was 200 cows (3-5-year-old) and 100 heifers (16-18-month-old) of Holstein breed. The authors carried out a comparative analysis of biotechnological methods of reproduction – the cervical method insemination with rectal fixation of the cervix (traditional method of insemination) and the AlphaVision visual insemination system, and the effectiveness of AlphaVision for diagnosing some reproductive tract abnormalities in cows was studied. In the experiment on conducting artificial insemination through AlphaVision, we have used both normal (two-sex) and sexed semen. Results: When using the AlphaVision visual insemination system, a higher percentage of fruitful insemination was noted (20.7%) than when using the traditional method. The images obtained with AlphaVision made it possible to identify cows with abnormal sexual cycles, signs of vaginitis, endometritis, cervicitis, and differentiate them by the nature of the exudate. In many cases, visual examinations of the vagina and cervix are not carried out before the traditional method of artificial insemination. For this reason, some vaginal and cervical abnormalities are not diagnosed, resulting in reduced fertility in cows. We have found that the number of genital abnormalities has increased by 30% with the increasing age of cows. Obstetric and gynecologic pathologies in high-yielding cows are noted in more than 50% of the herd. A comparative assessment of clinical manifestations of cervicitis and other pathologies of reproductive organs, using the AlphaVision visual insemination system, has been carried out for the identified diseases. With the traditional method of insemination with conventional semen, the calf yield per 100 cows for the period 2016-2019 has been 65-80% and with sexed semen 30-50%. With AlphaVision in 2020, the insemination rate was 85% conventional and 60% sexed, respectively, which was 5% and 10% higher than with conventional insemination. This was due to the improved diagnosis of some reproductive diseases in cows. Conclusion: The introduction of innovative technology, namely, the visual insemination system AlphaVision, into the practice of dairy farms in Northern Kazakhstan increased the level of the herd reproduction system.

Estimates of the Economic Cost Caused by Five Major Reproductive Problems in Dairy Animals in Assam and Bihar, India

Reproductive problems in dairy animals reduce fertility, prevent conception, create problems in the delivery of healthy calves, lead to postpartum complications, increase inter-calving periods, reduce milk yield, and lower overall lifetime productivity. This study aimed at understanding the incidence of reproductive problems and the cost caused by these. The study covered 954 dairy animals in Bihar and 1348 dairy animals in Assam that were selected using a multi-stage random sampling method. The costs were calculated as the sum of income losses and expenditures incurred. The major cost incurred resulted from extended calving intervals (46.1% of the total cost), followed by loss through salvage selling (38.1%), expenditure for treatment of repeat breeders (5.9%), loss of milk production (5.3%) and expenditure for extra inseminations (2.0%). About one fifth of the selected reproductive problems were left untreated. The estimated cost of reproductive problems was Indian Rupees (INR) 2424.9 (USD 36.1) per dairy animal per year (of the total dairy animal population) which represented approximately 4.1% of the mean value loss of dairy animals (INR 58,966/USD 877) per year. Reproductive problems were significantly (p < 0.001) higher among improved (exotic breed or cross-bred) dairy animals than indigenous (native breed or nondescript indigenous) dairy animals. The study suggests that with the increase of improved dairy animal population, the loss may further increase. The study concludes that any economic estimation of reproduction problems based on aetiology without confirmatory diagnoses could be highly misleading because of the complex nature of the problems.

Prioritizing smallholder animal health needs in East Africa, West Africa, and South Asia using three approaches: Literature review, expert workshops, and practitioner surveys

Managing the health needs of livestock contributes to reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of smallholder and pastoralist livestock keepers globally. Animal health practitioners, producers, policymakers, and researchers all must prioritize how to mobilize limited resources. This study employed three approaches to prioritize animal health needs in East and West Africa and South Asia to identify diseases and syndromes that impact livestock keepers. The approaches were a) systematic literature review, b) a series of expert workshops, and c) a practitioner survey of veterinarians and para-veterinary professionals. The top constraints that emerged from all three approaches include endo/ ectoparasites, foot and mouth disease, brucellosis, peste des petits ruminants, Newcastle disease, and avian influenza. Expert workshops additionally identified contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, mastitis, and reproductive disorders as constraints not emphasized in the literature review. Practitioner survey results additionally identified nutrition as a constraint for smallholder dairy and pastoralist small ruminant production. Experts attending the workshops agreed most constraints can be managed using existing veterinary technologies and best husbandry practices, which supports a shift away from focusing on individual diseases and new technologies towards addressing systemic challenges that limit access to veterinary services and inputs. Few research studies focused on incidence/ prevalence of disease and impact, suggesting better incorporation of socio-economic impact measures in future research would better represent the interests of livestock keepers.

Epidemiological Investigation of Cattle Abortion and Its Association with Brucellosis in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Background

The epidemiology of cattle abortion and its association with brucellosis is not well understood in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the magnitude, associated risk factors of abortion, and its association with brucellosis in cattle of Jimma zone, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2018 to October 2019 in Jimma zone. A total of 484 pregnant cattle were randomly selected from two districts based on the composition of the cattle population. Besides, blood samples were collected from a total of 484 randomly selected cattle to assess the presence of Brucella antibody. The presence of an antibody against Brucella organism was first tested by the Rose Bengal Plate test, and then positive serum was confirmed using the complement fixation test.

Results

An overall 14.30% cumulative incidence rate of abortion was recorded in study areas. In this study, breed, herd size, method of breeding, previous history of abortion, accessibility of dog to cattle and season were identified as risk factors for the occurrence of cattle abortion. Higher cumulative incidence of abortion (31.82%) was observed in Brucella antibody positive cattle than those of antibody negative cattle (13.42%). However, the difference noted was not statistically significant (P<0.05).

Conclusion

It is important to create awareness about the impact of the abortion on cattle production and the applicable control technique of abortion should be aimed and implemented. Moreover, further investigation should be conducted to identify the specific cause of abortion and the associated loss in the study areas.