Reproductive Performance Evaluation of Holstein Friesian and Their Crosses with Boran Cattle Breeds in Ardaita Agricultural Technical Vocational Education Training College Dairy Farm, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Subject Areas : Camel

د.و. منجیستو ¹ , ک.آ. وندیمججن ² , م.اچ دمیساش ³

1 - Department of Animal Science, Selale University, Selale, Ethiopia
2 - Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahirdar University, Bahirdar, Ethiopia
3 - Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahirdar University, Bahirdar, Ethiopia

Received: 2016-04-01 Accepted : 2016-06-15 Published : 2016-12-01

Keywords: reproductive performance, crossbred, Ardaita, Holstein Friesian,

Abstract :

The study was conducted at Ardaita Agricultural Technical Vocational Education Training (ATVET) college dairy farm, to evaluate the reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian and its crosses with Boran cattle breeds. Data collected between 2000 and 2015 on reproductive traits (n=2632) were studied and analyzed using general linear model procedure. The overall estimated means for age at first service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), days open (DO) and number of services per conception (NSC) were: 31.33 ± 0.44 months, 41.08 ± 0.44 months, 405.50 ± 3.32 days, 134.84 ± 3.51 days and 1.36 ± 0.03, respectively. Except age at first service, which is influenced by level of Holestien Friesian percentage, season of calving and level of Holestien Friesian percentage was not significant (P>0.05) on all reproductive traits. The traits calving interval and days open significantly (P<0.001) influenced by year of calving and parity. Season of birth (P<0.05) and year of birth (P<0.001) significantly influenced age at first service and age at first calving. Service per conception was significantly influenced by year of calving (P<0.001) only. Except number of service per conception, the result obtained for age at first service, age at first calving, days open and calving interval of Holstein Friesian and its crosses with Boran cows in the study area were below the standards set for commercial dairy farms. Therefore, consideration should be given to the farm to improve those genetic and non-genetic factors affected performance.

References:

Abera H., Abegaz S. and Mekasha Y. (2010). Estimation of genetic parameters for growth traits of Horro cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian and Jersey at Bako Agricultural Research Center, Western Oromia, Ethiopia. MS Thesis. Haramaya Univ., Ethiopia.

Ahmed M.K., Ahmed B.T., Musa L.M.A and Peters K.J. (2007). Milk production and reproduction traits of different grades of Zebu × Friesian crossbreds under semi-arid conditions. Arch. Tierz. Dummerstorf. 50(3), 240-249.

Asimwe L. and Kifaro G.C. (2007). Effect of breed, season, year and parity on reproductive performance of dairy cattle under smallholder production system in Bukoba district, Tanzania. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org.

Ayalew M. and Asefa B. (2013). Reproductive and lactation performances of dairy cows in Chacha town and nearby selected kebeles, North Shoa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. World. J. Agri. Sci. 1(1), 8-17.

Bekele T. (2002). Reproductive performances of zebu (Fogera) breed in the central highlands of Ethiopia. DVM Thesis. Addis AbabaUniv., Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.

Belay D., Yisehak K. and Janssens G.P.J. (2012). Productive and reproductive performance of Zebu × Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows in JimmaTown, Oromia, Ethiopia. Glob. Vet. 8(1), 67-72.

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. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org.

CSA. (2013). Agricultural Sample Survey 2012. Report on livestock and livestock characteristics. Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.

Demeke S., Neser F.W.C and Schoeman S.J. (2004b). Estimates of genetic parameters for Boran, Friesian and crosses of Friesian and Jersey with the Boran cattle in the tropical highlands of Ethiopia: milk production traits and cow weight. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 121, 163-175.

Denberga Y., Belihu K., Merga M., Lobago F., Gustafson H. and Kindahl H. (2009). Study on reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cattle under smallholder conditions in and around Ziway, Ethiopia. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org.

Dinka H. (2012). Reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows under smallholder condition in Ethiopia. Int. J. Livest. Prod. 3(3), 25-28.

Fekadu A., Kassa T. and Belihu K. (2010). Reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows at Alage Dairy Farm, Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 43, 581-586.

Giday Y. (2001). Assessment of calf crop productivity and total herd life of Fogera cows at Andassa Ranch in north western Ethiopia. MS Thesis. University of Alemaya, Ethiopia.

Goshu G., Belihu K. and Berihun A. (2007). Effect of parity, season and year on reproductive performance and herd life of Friesian cows at Stella private dairy farm, Ethiopia. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. Available at:http://www.lrrd.org.  

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 semi-arid conditions in Egypt. Arch. Zootec. 13(1), 60-82.

