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Brucellosis, genital campylobacteriosis and other factors affecting calving rate of cattle in three states of Northern Nigeria
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Brucellosis, genital campylobacteriosis and other factors affecting calving rate of cattle in three states of Northern Nigeria

Hassan M Mai, Peter C. Irons and Peter N Thompson
BMC veterinary research, Vol.11(1), 7
2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0317-9
PMID: 25601264
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Open Access CC0 V1.0

Abstract

Animals Brucellosis, Bovine - complications Brucellosis, Bovine - epidemiology Campylobacter fetus - isolation & purification Campylobacter Infections - complications Campylobacter Infections - epidemiology Campylobacter Infections - veterinary Cattle Female Genital Diseases, Female - epidemiology Genital Diseases, Female - microbiology Genital Diseases, Female - veterinary Genital Diseases, Male - epidemiology Genital Diseases, Male - microbiology Genital Diseases, Male - veterinary Male Nigeria - epidemiology Pregnancy Reproduction - physiology
Reproductive diseases limit the productivity of cattle worldwide and represent an important obstacle to profitable cattle enterprise. In this study, herd brucellosis and bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) status, and demographic and management variables were determined and related to predicted calving rate (PrCR) of cattle herds in Adamawa, Kaduna and Kano states, Nigeria. Serum samples, preputial scrapings, questionnaire data, trans-rectal palpation and farm records were used from 271 herds. The Rose-Bengal plate test and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for Brucella serology and culture and identification from preputial samples for BGC. A herd was classified as positive if one or more animals tested positive. The PrCR was determined as the number of calvings expected during the previous 6 and next 6 months as a percentage of the number of postpubertal heifers and cows in the herd. A multilevel linear regression model was used to estimate the herd-level effect of Brucella abortus seropositivity, Campylobacter fetus infection and other factors on calculated PrCR. The reproductive performance of the cattle herds was generally poor: Only 6.5% of the nursing cows were pregnant and 51.1% were non-pregnant and acyclic; the mean annual PrCR was 51.4%. Brucella abortus and C. fetus infection of herds were independently associated with absolute reduction in PrCR of 14.9% and 8.4%, respectively. There was also a strong negative association between within-herd Brucella seroprevalence and PrCR. Presence of small ruminants, animal introduction without quarantine and the presence of handling facilities were associated with lower PrCR, whereas larger herd size, supplementary feeding, routine mineral supplementation and care during parturition were associated with higher PrCR. Brucellosis and BGC may be largely responsible for the poor reproductive performance of indigenous Nigerian cattle. Farmer education and measures to improve the fertility of cattle herds are suggested.

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Collaboration types
International collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences
3.51.115 Livestock Reproduction
Web Of Science research areas
Veterinary Sciences
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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