CALF MORBIDITY IN A MEDIUM SCALE DAIRY FARM
Keben J. (2012)
ABSTRACT.
A study was carried out in The University of Nairobi Veterinary farm (Kanyariri farm) on calf morbidities.
The research was carried out between February and August 2012. A population of 36 calves was used in
the study. Records of these calves were used to check the infections that these calves got during the
above research period. Out of the 36 calves, 12 of them got sick during the period making a 7 month
cummulative morbidity of 33.3%. These calves got infected with various diseases: pneumonia and
respiratory tract infections, calf scours, helminthosis, anaplasmosis and omphalitis. Pneumonia and
respiratory tract infections had the highest frequency of 41.67%, followed by calf scours, helminthosis
and anaplasmosis all tying at 16.67% then lastly omphalitis with a frequency of 8.33%. The monthly
average morbidity rate was 4.76%. The months with the highest morbidity rates were April and May
(8.66% each) and the lowest morbidity was in March (0%). Pneumonia and respiratory tract infections,
helminthosis omphalitis and anaplasmosis occurred in calves more than a month old. Scours occurred in
calves less than one and a half a months old. On the other hand, all cases of anaplasmosis were reported
in the oldest calves, between 6 and 9 months.