Major Dairy Health Problems in and around Maichew, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia possesses Africa’s largest cattle population, yet dairy productivity remains low due to poor management, inadequate nutrition, and high disease prevalence. In Southern Tigray, particularly around Maichew, limited information exists on the clinical health problems constraining dairy production. This study was conducted to identify the major clinical health problems of dairy cattle and identifying challenges in current healthcare practices and control strategies. A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2013 to April 2014 in 28 purposively selected dairy farms (22 urban, 6 peri-urban) using structured questionnaires and regular farm observations every three weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 20. The study covered 385 dairy cattle, of which 35.07% were clinically diseased. The most frequently observed health problems were infectious diseases (9.35%), reproductive disorders (7.27%), respiratory diseases (6.23%), miscellaneous diseases (4.94%), metabolic disorders (3.38%), ectoparasitic infestations (2.34%), and internal parasitism (1.56%). Major specific conditions included retained fetal membranes (5.71%), repeat breeding (6.49%), mastitis (4.68%), and blackleg (4.16%). Disease prevalence was higher in semi-intensive (49.33%) than in intensive systems (31.61%), and more common in small-scale farms (89.29%) compared to medium (64.06%) and large-scale farms (23.55%). Only 39.29% of farmers were aware of vaccination, and hygiene practices were generally poor. In conclusion, the study revealed that dairy productivity around Maichew is significantly constrained by reproductive and infectious diseases, poor farm management, and limited veterinary support. Strengthening farmers’ awareness of preventive measures, improving access to veterinary services and drugs, and implementing effective disease control programs are essential to enhance dairy health and productivity.