Retrospective Study on Major Bovine Diseases and Financial Loss Due to Treatment in Wolaita Zone: A Case of Sodo Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia

A retrospective study was undertaken at Sodo zuria district of Wolaita zone during November, 2015 to April, 2016 with the aim of to describe the important diseases and disorders observed in cattle and to assess and estimate the financial loss due to the treatment of such cases. For this purpose a 4 years data, from January, 2011 to December, 2015, were collected from patient register of sodo zuria district veterinary clinic case recording book. During the study, a total of 6105 cattle were examined and 21 various types of diseases and disorders were identified. The commonly found diseases were gastrointestinal worm infestation (26.2%), trypanosomosis (26.2%), infectious systemic problems (17.3%), mixed infections (12.2%), mastitis (9.2%), ectoparasite infestation (6.5%), pneumonia (2.7%) and Lumpy skin disease (1.1%). Rest of the diseases and disorders had lower percentage than 1%. The occurrence of diseases and disorders were higher in female and young than male and adult animals, respectively. Internal parasite infestation found to be the most prevalent cattle diseases among all groups of cattle, which was followed by trypanosomosis and infectious systemic problem. For the treatment and management of 6105 patient cattle, different types of antibiotics, antihelminthics, antiprotozoal, acaricides, disinfectants and multivitamins were used. The total estimated financial loss was found to be 147,844.00 Ethiopian birr (ETB) and high amount of money was lost because of antiprotozoal purchase (52,032.54ETB). Thus, these diseases and disorders were found that they cause a considerable financial loss due to treatment of the affected animals. This study suggests that implementing control programs targeting these diseases and disorders and conducting further retrospective epidemiologic analysis for a long period of years to identify risk factors of diseases and exact economic impact will help to reduce the occurrence and the direct and indirect economic loss due to this diseases and disorders in this area