Prevalence and risk factors of reproductive health problems in dairy cows in Southern Ethiopia

Reproductive disorders are the leading cause of economic loss in the cattle industry, as they reduce the reproductive efficiency and lifetime productivity of cows. In Ethiopian dairy, without proper preventive measures, these disorders can have a severe impact on productivity. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the extent of these issues and the factors contributing to them in order to improve the health and productivity of dairy cows. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, type, and potential risk factors for reproductive health problems in dairy farms in Hawassa city and Wolaita Sodo town. We observed 391 pregnant and postpartum cows for reproductive disorders and used a logistic regression model to identify risk factors. The study found that 165 cows (41.6%; 95% CI: 36.8-46.5%) had at least one reproductive issue. The most common disorders included retained fetal membrane (11.6%), dystocia (10.5%), metritis (7.2%), abortion (5.6%), stillbirth (2.6%), uterine/vaginal prolapse (2.3%), endometritis (2.1%), and pyometra (0.5%). The risk of dystocia significantly increased with male calf deliveries (OR=2.9; p=0.004) and larger farm sizes (OR=2.1; p=0.039). Cows experiencing dystocia were 5.3 times more likely to have retained fetal membrane (p<0.001). Heifers were significantly more likely to develop metritis (OR=5.1; p=0.001), as were cows with retained fetal membrane (OR=11.6; p<0.001). The incidence of abortion was significantly elevated in cows from semi-intensive farms (OR= 5.3; p<0.001). The study .....