Levels and Predictors of Mortalities in Cattle Beef in Kenyan Rangelands: Kaplan–Meier Method Approach

Abstract

High health-related mortality has frequently been reported as the major impediment to cattle production. This article aims at investigating the vital infectious diseases and non-infectious factors that account for the majority of deaths, which is crucial in determining mortality control strategies. The study applies the Kaplan–Meier method in estimation mortality rate and truncated regression analysis to illuminate the influencing factors using eight-year retrospective data spanning from 2014 to 2022. The results indicate infectious diseases as the most important cause of cattle mortality. The mean annual mortality rates are higher and the pre-weaning cattle mortality appeared to be one of the major constraints hampering the development of replacement herds. The risk factors considered for high mortality were the age and sex of the calves. The infectious diseases identified as the important predictors of cattle mortality included bacterial, parasitic, and non-specific, while the non-infectious conditions included malnutrition, predation, shock, and traumatic injuries. The analysis provided an improved insight into animal-health-related factors, which once addressed could reduce mortality and hence optimize animal husbandry performance. Interventions in cattle health, and husbandry are recommended to control pre-weaning calve mortality. A comprehensive approaches integrating animal health with other aspects of cattle farming, such as proper feeding for a holistic and sustainable system is recommended.