Abstract:
Abstract: Background: Hypocalcemia is the most important metabolic problems commonly affect
transition dairy cows. (Sub) clinical hypocalcemia also prone the cow to an increased risk of several
transition period problems. The current cross sectional study was conducted from January 2018 to
May 2018 to estimate prevalence and identify associated risk factors of hypocalcaemia and other
peri- and early post-partum period problems of dairy cows in North-Western Ethiopia specifically:
Bahir Dar, Debretabor and Gondar. Methods : Data of 1527 cows was collected by face to face
interview from 288 dairy farmers by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Serum calcium level was
measured from blood samples collected within 12-48 hours of calving from 88 cows that have given
birth during the study period. Ordinary and mixed logistic regressions with random herd effect models
were used to check the association between the variables. Results : Prevalence of peri- and early
post-partum reproductive problems was 80.6% (232/288) and 30.1% (459/1527) at herd and cow
level, respectively. At herd level, retention of fetal membrane had the highest prevalence 41.3%
followed by clinical mastitis 34.7% and milk fever 25.3%. Prevalence of the rest problems was
dystocia 18.1%, clinical metritis 17% and vaginal and uterine prolapse 6.6%. At cow level, retention of
fetal membrane 9.7%, clinical mastitis 8.4%, milk fever 5.6%, dystocia 4.1%, clinical metritis (4.3%)
and vaginal and uterine prolapse was 1.2%. Subclinical hypocalcemia was confirmed in 26.1% (23/88)
of cows. Herd size was significantly associated (p<0.05) with peri- and early post-partum problems at
herd level. Milk fever, retained fetal membrane, and clinical mastitis were significantly associated
(p<0.05) with milk yield and parity. Clinical metritis was significantly associated (p<0.05) with parity.
Subclinical hypocalcemia was significantly associated (p<0.05) with milk yield, parity and body
condition score. Conclusion : From this study the prevalence of (sub) clinical hypocalcemia was on the
lower border of the intervals reported by most studies. One or more peri- and early post-partum
clinical problems were occurred from one third of dairy cows in the study areas. Factors associated
with (sub) clinical hypocalcemia are associated with some of peri- and early post-partum problems
