Prevalence of abortion and stillbirth in dairy cows in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Pregnancy loss, including abortion and stillbirth, is a major cause of reproductive losses in dairy cattle, adversely affecting productivity and profitability in the dairy industry. This systematic review and quantitative data analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines between April and November 2025.The study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of abortion and stillbirth in dairy cattle in Ethiopia, based on studies published between 2015 and 2025, by utilizing a random effects model. A comprehensive search was conducted across various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, with data extracted using standardized criteria. The analysis included 34 studies comprising 12,492 animals and 838 abortion events, and 16 studies comprising 6,418 animals and 190 stillbirth events. The pooled prevalence of abortion and stillbirth was 6.14% (95% CI: 4.92-7.63%) and 2.75% (95% CI: 1.83-4.09%), respectively. There was substantial heterogeneity among the included studies for both abortion and stillbirth, with (I²=90.1%, p < 0.0001) and (I²=87.5%, p < 0.0001), respectively. Subgroup analysis by study location revealed numerical variations (Tigray highest abortion 7.37%, Amhara highest stillbirth 4.58%) but no statistically significant differences between regions. Herd composition significantly influenced stillbirth prevalence (p = 0.0286), with mixed herd (local, cross, and exotic breeds) showing the highest stillbirth (7.33%) and abortion (8.60%) rates, while herd with only local breeds had lower rates. Study design numerically impacted prevalence, with retrospective studies showing higher rates for both outcomes (abortion 9.11%, stillbirth 15.96%), though study design was not a statistically significant moderator for abortion prevalence. Data collection methods significantly influenced reported prevalence; regular follow-up yielded the lowest estimates for both abortion (3.56%) and stillbirth (0.93%) compared to questionnaire survey based methods. Egger's test indicated significant asymmetry, with bias estimates of -6.2151 (P < 0.0001) for abortion and - 5.9701 (p = 0.0055) for stillbirth. This review underscores the need for more standardized data collection methods through prospective follow-up, thorough investigations into causal factors, and targeted interventions to mitigate reproductive losses in the Ethiopian dairy industry.