Research Article
Bedaso Kebede Kassaye
Abstract
The cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2009 to April 2010 to investigate factors associated with back sore in working donkeys in Ada'a district, central Oromia, Ethiopia. A total of three hundred eighty five (385) working donkeys with back sore were randomly selected and examined for risk factors back sore. The study revealed that the degree of sore was statistically associated (P<0.05) with sex, cause and age but insignificantly associated (P>0.05) with body condition score. Old age donkeys were extremely vulnerable 256 (66.5%) to the back sore, the highest frequency of mild degree of back sore 215 (55.8%) and medium body condition score donkeys 218 (56.6%) was observed. The location of the back sore was significantly associated (P<0.05) with body conditions but not associated (P>0.05) with sex, age and cause of the back sore. In the study improper harnessing and padding 198 (51.4%) followed by overloading and overworking 184 (47.8%) were the most cause of donkeys back sore. Type of back sore showed a significant (P<0.05) variation in donkeys with different risk factors sex, age, body condition score and cause of sore and erosion 169 (43.9%) was the most frequent followed by laceration 110 (28.6%) in the study area. The current study revealed that there is no variation (P>0.05) in the treatment offered to donkeys with different risk factors sex, age, cause of sore and body condition score. Majority of donkeys with back sore 339(88%) were not gained any treatment. This infers that back sore is the major health and welfare problems of donkeys that compromise performances of working donkeys of the study area.