Research Article
Dereje Tulu and Surra Gebey
Abstract
Abortion is one of the most important causes of economic losses in Ethiopian cattle industry. A cross sectional study was conducted between October 2016 and October 2017 to quantify the prevalence and associated risk factors of abortion in dairy cattle of Jimma Horro district of Kellem Wollega zone in western Ethiopia. A total of 384 dairy cattle were randomly selected from selected peasant associations of the district based on composition of cattle population. The overall prevalence of abortion was 2.9% (11/384) in the study area. This prevalence indicated that efforts should be made to taken measures to control and prevention of abortion in dairy cattle in study area. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified that method of breeding (OR=7.4) and season of calving (OR=4.4) as a risk factor of abortion. However, there were no statistically significant differences observed between herd size, age group, parity, body condition, origin and dairy cattle that had previous history of abortion (P>0.05). Thus, there is a need to create awareness about impact of abortion on dairy cattle and appropriate control methods of abortion should be designed and implemented. Moreover, further investigation considering more causes should be carried out to identify the specific cause of abortion and the associated loss in the study area.