Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2022)

Author(s): Wossene Negash and Teshager Dubie

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January to July 2014 GC in an attempt to assess and prioritize major domestic ruminants’ diseases and identify risk factors in the selected areas of the Afar region. Livestock owners’ interviews and retrospective data analysis were the study methods employed. Relevant collected data was organized and further analyzed using SPSS statistical tools at p<0.05. Descriptive statistics were carried out to determine the frequencies of domestic ruminants’ diseases. Based on descriptive statistics, the study identified and prioritized 23, 22, and 21 cattle, goat, and sheep diseases, respectively. Chi-Square analysis was computed to measure the degree of association between disease occurrence and risk factors (age, sex, study area, and season). Binomial and multinomial logistic regression analyzes were computed at p<0.05 to measure the significance of associated risk factors on disease occurrence. Statistically significant variations (p<0.05) were observed for sex, seasons, age, and study sites on the occurrence of disease, with the exception of kebeles (p>0.05). Though the study duly has revealed numerous diseases of domestic ruminants, the actual existence (laboratory-based confirmation) and epidemiology of each disease still demand further investigative studies. Therefore, this study recommended further and continued research activities or confirmatory investigations on the present findings to be conducted, including specific sample collection and laboratory identification of etiologies of each disease combined with careful epidemiological studies.

DOI: 10.22271/veterinary.2022.v7.i1a.402