A cross sectional study was carried out from November 2017 to June 2018 to assess awareness status and management practice common among dairy cows owners and to determine the prevalence of bovine mastitis and its associated risk factors in four districts and nine kebelles of Western Zone of Tigray Regional State, North West Ethiopia. In this study, out of the 355 dairy cows and 1314 functional quarters examined, 99(27.89%) cows and 142(10.81%) quarters were found positive for sub-clinical mastitis on California Mastitis Test (CMT). In addition, from the 355 dairy cows and 1420 quarters examined, 88(24.79%) and 108(7.61%) cows and teats respectively, were found to be blind. From the total risk factors considered, statistically significant association (P<0.05) was found in different breed, udder type and parity. Semi structured questionnaires surveys were distributed to 87(95.60%) males and 4(4.40%) females. According to the survey result, 76(83.52%) of the dairy cow owners housed their cows in open area with muddy or soily floor type. From the total 91 interviewed 32(35.16%) regularly dispose dung and cleaning of house. During the survey, udder management before and after milking was assessed. According to the response of 89(97.80%) milkers washed their hands prior to milking and 2(2.20%) did not. From the total 91interviewed individuals, 13(14.29%) milkers disinfect their hands before proceeding to milk the next cow while 78(85.71%) did not. During the survey, sequence of milking cows was assessed. Based on the response of respondents, 85(93.41%) of the milker did not follow sequence of milking and the rest 6(6.59%) milkers emphasized the need to follow the order of milking. The result of the present study indicated a relatively high prevalence of subclinical mastitis and with higher incidence of one or more nonfunctional teat which impose higher economic loss to the dairy owners. Lack of strategic control measures and improper attention to the health of the mammary glands contribute the higher infestation rate. Better management practices in milking and adequate housing with proper sanitation should be provided.

The aim of the survey was to assess artificial insemination (AI) service delivery system and identify the challenges and opportunities of AI service in cattle production in Western Zone of Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Twenty Kebeles (lowest administrative units) and 353 respondents were purposively involved in face-to-face interview. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and mainly summarized by frequency and percentages. Chi-square test was the statistical method used to test proportions of variables. There was statistically significant (P<0.05) differences in AI service interruptions in both regular working hours and weekends and holiday hours. AI service interruption was a critical challenge in regular working days and in weekends and holidays. This is because 73% of the respondents reported that AI service was interrupted in Monday through Friday and 75% of the respondents also reported that Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs) were not available to deliver AI service in weekends and holidays. Above half (63%) of the small scale farmers reported that AITs were very poor. Most of the very poor AITs were in midland (48%) and lowland (36%) agro-ecologies compared to the AITs in highland (16%) agro-ecology. Mobile AI service delivery system through motor bikes was the most common AI service delivery system used. The major challenges of AI service in order of their importance were lack of community awareness, poor animal management, unskilled AITs and inadequacy of AITs. The government and NGOs should solve the current challenges of AI service. The current approach and system of AI delivery should be restructured. Adequate numbers of skilled manpower should be assigned based on the standard numbers of breedable cows per AI center or per AIT. Moreover, agro-ecology based human management system and infrastructure development should be adequately addressed.

