Causes of calf mortality in Kabete area of Kenya

Abstract

A total of 345 calf carcases of mainly dairy breeds from the farms around Kabete area were examined at the post-mortem facility in the Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nairobi, over a 10-year period (1980-1989). About 46.8% of the total deaths took place within the first 2 months, 31.8% of them in the first month and 13.3% in the first 2 weeks. In 23 cases (6.7%) no specific cause of death was determined. The major causes of death were diseases of the alimentary tract (31.3%)--mainly gastroenteritis (76/108) due to colibacillosis, salmonellosis, coccidiosis and helminthiasis, and bloat (20/108). The other major causes of death were diseases of the respiratory tract (16.8%)--mainly pneumonia (42/58), and tick-borne diseases (13.3%)--mainly east coast fever (ECF) (37/46). The alimentary and respiratory diseases were most common in the 1-30 d age group. The other causes of death occurred in the following frequencies: musculoskeletal system (7.0%), septicaemia (6.7%), malnutrition (6.1%), cardiovascular system (3.7%), nervous system (3.2%), liver (2.6%) and poisoning (2.6%).