H. Kirunda , F. Kabi , N. Muwereza , T. Kabuuka , J.W. Magona and G. Lukwago

1. Knowledge and perceptions of smallholder dairy farmers of cattle disease burdens in selected agro-ecological zones of Uganda H. Kirunda, F. Kabi,N. Muwereza, T. Kabuuka, J.W. Magona and G. Lukwago NARO Scientific Conference, 1st – 3rd October, 2012 Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Entebbe, Uganda

2. Introduction • Dairy production contributes 45% of the 9% that the livestock sector adds to the national GDP(UBOS, 2007) • In Uganda indigenous cattle accounts for 82.7% (Okidiet al., 2004) of the 11.4m cattle kept (UBOS/MAAIF, 2009) • The other proportion (17.3%) of the total dairy herd is comprised of crossbreed and exotic cattle (UBOS, 2009) • Dairy production and productivity have remained low partly due to disease infections in livestock (NDP, 2010) • Uganda annually loses US$ 86.3m due to animal diseases, mainly as a result of high morbidity (58%) and mortality (30%) (Wozemba and Nsanja, 2008)

3. Introduction • Tick-borne infections are the greatest limitations (Okello-Onenet al. 1994 and are still widely prevalent in Uganda (Rubaire-Akiikiet al., 2004, Ochaidoet al., 2009) • Other endemic diseases are trypanosomiasis (Waiswa and Katunguka, 2004), mastitis (Byarugabaet al., 2008) and brucellosis (Makita et al., 2011) • Among other key challenges is calf mortality and helminthosis (Ocaidoet al., 2009) • This study sought to establish the current disease burden in smallholder dairy farming systems as perceived by farmers

4. Methodology

5. Study design • This cross-sectional study was conducted in purposively selected districts of Jinja, Kiruhura and Katakwi • These lie in the L. Victoria Basin (LVB), Western Rangelands (WR) and Eastern Semi Arid Zone (ESAZ) (Mwebaze, 1999) • 50 households were selected per district using systematic random sampling procedures • Questionnaires were administered 150 farm households to seek farmers’ perceptions on animal health parameters

6. Study design cont’d • Based on the perceptions, diseases were ranked based on reported level of severity using a scale of 1 to 3 • All diseases with average severity of ≤ 2 were taken as the most important diseases in the AEZ • In order to validate the content of data generated using the questionnaire, the content validity ratio (CVR) (1975) was used • The mean CVR across items was used as an indicator of overall test content validity

7. Data processing and analysis • Cross tabulation and graphic drawings were done using SPSS • Linear Discriminant analysis (Huberty, 1994) in XLSTAT (2011) was conducted to; • Establish diseases common to each AEZ • Establish existence of significant effects (p<0.05) of season, age and breed on disease parameters: • Severity • Prevalence • Morbidity • Mortality • Treatment costs

8. Data processing and analysis • Multivariate Analysis of Variance in PAST Software was used to establish influence of AEZs on diseases/conditions • Means were separated using the Wilk’slambda tests • Scatter plots were drawn and biplots fitted to show the correlations

9. Key findings

10. Proportions of reproduction conditions in different cattle breeds

11. Percent seasonal prevalence of diseases

12. Diseases with highest morbidity

13. Prevalence of abortion, mastitis and milk fever in the three agro-ecological zones ESAZ LVB WR

14. Disease severity and prevalence in different seasons • The season significantly (p<0.05) influenced the severity, morbidity, mortality and treatment costs • Severity was reportedly similar in both short and long rains (1.6) • Morbidity was higher in long (4.5) than short rain season (3.1) • Mortality was higher in long (0.7) than short rains (0.6) • Average costs of treatment were higher in short (US$ 22) than long rains (US$ 17) each of three months period

15. Disease severity, mortality and average cost of treatment per AEZ

16. Disease severity, mortality and average cost of treatment per AEZ • In the LVB, ECF and mastitis had; • The highest morbidity (1.9; 3.7) • The highest severity (1.33; 1.33) • The highest mortalities (0.42; 0.33) and • The treatment costs (US$ 15; US$ 16) per a quarter a year

17. Disease severity, mortality and average cost of treatment per AEZ • In the ESAZ, fascioliasis, mastitis and abortion had; • The highest severity (2; 2; 2) • The highest morbidity (16; 4.4; 5.5) • ECF had the highest treatment cost (US$ 18)

18. Disease severity, mortality and average cost of treatment per AEZ • In the WR, mastitis, FMD and ECF had; • The highest severities (1.9; 1.8 and 1.5) and • The highest morbidity (4.0; 4.2; 3.2) • FMD and ECF had the highest mortalities (1.5; 1.2) • Highest treatment costs/three months were for ECF (US$ 26) and babesiosis (US$ 17)

19. Disease severity, mortality & average cost of treatment • Disease severity, morbidity, mortality and treatment costs were significantly different (p<0.05) among the different breed of cattle in the three AEZs • Severity was 1.9 in indigenous, 1.5 in exotics and 1.3 in crosses • Morbidity: indigenous (5.5), crosses (4.1), exotics (2.3) • Mortality: crosses (1.0), indigenous (0.7) and exotics (0.1) • Treatment costs: crosses (US$ 25), indigenous (US$ 17) and exotics (US$ 11)

20. Disease severity, mortality & average cost of treatment for different age groups • Age of cattle had significant effect (p<0.05) on severity, morbidity, mortality and treatment costs in all AEZ • Severity: mature cattle (1.6) and infants (1.4) • Morbidity: mature cattle (4.5) and young (3.2) • Mortality: young cattle (1.0) and mature (0.6) • Treatment costs: young cattle (US$ 19) compared to mature (US$ 18)

21. Acknowledgements • Government of Uganda • EAAPP/NARO • NaLIRRI • District Local Governments (Jinja, Kiruhura, Katakwi) • Farmers (Jinja, Kiruhura and Katakwi)

22. Thank you for listening!