A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2016 to May 2017 to identify the major ectoparasites species and potential risk factors in Welkait district western part of Tigray region. A total of 102 sheep and 324 goats were physically examined and samples were taken for laboratory analysis. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi with a prevalence of 58 (56.86%), Amblyomma gemma 12 (11.76%), Amblyomma variegatum 27 (26.47%), Boophilus decoloratus 7 (6.86%), and Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum 1 (0.98%) in sheep and R. evertsi evertsi 108 (33.02%), A. gemma 8 (2.47%), A. variegatum 158 (48.77%), and R. B. decoloratus 19 (5.86%) in goats were the most important tick species identified. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was obtained in the prevalence of A. gemma (x2 = 14.981; p=0.001) and A. variegatum (x2 = 15.696; p=0.001) between sheep and goats and R. B. decloratus (x2 = 8.137; p=0.017), A. variegatum (x2 = 90.159; p=0.00p=0.00), and A. gamma (x2 = 18.642; p=0.00) in goats and A. variegatum (x2 = 71.081; p=0.00) and R. B. decloratus (x2 = 28.980; p=0.001) in sheep by agroecology. R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 13.400; p=0.001) and A. variegatum (x2 = 13.511; p=0.001) in goats and R. B. decoloratus (x2 = 71.892; p=0.001) and A. gemma (x2 = 6.414; p = 0.040) in sheep were found to have statistically significant association (p<0.05) in the prevalence among different body condition categories in the present study. R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 6.557; p=0.010) and R. B. decoloratus (x2 = 4.856; p=0.028) in goats and R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 5.776; p=0.016) in sheep by sex group and R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 40.556; p=0.001) and A. variegatum (x2 = 7.214; p=0.007) in goats by age group were also statistically associated (p<0.05). Infestation rate of R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 7.136; p=0.008), R. B. decoloratus (x2 = 9.621; p=0.002), and A. variegatum (x2 = 10.372; p=0.001) in goats between flock type had statistically significant association (p<0.05) in this study. The current result revealed that Linognathus stenopsis was the second highest prevalent ectoparasite with an overall prevalence of 0.00% in sheep and 25.93% in goats. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the prevalence of L. stenopsis (x2 = 32.940; p=0.001) between the two species and in body condition category (x2 = 10.700; p=0.005) in goats in the present study. Moreover, Ctenocephalides canis and Ctenocephalides felis were the flea species found in the present report. Significant variation (p<0.05) in C. canis prevalence among different agroecology (x2 = 10.264; p=0.006) in goats and between adult and young age (x2 = 5.052; p=0.025) in sheep and (x2 = 21.267; p=0.001) in goats was obtained in the present study. Sarcoptes scapie var. caprea with a prevalence of 0 (0.00%) in sheep and 4 (1.23%) in goats had no significant association (p>0.05) in all the risk factors considered. The present result indicated that ectoparasites especially tick species were more prevalent in small ruminants and may affect the wellbeing and productivity of goats and sheep in the study district. Therefore, well-coordinated and urgent control intervention should be conducted.

A cross-sectional survey study was conducted from November 2015 to May 2016 in Welkait district Western part of Tigray Region. A total of 120 small ruminant owners were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. The survey was focus on husbandry system, awareness status of animal owners on ectoparasites and their effect, treatment approaches and an assessment on the implementation and impact of ectoparasites control intervention practiced in the study district. The current assessment showed that the production system practiced in the study area is mixed production with (31.67%) owners managed their sheep and goats independently in their own house whereas (62.5%) had been kept their sheep and goats together with other domestic animal including dog and cat. With regard to the knowledge of ectoparasites species, (100%) of the respondents clearly indicate that they knew one or more ectoparasites that affect sheep and goats. During the survey, the veterinary service delivery and the free charge governmental ectoparasites control campaign conducted was assessed. According to the response of (89.61%) respondents reported that modern veterinary service delivery had in their nearby but; the rest did not have any service. Out of 120 interviewed, (98.33%) respondents knew the free charge governmental ectoparates control program conducted from 2012 to 2015. From the total 120 intertwined individual, (94.17%) small ruminant owners sprayed/dipped their sheep and goats one or more times at different interval using acaricides (diazinone 60%). From (94.17%) respondents which had sprayed/dipped their sheep and goats, (88.49%) were used knapsack spraying option whereas (4.42%) disinfected by dipping. During the survey the interval of treatment applied was assessed. According the response (70.00%) interviewed individuals, they were treated their sheep and goats at two week interval whereas (25.00%) and (5.00%) of the respondent provided and treated their small ruminants at three and four week interval respectively. As indicated by (96.5%) respondents, there was re-infestation of ectoparasites after the control campaign. Based on these findings, designing and implementing proper annual chemical control, develop clear animal movement policy and strict quarantine, creating awareness and better management practice should be implemented.