Assessment of Financial Losses from Mastitis Cases of Dairy Cows in Tiro Afeta District of Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma Zone between April 2019 and June 2020 on 460 lactating cows to estimate the prevalence of mastitis, assess risk factors, and estimate the economic loss due to mastitis under current farming system. Based on clinical and California Mastitis Test examination (CMT), overall prevalence of mastitis were 63.5% (292/460) and 26.7% (491/1840) at cow and quarter level. Logistic regression analysis revealed that lactation stages, parity, drying of teat with the same towel, hygiene and presence of teat lesions are a significant contributor to mastitis (P<0.05). A split udder investigation on 20 cross bred cows with sub clinical mastitis showed an average quarter production of 0.95kg per milking. Reduced milk production due to sub clinical mastitis was 1.2%, 6.3% and 32.8% with quarters with scores 1+, 2+, 3+ respectively. With the given distribution of CMT scores on the study populations, a quarter with sub clinical mastitis lost 12% of its milk production. Mastitis losses cost was 33978.68 birr in a single lactation or 103.58 birr per cow per lactation. Milk production losses, treatment and withdrawal contributed 49.8%, 31.5% and 18.6% respectively. Mastitis is a major problem causing significant losses so further preventive and control measures are recommended. The study indicated overall annual financial losses due to mastitis in the area was 359,453.63ETB (15,625.42USD) (8.79%) per year. Therefore hygienic housing and milking practices, minimizing irrational use of antibiotics and molecular studies on the pathogens of mastitis for resistance gene isolation are very important. Keywords: Bovine Mastitis, Prevalence, Risk factors, Financial loss. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/13-17-02 Publication date:September 30th 202