A. Jemal et Me. Hughjones, ASSOCIATION OF TSETSE CONTROL WITH HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CATTLE IN THE DIDESSA VALLEY, WESTERN ETHIOPIA, Preventive veterinary medicine, 22(1-2), 1995, pp. 29-40
A total of 854 cattle, equivalent to 1099 animal-years, were monitored
over a period of 2 calendar years (June 1990-June 1992) in four villa
ges in the Didessa Valley (western Ethiopia) to assess possible associ
ations between the tsetse control program and the health and productiv
ity of local zebu cattle kept under traditional management. The four v
illages had different levels of trypanosomosis prevalence. The initial
and final cattle population compositions showed that male adult cattl
e accounted for the highest proportion in all villages as they were ke
pt primarily for draught power. Standardized mortality rates differed
among villages. The risks of cattle dying in the tsetse unprotected vi
llages ranged from 4 to 9 times higher than in the tsetse protected vi
llage (Meti). Recorded calving rates were 81% for the single protected
village and 64% for the highest of the unprotected villages. The esti
mated offtake rates were in opposite directions: a positive 16% in Met
i (tsetse protected village) versus a negative 18% in the nearest tset
se unprotected village to Meti. Thus, there are strong suggestions tha
t the tsetse control has affected the health and productivity of cattl
e in the valley.