A retrospective study of cattle diseases and control in in Selected Government Farms in Tanzania from 2021 to 2023

Abstract

Cattle diseases remain a major challenge to production and productivity, livelihoods, public health, and the safe utilization of cattle and their products. A three-year retrospective study (2021–2023) was conducted in nine selected government livestock farms to assess disease burden, trends and distribution. Farm records were reviewed to ascertain cattle herd size, breed, age, disease events, deaths, vaccination and acaricide application. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate trends and temporal patterns, while negative binomial regression identified significant risk factors for disease occurrence. The study analyzed a total of 18 562 cattle with 3,790 disease cases and 2,251 deaths reported. Crude morbidity and mortality rates were 20.4% and 12.1%, respectively. Black quarter recorded the highest morbidity (16.1%) and mortality (7.6%). Other notable health problems included starvation (4.9%), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (4.2%), diarrhoea (4.5%) and East Coast Fever (2.2%). The significant risk factors for the occurrence of diseases or conditions included dairy cattle (22.7%), young age (28%), cattle in the central zone (41.8%), and the dry seasons (64.1%). Vaccination and acaricide application were the only disease control methods documented. Vaccination against six diseases namely CBPP, Black quarter, Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease, Brucellosis, and Anthrax were recorded, with the highest vaccination coverage in Kongwa and Ruvu farms. Use of acaricide and vaccination in cattle were associated with reduction in disease incidence.  Acaricide use and vaccination both had incidence rate ratio of less than 1 (IRR= 0.998, p < 0.05). Diseases and conditions are endemic in Government farms persistently cause of mortality regardless of control measures in place. Therefore, good livestock management practices in farms when integrated with proper vaccination, strategic acaricide use, and adoption of climate-resilient livestock management are the solutions to these health challenges.