Reproductive Performance for Holstein Friesian × Arsi and Holstein Friesian × Boran Crossbred Cattle

Subject Areas : Camel

T.  Wassie ¹ (Department of Animal Science, Assosa University, Assosa, Ethiopia)
G.  Mekuriaw ² (International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Z.  Mekuriaw ³ (International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Regional Expert, Lievs Project, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

Received: 2014-03-07 Accepted : 2014-06-30 Published : 2015-03-01

Keywords: Arsi, Boran, crossbredcows, reproductive performance,

Abstract :

The study was carried out at Agarfa ATVET College dairy farm to evaluate the reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian× Arsi and Holstein Friesian ×Boran cattle. For the study, records compiled from 1983 to 2012 at the Agarfa dairy farm were used as original data. The effects of breed, bloodlines, season and parity on the reproductive traits were evaluated. Data were analyzed using the general model of the SAS program. The overall mean ± SE of age at first service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), calving interval (CI), number of service per conception (NSPC), breeding efficiency (BE) and longevity were 32.05 ± 0.57 months, 41.16 ± 0.56 months, 194.62 ± 3.42 days, 475.92 ± 3.44 days, 1.35 ± 0.03 service, 68.67 ± 0.01% and 7.77 ± 0.25 years, respectively. Breed had significant effect (P<0.05) on AFS and AFC. Bloodlines, season and parity had significant effect (P<0.01) on DO and CI. Breed, bloodlines, season and parity had significant effect (P<0.01) on breeding efficiency. Season of insemination significantly affect NSPC (P<0.01). Longevity was only affected by bloodlines.Generally reproductive performances found in this study were lower than the performance reported in many tropical regions. Therefore, due consideration should be given in calf and heifer management, heat detection, accuracy of artificial insemination, feeding and health care.

References:

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Alberro M. and Haile-Mariam Solomon. (1982). The indigenous cattle of Ethiopia. World Anim. Rev. 41, 2-10.
Amene F., Tesfu K. and Kelay B. (2011). Study on reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows at Alage dairy farm, rift valley of Ethiopia. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 43, 581-586.
Belay D., Yisehak K. and Janssens G.P.J. (2012). Productive and reproductive performance of zebu × Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows in Jimma town, Oromia, Ethiopia. Glob. Vet. 8(1), 67-72.
Berhanu Y., Fikre L. and Gebeyehu G. (2011). Calf survival and reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian cows in central Ethiopia. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 43, 359-365.
Chenyambuga S.W. and Mseleko K.F. (2009). Reproductive and lactation performances of Ayrshire and Boran crossbred cattle kept in smallholder farms in Mufindi district, Tanzania. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd21/7/chen21100.htm.aAccessed Nov. 2012.
Demeke S., Neser F.W.C. and Schoeman S.J. (2004). Estimates of genetic parameters for Boran, Friesian and crosses of Friesian and Jersey with the Boran cattle in the tropical highlands of Ethiopia: reproduction traits. J. Anim. Breed. Gene. 121, 57-65.
Emebet M. and Zeleke M. (2007). Reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in Eastern lowlands of Ethiopia. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd19/11/mure19161.htm. Accessed Dec. 2012.
FAO. (2004). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation. Livestock Sector Brief Ethiopia.
Gebeyehu G., Kelay B. and Abebe B. (2007). Effect of parity, season and year on reproductive performance and herd life of Friesian cows at Stella private dairy farm, Ethiopia. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd19/7/gosh19098.htm. Accessed Aug. 2013.
Getinet M., Workneh A. and Hegde P.B. (2009). Growth and reproductive performance of Ogaden cattle at Haramaya University, Ethiopia. Ethiopian J. Anim. Prod. 9(1), 13-38.
Goshu G. (2005). Breeding efficiency, lifetime lactation and calving performance of Friesian-Boran crossbred cows at Cheffa farm, Ethiopia. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd17/7/gosh17073.htm. Accessed Aug. 2013.
Habtamu L., Kelay B. and Dessie Sheferaw D. (2010). Study on the reproductive performance of Jersey cows at Wolaita Sodo dairy farm, southern Ethiopia. Ethiopian Vet. J. 4(1), 53-70.
Hammoud M.H., Zarkouny S.Z. and Oudah E.Z.M. (2010). Effect of sire, age at first calving, season and year of calving and parity on reproductive performance of Friesian cows under semiarid conditions in Egypt. Arch. Zootech. 13, 60-82.
Kefena E., Hegde B.P. and Tesfaye K. (2006). Lifetime production and reproduction performances of Bos taurus × Bosindicus crossbred cows in the central Highlands of Ethiopia. Ethiopian J. Anim. Prod. 6(2), 37-52.
Kiwuwa G.H.J., Trail C.M., Kurtu M., Worku Y.G., Anderson F.M. and Urkin J.D. (1983). Cross bred dairy cattle productivity in Arsi region, Ethiopia. Int. Livest. Center Africa. Res. 11, 1-29.
Melaku M., Zeleke M., Getinet M. and Mengistie T. (2011). Reproductive performances of fogera cattle at metekel cattle breeding and multiplication ranch, north west Ethiopia. J. Anim. Feed Res. 1(3), 99-106.
Mensah G.A. and Okeyo A.M. (2006).Continued harvest of the diverse African animal genetic resources from the wild through domestication as a strategy for sustainable use: a case of the larger Grasscutter (Thryonomysswinderianus). Pp. 42-56 in Animal Genetics Training Resource. J.M. Ojango, B. Malmfors and A.M. Okeyo, Eds. International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Million T., Tadelle D., Gifawesen T., Tamirate D. and Yohanis G. (2006). Study on age at first calving, calving interval and breeding efficiency of Bos taurus, Bos indicus and their crosses in the Highlands of Ethiopia. Ethiopian J. Anim. Prod. 6(2), 1-16.
Mulindwa H.E., Ssewannyana E. and Kifaro G.C. (2006). Extracted milk yield and reproductive performance of Teso cattle and their crosses with Sahiwal and Boran at Serere, Uganda. Uganda Agric. Sci. 12(2), 36-45.
Nibret M. (2012). Study on reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows under Small holder conditions in and around Gondar, north western Ethiopia. J. Rep. Infertil. 3(3), 38-41.
NMSA. (2010). National Meterological Service Agency. Meterological data, Bale robe, Ethiopia.
Nuraddis I.E. (2011). Estimation of genetic and non-genetic parameters of Friesian cattle under hot climate. J. Agric. Sci. 4, 4-12.
SAS Institute. (2004). SAS^®/STAT Software, Release 9.1. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC. USA.
Shiferaw Y., Tenhagen B.A., Bekana M. and Kassa T. (2003). Reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in different production system in centeral highland Ethiopia. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 35(6), 551-561.
Tadesse M., Thiengtham M.J., Pinyopummin A. and Prasanpanich S. (2010). Productive and reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian dairy cows in Ethiopia. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/2/tade22034.htm. Accessed Nov. 2012.
Yifat D., Kelay B., Bekana M., Lobago F., Gustafsson H. and Kindahl H. (2009). Study on reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cattle under smallholder conditions in and around Zeway, Ethiopia. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd21/6/denb2188.htm. Accessed Dec. 2012.