Tschopp Rea, Gemechu Gizachew, Wood James L N
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Front Vet Sci. 2021 Aug 12;8:698760. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698760. eCollection 2021.
Ethiopia is witnessing an emergence of intensive urban dairy farming. The aims of this study were to capture cattle productivity parameters in selected intensive dairy farms in and around Addis Ababa (Central Ethiopia). The study is a pre-requisite and baseline for further economic analysis of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis (BTB) and to assess some of the current challenges faced by farm owners for optimal animal performances. Hence, a 3-year longitudinal observational study was conducted for the first time in Ethiopia, in 24 dairy farms with intensive husbandry, including a total of 1,705 dairy animals. Herd characteristics, animal movement, and productivity parameters (fertility, morbidity, mortality) were recorded in a herd-book. Whereas, half the farms saw their animals increase in number over the 3 years, 37.5% (mainly large farms) saw their herd size decrease. Offtakes accounted for 76.6% of all animal exits. One hundred and ninety (11.1%) animals died of natural causes. Highest mortality was observed in young stock (13.9%). Overall, diseases were the leading cause for death (57.5%). The majority of calves (69%) that died, did so within the first week of life. Mean calving interval (CI) was 483.2 days. Successful conception after artificial insemination (AI) was 66.1% with Addis Ababa and smaller farms faring worst. Mean time interval from calving to first service was 152 days. Date of birth to first service was 592.2 days and date of birth to first calving was 794.7 days. In conclusion, the study showed sub-optimal productivity performances in intensive dairy cattle and highlighted some of the current gaps and challenges in urban dairy productivity.
埃塞俄比亚正在兴起集约化城市奶牛养殖。本研究的目的是获取亚的斯亚贝巴（埃塞俄比亚中部）及其周边选定的集约化奶牛场的牛生产性能参数。该研究是对牛结核病（BTB）等疾病进行进一步经济分析的前提条件和基线，也是评估农场主目前为实现最佳动物性能所面临的一些挑战的前提条件和基线。因此，埃塞俄比亚首次在24个采用集约化养殖的奶牛场进行了为期3年的纵向观察研究，共涉及1705头奶牛。在畜群登记簿中记录了畜群特征、动物流动情况和生产性能参数（繁殖力、发病率、死亡率）。在这3年里，一半的农场奶牛数量增加，而37.5%的农场（主要是大型农场）畜群规模缩小。出栏占所有动物离场的76.6%。190头（11.1%）动物死于自然原因。幼畜死亡率最高（13.9%）。总体而言，疾病是死亡的主要原因（57.5%）。大多数死亡的犊牛（69%）在出生后第一周内死亡。平均产犊间隔（CI）为483.2天。人工授精（AI）后的受孕成功率为66.1%，亚的斯亚贝巴和较小农场的情况最差。从产犊到首次配种的平均时间间隔为152天。从出生到首次配种的时间为592.2天，从出生到首次产犊的时间为794.7天。总之，该研究表明集约化奶牛的生产性能未达最佳，并突出了城市奶牛生产目前存在的一些差距和挑战。
