227
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_13
A Cohort Study of Reproductive
Performance, Associated Infections
and Management Factors in Zebu Cows
from Smallholder Farms in Malawi
M. A. Bhatti, W. Chanza, S. Klevar, L. A. Kamwanja, T. B. Klem,
D. C. Jansen, H. Holm, M. Chipandula, G. Njunga, M. Stokstad,
and O. Reksen
Abstract Smallholder Zebu cattle farming is of prime importance for the livelihood of Malawians, and optimising cattle reproductive efficiency represents one
way to increase food production. The objective of this study was to determine the
reproductive performance and associated factors in a cohort of Malawi Zebu cows
(n = 100) across 36 smallholder farms for a 2-year period. The birth of a live calf
was observed in 78 dams and stillbirths/late abortions in 5 cows, 14 cows were censored, and 3 cows did not calve throughout the study period.
Median time from calving to resumption of luteal activity was 61 days. Mean
calving interval was 457 days with 32% of the variation residing at herd level. A
significant association was found between time from calving to conception (open
days) and the presence of a breeding bull in a herd (156 versus 235 days) and
between multiparous and primiparous cows (170 versus 220 days). Cows were
screened three times, at 6-month interval, for antibodies against selected infectious
agents. None were positive for Brucella spp., six were positive for bovine viral diarrhoea virus and two for N. caninum antibodies. No blood smears were positive for
Babesia spp. or Theileria spp., but three were positive for Trypanosoma spp.
Conclusively, this study indicated a low prevalence of the studied infections and a
M. A. Bhatti (*) · T. B. Klem · D. C. Jansen · H. Holm · M. Stokstad · O. Reksen
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Oslo, Norway
e-mail: muhammad.azher.bhatti@nmbu.no
W. Chanza · L. A. Kamwanja · M. Chipandula
Trustees of Agricultural Promotion Programme, LPMU Headquarters, Lilongwe, Malawi
S. Klevar
Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Veterinærinstituttet, Oslo, Norway
G. Njunga
Trustees of Agricultural Promotion Programme, LPMU Headquarters, Lilongwe, Malawi
Department of Animal Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_13
A Cohort Study of Reproductive
Performance, Associated Infections
and Management Factors in Zebu Cows
from Smallholder Farms in Malawi
M. A. Bhatti, W. Chanza, S. Klevar, L. A. Kamwanja, T. B. Klem,
D. C. Jansen, H. Holm, M. Chipandula, G. Njunga, M. Stokstad,
and O. Reksen
Abstract Smallholder Zebu cattle farming is of prime importance for the livelihood of Malawians, and optimising cattle reproductive efficiency represents one
way to increase food production. The objective of this study was to determine the
reproductive performance and associated factors in a cohort of Malawi Zebu cows
(n = 100) across 36 smallholder farms for a 2-year period. The birth of a live calf
was observed in 78 dams and stillbirths/late abortions in 5 cows, 14 cows were censored, and 3 cows did not calve throughout the study period.
Median time from calving to resumption of luteal activity was 61 days. Mean
calving interval was 457 days with 32% of the variation residing at herd level. A
significant association was found between time from calving to conception (open
days) and the presence of a breeding bull in a herd (156 versus 235 days) and
between multiparous and primiparous cows (170 versus 220 days). Cows were
screened three times, at 6-month interval, for antibodies against selected infectious
agents. None were positive for Brucella spp., six were positive for bovine viral diarrhoea virus and two for N. caninum antibodies. No blood smears were positive for
Babesia spp. or Theileria spp., but three were positive for Trypanosoma spp.
Conclusively, this study indicated a low prevalence of the studied infections and a
M. A. Bhatti (*) · T. B. Klem · D. C. Jansen · H. Holm · M. Stokstad · O. Reksen
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Oslo, Norway
e-mail: muhammad.azher.bhatti@nmbu.no
W. Chanza · L. A. Kamwanja · M. Chipandula
Trustees of Agricultural Promotion Programme, LPMU Headquarters, Lilongwe, Malawi
S. Klevar
Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Veterinærinstituttet, Oslo, Norway
G. Njunga
Trustees of Agricultural Promotion Programme, LPMU Headquarters, Lilongwe, Malawi
Department of Animal Health, Lilongwe, Malawi