Assessment of Reproductive Health Disorders in Dairy Cattle andIts Associated Risk Factors in Melka Belo Woreda of East HarargheZone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

One of the key elements affecting the profitability of the cow-calf business is reproductive disorders. From March to August of 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Melka Belo Woreda East Hararghe Zone with the aim of identifying reproductive health issues in dairy cattle and the risk factors associated with them. According to the current study, of the 50 respondents, 37 (74%) were men and 13 (26%) were women, with respect to various occupational and educational backgrounds. Of the 50 respondents, 2 (4%) worked in Artificial Insemination, 17 (34%) in animal health, and 31 (62%) as animal owners. All of these respondents were representative of the study population in the study area. Out of the 397 cows that were analyzed, 126 (31.74%) had at least one reproductive issue that was found through both routine follow-up (n = 13) and retrospective analysis (n = 384). The study found that dystocia (8.85%), retained fetal membrane (7.3%), repeat breeder (5.2%), prolapse of the uterus and vagina (4.43%), anestrous (3.13%), and abortion (2.34%) were the main reproductive issues. Breeds and parity had no statistically significant (p>0.05) impact on the incidence of reproductive difficulties in dairy cattle, while the prevalence of assessed reproductive disorders showed a significant difference (p<0.05) with respect to age and body condition. In general, the current findings showed that reproductive health issues are prevalent in the study region, as indicated by their percentage and categories, which occasionally vary. This study demonstrated the strong correlation between reproductive problems and dairy cows’ ability to reproduce. Therefore, consistent control of reproductive health and appropriate husbandry techniques may offer ways to mitigate issues that arise in various production systems. The primary reproductive health conditions in the research region should be the subject of more thorough investigations.