Author:
Innocent Giles T.,Vance Ciara,Ewing David A.,McKendrick Iain J.,Hailemariam Solomon,Nwankpa Veronica R.,Allan Fiona K.,Schnier Christian,Peters Andrew R.
Abstract
BackgroundPremature death of livestock is a problem in all ruminant production systems. While the number of premature ruminant deaths in a country is a reasonable indicator for the nation's health, few data sources exist in a country like Ethiopia that can be used to generate valid estimates. The present study aimed to establish if three different data sets, each with imperfect information on ruminant mortality, including abortions, could be combined into improved estimates of nationwide mortality in Ethiopia.MethodsWe combined information from a recent survey of ruminant mortality with information from the Living Standards Measurement Study and the Disease Outbreak and Vaccination Reporting dataset. Generalized linear mixed and hurdle models were used for data analysis, with results summarized using predicted outcomes.ResultsAnalyses indicated that most herds experienced zero mortality and reproductive losses, with rare occasions of larger losses. Diseases causing deaths varied greatly both geographically and over time. There was little agreement between the different datasets. While the models aid the understanding of patterns of mortality and reproductive losses, the degree of variation observed limited the predictive scope.ConclusionsThe models revealed some insight into why mortality rates are variable over time and are therefore less useful in measuring production or health status, and it is suggested that alternative measures of productivity, such as number of offspring raised to 1 year old per dam, would be more stable over time and likely more indicative.
Funder
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Reference44 articles.
1. Cattle and small ruminant production systems in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
OtteMJ
ChilondaP
274271902002
2. Refining livestock mortality indicators: a systematic review;Wong;Gates Open Res,2021
3. Ethiopia livestock sector analysis
ShapiroBI
GebruG
DestaS
NegassaA
NigussieK
AbosetG
MechaleH
Nairobi, KenyaILRI Project Report2017
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献