A retrospective study of production and reproductive conditions in crossbred dairy cows attended at Sokoine University of Agriculture Animal Hospital, Tanzania

Abstract

There have been limited field-based studies on animal diseases in particular production and reproductive diseases in crossbred dairy cows in Tanzania. This work reviews ten years records between 1994 and 2003 to establish the occurrences of production and reproductive diseases/disorders in dairy cows attended at Sokoine University of Agriculture Animal Hospital (SUAAH). During this period 1363 cows were attended and the occurrence of reproductive and production diseases/disorders was at the rate of 22.4% and 21.1%, respectively. Major reproductive disorders recorded were anoestrus (38.5%), retained placenta (29.7%), dystocia (9.8%), abortions (6.8%), metritis (6.1%) and pyometra (4.7%). The recorded production diseases included mastitis (65.9%), milk fever (8.4%), non-mastitis udder diseases (8.0%) and laminitis (7.0%). Occurrences of anoestrus and mastitis were statistically higher compared to other diseases recorded (P < 0.05). It is concluded that production diseases and reproductive disorders in particular anoestrus and mastitis are common among dairy cows attended at the SUAAH. Thus, there is a need for extensive epidemiological investigations on the recorded diseases and disorders to better determine the prevalence, predisposing factors, economic impacts and develop strategies for the control at farm level.

Key words: Mastitis, anoestrus, crossbred dairy cows, Morogoro, Tanzania