Effect of different factors on mortality rate of Arsi- Bale kids in mid rift valley of Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Anano Shisho and Edogojola of Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha district of East shawa zone during May 2009 to June 2010 to determine the effect of different factors on mortality rate of Arsi- Bale goats' kids. Purposive and simple random sampling was employed as sampling technique to select two PA and smallholder farmers. The study carried out in this study areas revealed that from a total of 536 kids born during May 2009 to June 2010 22.4% (n=120) kids were died. A higher percent 16.4% (n=88) kids were died in wet season followed by dry 4.5% (n=24) season of the year. The cause of death for these kids during this time is probable due to parasitic diseases, infectious diseases and cold stress of the summer season of the years. Kids weighing less than 2.9 kg birth weight had mortality rate of 20.7% (n=111) which decrease with the increase in kids birth weight. There was a general trend for decreasing in kids' mortality rate with increase in parity up to specific parity number. However, the highest kids' mortality rate was recorded in the first parity followed by the third parity. Litter size has a significant effect on kids mortality rate (P<0.0001) and female kids were more susceptible to diseases than male kids (67.5 and 32.5%, respectively. Age has a significant effect on mortality rate Arsi-Bale goat's kids. Pre- weaning kids mortality rate is higher 34.2% (n=40) than post weaning kid's mortality rate up to yearling 26.7% (n=32). In conclusion further detail investigations of kids' mortality including every component of reproductive wastage must be done at regional level with representing different agro-ecological zones. © IDOSI Publications, 2011.