Influence of Production on Health and Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cattle in a Selected Area of Tanzania

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of milk productivity on health and fertility of dairy cattle raised in Morogoro. Tanzania.  It compared disease incidence, culling rates and fertility indices in three production groups of dairy cows. Group I comprised of 30 cows producing over   500 kg of milk in the first 30 days of lactation. Group II was formed by 64 cows producing 300-500 kg of milk and Group III was formed by 56 cows producing less than 300 kg of milk. Diseases included in this study were mastitis, metritis, laminitis, anaplasmosis and trypanosomiasis. Highest disease incidence rates were recorded in Group I. followed by Group II. Group Ill registered the lowest disease incidence rates. Difference between groups was significant (p<0.105). Culling  rates  due  to  health problems were  40%,  9.4% and  7.1%  for groups,  I, II and III respectively. Calving to  first  service  (Mean  ± SEM)  for  groups  I,  II  and  Ill  were 97 ± 11,  99 ± 5 and l 22 ± l0 days respectively.  Corresponding calving to conception  periods were  111 ± 12,  131  ± 6  and 156 ± 14  days  and calving  intervals  were  386  ± 13, 416 ± 8 and 433 ± 13 days  for  groups  I,  II,  and  Ill, respectively. Correlations between  milk   produced   in   the   first   30 days  of  lactation   and   days  to  first  service as well as calving to conception period were significant (p<0.05; r=0.23 and -0.22. respectively). Correlation between 30 day milk yield and number of services per conception was however not significant (r = -0.l5; p> 0.05). In general high milk producing cows  tended  to  have  better  fertility  although  they  were more  susceptible   to  diseases.   It   was therefore concluded that   the potential for high milk yield and fertility in dairy cows can be realized if herd health management is intensified