RELATIVE SURVIVAL OF CALVES IN 16 TRADITIONALLY MANAGED HERDS IN BAUCHI, NIGERIA

An actuarial life-table approach was used to study the mortality of 27 7 calves born alive in 16 traditionally managed herds in Bauchi, Niger ia from 1993 to 1995. The proportion of calves in the herds surviving for the first 12 months was 53.8%. The probability of dying was greate st during the first month of life and decreased with age. The proporti on of calves surviving in the herds has been increasing for thr last 2 years. We suspect that this is probably due to improvements in manage ment practices. Septicaemia, malnutrition and injury were the common c auses of calf mortality. We recommend that more attention be given to improving the management of calves early in life in order to reduce mo rtality of calves and hence reduce economic losses to the herd owner. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.