Prevalence and Associated Factors with Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus Antibodies in the Bulk Tank Milk of Small Scale Dairy Herds in Central Myanmar

This study was designed to determine the prevalence and to evaluate associated factors with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) antibodies in the bulk tank milk of small scale dairy herds in central Myanmar. A cross sectional study was conducted from September to December in 2016 in four townships in central Myanmar. Bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were collected from 381 small scale dairy herds in the study area and analyzed for the presence of BVDV total antibody using commercial ELISA test kits. Several factors such as location of herd, herd size, number of lactating cows, calves and pregnant cows in the herd, and breeding practice were categorized and Pearson Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the factors and BVDV antibodies positivity. The prevalence of BVDV antibodies in the BTM of small scale dairy herds was 2.10%. The location of the herd, herd size, number of lactating cows, calves and pregnant cows in the herd were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of BVDV antibodies, while breeding practice of the herd was not associated. Meikhtila region showed the highest prevalence (9.62%) of BVDV antibodies among studied locations. Specifically, in Meikhtila region, the dairy herd with more than 5 heads of cattle with the use of bull as the breeding practice had the greater potential of prevalence (25.00%) in comparison to that of other herd sizes and locations. Taken together, the prevalence of BVDV antibodies in the BTM of small scale dairy herds in central Myanmar was low it was influenced by factors such as location, herd size, number of lactating cows, calves and pregnant cows in the herd.