Influence of endometritis, cow- and herd-levels factors on milk yield and reproductive performance of zero-grazed dairy cows on smallholder farms in Rwanda
Author(s): Pascal Nyabinwa, Olivier Basole Kashongwe, Claire d’Andre Hirwa and Bockline Omedo Bebe
Abstract: Suboptimal milk production and reproductive performance manifest in postpartum dairy cows likely reflect associations with the characteristics of the dairy herd management conditions and endometritis infection. The hypothesis was that endometritis, cow- and herd-levels variables, and the combination of all these variables are associated with suboptimal milk yield and reproductive performance of postpartum zero-grazed dairy cows managed on smallholder farms. This research was conducted in Gasabo district, Rwanda, to the smallholder dairy farmers from September 2018 to August 2019. The survey was used to collect the data from 370 farms on 466 cows, sampled by snowball technique. Regression models and the general linear model were used in the analysis. The results showed that in a decreasing magnitude, the milk yield was predicted by cow breed [regression coefficient (β): −2.6, p< 0.001], endometritis infection (β = −1.1, p< 0.001), poor body condition (β = −1.0, p< 0.05), and mastitis positive case (β = −0.8, p< 0.05). For reproductive performance, an increase of one case of anoestrous postpartum and one endometritis positive case was associated with a delay of 64 and 21 days to days- not pregnant, respectively (p< 0.001). Anoestrus postpartum case was more likely to increase by 1.3% if endometritis case increases by 1.0% (p< 0.001). These results reveal the important predictor variables of endometritis, reduced milk yield, and suboptimal fertility performance in postpartum dairy cows. This should inform the basis of management interventions for improved milk production and reproductive performance towards smallholder dairy herd profitability and sustainability.
How to cite this article:
Pascal Nyabinwa, Olivier Basole Kashongwe, Claire d’Andre Hirwa, Bockline Omedo Bebe. Influence of endometritis, cow- and herd-levels factors on milk yield and reproductive performance of zero-grazed dairy cows on smallholder farms in Rwanda. Int J Vet Sci Anim Husbandry 2021;6(6):29-36. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22271/veterinary.2021.v6.i6a.394