Ibrahim N., Abraha A. and Mulugeta S. (2011). Assessment of reproductive performance of crossbred cattle (Holstein Friesian×Zebu) in Gondar town. Glob. Vet. 6(6), 561-566.

Iffa K., Hegde B.P. and Kumsa T. (2006). Lifetime production and reproduction performances of Bos taurus × Bos indicus cross bred cows in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia.Ethiopian J. Anim. Prod. 6(2), 37-52.

IGAD. (2010). Inter Governmental Authority on Development. The contribution of livestock to economies of IGAD member states. IGAD Livestock Policy Initiative, Great Wolford, United Kingdom.

Kumar N. and Tkui K. (2014). Reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Sci. J. Anim. Sci. 3(2), 35-40.

Lateef M. (2007). Productive performance of Holstein Friesian and Jersey cattle in subtropical environment of the Punjab, Pakistan. Ph D. Thesis. University of AgricultureFaisalabad, Pakistan.

Lateef M.K.Z., Gondal M., Younas M., Sarwary M.I., Mustafa M. and Bashir M.K. (2008). Milk production potential of pure bred Holstein Friesian and Jersey cows in subtropical environment of Pakistan. Pakistan Vet. J. 28(1), 9-12.

Lemma H., Belihu K. and Sheferaw D. (2010). Study on the reproductive performance of Jersey cows at Wolaita Sodo dairy farm, southern Ethiopia. Ethiopia J. Vet. 4(1), 53-70.

Lobago F. (2007). Reproductive and lactation performance of dairy cattle in the Oromia Central Highlands of Ethiopia with special emphasis on the pregnancy period. Ph D Thesis. SwedishUniv., Uppsala, Sweden.

Lyimo C., Nukya R., Schoolman L. and Van Eerdenbutg F.J. (2004). Post-partum reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cattle on smallholder farms in sub humid coastal Tanzania. J. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 36, 269-279.

Masama E., Kusina K.T., Sibanda S. and Majoni C. (2003). Reproduction and lactation performance of cattle in a smallholder dairy system in Zimbabwe. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 35, 117-129.

Mekuriaw G., Ayalew W. and Hegde P.B. (2009). Growth and reproductive performance of Ogaden cattle at Haramaya university, Ethiopia. Ethiopian J. Anim. Prod. 9(1), 13-38.

Menale M., Mekuriaw Z., Mekuriaw G. and Taye G. (2011). Reproductive performances of Fogera cattle at Metekel cattle breeding and multiplication ranch, north westEthiopia. J. Anim. Feed Res. 1(3), 99-106.

Moges N. (2012). Study on reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows under small holder conditions in and around Gondar, north western Ethiopia. J. Reprod. Infer. 3(3), 38-41.

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 J. Agri. Sci. 12(2), 36-45.

Mureda E. and Mekuriaw Z. (2007). Reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in eastern lowlands of Ethiopia. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org.  

Negussie E., Brannang E., Banjaw K. and Rottmann O.J. (1998). Reproductive performance of dairy cattle at Asella livestock farm. Arsi, Ethiopia. I. Indigenous cows versus their F1 crosses. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 115, 267-280.

SAS Institute. (2008). SAS^®/STAT Software, Release 9.2. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC. USA.

Tadesse M. (2001). Estimation of crossbreeding parameters for milk production traits at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia. Ethiopian J. Anim. Prod. 1, 45-54.

Tadesse M. and Dessie T. (2003). Milk production performance of zebu, Holstein Friesian and their crosses in Ethiopia. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd15/3/Tade153.htm.

Tadesse M, Dessie T, Tessema G, Degefa T and Gojam Y. (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. Ethiopia J. Anim. Prod. 6(2), 1-16.

Tadesse M., Thiengtham J., Pinyopummin A. and Prasanpanich S. (2010). Productive and reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian dairy cows in Ethiopia. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. Available at: http://www.lrrd.org.

Tadesse Y. (2006). Genetic and non-genetic analysis of fertility and production traits in Holetta and Adea Berga dairy herd. MS Thesis. Alemaya Univ., Ethiopia.

Tessema G., Gebrewold A. and Jayaparakash J. (2003). Study on reproductive efficiency of Boran and its crosses at Holetta research farm: effect of genotype, management and environme-nt. Ethiopia J. Anim. Prod. 3(1), 89-107.

Yohannes Shiferaw Y., Tenhagen B.A., Bekana M. and Tesfu K. (2003). Reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in different production systems in the central high lands of Ethiopia. J. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 35(6), 551-561.