Affiliation:
1. Tigray Agricultural Research Institute
2. Abergelle Agricultural Research Center
3. Ghent University
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Abortion is among the leading cause of production losses in Tigray. A retrospective study on abortion cases were conducted for over seven years in goat farm located in Tanqua Abergelle district of Ethiopia with the objectives of investigating the occurrence of abortion and associated risk factors.
Results
The study illustrated that the overall abortion rate observed was 29.8% in the goat farm. The highest abortion rate was observed in Begait goat breeds (50.9%, CI 0.36–0.64) during the 2015/16 study year. The chi-square test and univariable regression analysis revealed that the overall abortion rate significantly varied with breed type, season, age, and year (P < 0.05) but no variation with parity (P > 0.05). Accordingly, goats during the dry season (OR 1.74, CI 1.28–2.37) were more likely to have abortion than during the wet season (OR 0.29, CI 0.23–0.37) and Begait breeds (rate. 37.5%, OR 3.5, CI 1.85–7.23) show higher abortion as compared to the other breeds. Looking at the within breeds (animal level), the factors parity, age, years and season (p < 0.05) were among the important factors in Abergelle breeds, season and study years (P < 0.05) were significantly differed in Begait breeds, and none of the factors were important in cross breeds for the occurrence of abortion. A survey at the community level (outside the farm) revealed that 26 out of 29 (89.7%) households responded that their goats experienced abortion.
Conclusions
The results showed that high abortion rate and seasonally and/or yearly varied abortion cases were observed along with causative agents remained to be investigated. This research finding could provide essential information for the breeding research center and nearby farmers to introduce better management, and abortion prevention methods. In addition, appropriate investigation to identify the causes of abortion should be the next research direction.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
Reference36 articles.
1. Desta D, Hagos H, Belay S, Gizaw S, Legese G. Analysis of goat value chains in Tanqua Abergelle district, Tigray, Ethiopia. ICARDA (2013), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
2. CSA. Agricultural Sample Survey: Report on Livestock and livestock characterstics (Private Peasant Holdings). Central Statistics Agency (2020) Volume II, Statistical bulletin 587,Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
3. Clinical survey on major ruminant diseases in Kola Tembien and Tanqua Aberegelle districts, Central Zone of Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia;Abay G;J Veterinary Med Anim Health,2017
4. A preliminary survey of major diseases of ruminants and management practices in Western Tigray province, northern Ethiopia;Welay GM;BMC Vet Res,2018
5. Tibary A. Overview of abortion in large animals. MSD and the MSD Veterinary Manual, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA; 2022.