Management assessment of cattle exposed to trypanosomosis challenge in the new settlement and native areas of the Ghibe Valley, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was conducted from October 2007 to April 2008 using a semi-structured questionnaire and blood samples in the Ghibe Valley, southwest of Ethiopia, to assess the management of cattle exposed to trypanosomosis in two communities, the natives and the new settlers. Blood samples collected from the ear of 429 cattle (210 from the natives and 219 from the new settlers) revealed an overall prevalence of 5.4%, with 6.2 and 4.6% in the natives and the new settlers, respectively. This difference between communities was not significant (p > 0.45). Qualitative and quantitative information was obtained from 50 natives and 51 new settlers randomly selected using the questionnaire. Most management practices of cattle in the natives’ and new settlers’ communities were found to be significantly different. Although the prevalence of trypanosomosis infection was not significantly different between the two communities, more animals were found anemic in the natives’ herds than in the new-settlers’. Further research should be carried out to determine the major reason that contributed to the difference observed between the PCVs of both communities. Moreover, attention toward effective management of trypanosomosis in both communities of the Ghibe Valley is needed to improve prevention and control strategies.