Causes of mortality and morbidity of domestic ruminants on the central plateau of Namibia

Abstract

Abstract by author:

A research was carried out to identify the main causes of mortality and morbidity at Neudamm farm and the preventative measures that are taken to control the occurrence of diseases on the farm. The information was obtained from the farm records and by interviewing the technicians dealing with the domestic ruminants. The Chi-square test was used to determine any significant difference between the variables. Even though there is disease preventative measures in place the study found cases when animals died or affected by certain disease conditions. The main causes of mortality and morbidity were predation and plant poisoning as well as infectious conditions including generalized abscesses, Pastereullosis, eye infections and swollen joints. It was noted that the farm has not established the causative agents responsible for some of these symptoms although some of them resemble certain important zoonoses. Although farm records at Neudamm were not comprehensive, the study never-the-less shed light on the conditions that causes disease and mortality on the farm. The study recommended a standardized farm record keeping form for all Namibian farms to facilitate retrospective studies when respective farm level problems arise