Status of livestock water quality and digestive upsets in Babati and Burunge areas, Northern Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigated the quality of water used by ruminants and pseudo-ruminants in six communities living adjacent to two inland lakes in Manyara region, northern Tanzania. Water sampling included 20 samples from each village (n=120 for 6 villages) followed by laboratory analysis using ISO 5667 standard methods. 480 livestock were examined (n=80 for each village) for digestive upsets. Results for water quality were compared to those of WHO guidelines for livestock drinking water. Physical and chemical parameters for some areas were within acceptable limits except the levels of turbidity (10.88±11.97 NTU, 8.67±11.97 NTU), calcium (550.00±22.19 mg/L, 842.00±70.15 mg/L), chloride (1940±63.90 mg/L, 3380±135.65 mg/L), ammonium (5.94±0.42 mg/L, 6.79±0.58 mg/L), nitrate (113.62±10.64 mg/L, 71.16±12.92 mg/L, and hardness (1372.00±106.96 mg/L, 1280±75.27 mg/L) for Babati and Burunge areas respectively. Total coliform (3500 CFU, 2650 CFU) and Escherichia coli (167/100 ml, 192/100 ml) were counted for Babati and Burunge area respectively. Burunge area recorded higher cases of digestive upsets (53.8%) compared to Babati area (46.2%). There were no statistical differences in digestive upsets between the two Babati and Burunge areas (p=0.8246). A correlation analysis revealed a significant linear association between water quality measures and digestive upsets for diarrhoea (p= 0.001694, r > 0.5) and other factors (p= 0.000158, r > 0.5). In order to minimize livestock digestive upsets associated with poor water quality, communities in these areas should avoid excessive use of fertilizers that would increase nitrate levels, as well as prohibit anthropogenic activities taking place close to water sources.