Reducing camel young stock mortality in Ethiopia

Mortality of young stock is a challenge for livestock producers globally. This pilot study, part of a Government-led Young Stock Mortality Reduction Consortium project was undertaken to identify and evaluate interventions to reduce camel young stock mortality in pastoral production systems in Ethiopia. Key interventions were selected in alignment with national objectives in the Ethiopian Livestock Master Plan. Pastoralists were enrolled by convenience sampling across two regions. The pilot study findings demonstrated highly significant reductions in mortality, risk of diarrhoea and respiratory disease, and death from malnutrition post-intervention, with the greatest impact in larger herds. These findings should contribute to improved livestock productivity in Ethiopia. Indeed, activities from a wider study also piloted are now being scaled up for bovine calves, and it is anticipated that this will be extended to camel and small ruminant young stock as well.