Genetic evaluation of Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian in central Ethiopia: milk production traits

Abstract

Breed additive and non-additive effects, and genetic parameters of lactation milk yield (LYD), 305-day milk yield (305YD), lactation length (LL), milk yield per day of lactation (DM) and lifetime milk yield (LTYD) were estimated in Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein in central Ethiopia. The data analyzed included 2360 lactation records spread over 15 years. Ethiopian Boran cattle were consistently inferior (P , 0.01) to the Ethiopian Boran-Holstein crosses for the dairy traits studied. When the crosses were compared, LYD, 305YD and DM were higher (P , 0.01) for 75% and 87.5% crosses compared to 50% and 62.5% ones. However, the 50% crosses had higher (P , 0.01) LTYD than the other genetic groups. The individual additive genetic breed differences for milk production traits were all significant (P , 0.01). The estimates, in favor of Holstein, were 2055 6 192 kg for LYD, 1776 6 142 kg for 305YD, 108 6 24 days for LL, 5.9 6 0.5 kg for DM and 3353 6 1294 kg for LTYD. Crossbreeding of the Holstein with the Ethiopian Boran resulted in desirable and significant (P , 0.01) individual heterosis for all milk production traits. The heterosis estimates were, 529 6 98, 427 6 72 kg, 44 6 12 days 1.47 6 0.23 kg and 3337 6 681 kg, for LYD, 305YD, LL, DM and LTYD, respectively. The maternal heterotic effects were non-significant (P . 0.05) for all traits. Heritabilities of LYD, 305YD, LL, DM and LTYD for Ethiopian Boran were 0.20 6 0.03, 0.18 6 0.03, 0.26 6 0.03, 0.13 6 0.03 and 0.02 6 0.04, respectively. The corresponding estimates for crosses were 0.10 6 0.002, 0.11 6 0.003, 0.63 6 0.02, 0.45 6 1.05 and 0.24 6 0.11, respectively. Selection within each of the genetic groups and crossbreeding should substantially improve the milk production potential of the Ethiopian Boran breed under such production system.

1Adami Tullu Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 35, Ziway, Ethiopia. 2School of Animal and Range Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P. O. Box 5, Hawass Ethiopia.

“…The present study was in agreement with a number of works considering life time milk yield (Demeke et al, 2004;Million et al, 2006;Kefena et al, 2006;Haile et al, 2009). The comparison among the crossbreds revealed that, F 1 (50% HF x 50% Boran or 50% Jersey x 50% Boran) were superior to F 2 -inters (50% HF x 50% Boran or 50% Jersey x 50% Boran).…”

“…Multiple regression analysis (SAS, 2002) was used to estimate crossbreeding parameters. For the regression analysis, coefficients of expected breed content and heterozygosity in the cow were fitted as covariates to obtain estimates of the individual additive (giF or giJ), individual heterosis (hiBF or hiB) and maternal heterosis (hmBF or hmBJ) effects using similar procedures to those of Hirooka and Bhuttyan (1995), Kahi et al (2000) and Haile et al (2009).…”

“…A number of works reported the non-significant effect of season on milk production traits (Kiwuwa et al, 1983;Demeke et al, 2004;Kefena et al, 2006 andHaile et al, 2009). The non significant effect of season on milk production traits entails that; the influence of climatic conditions may be negligible under optimal feeding and management conditions.…”

“…The estimated average lactation milk yield per cow for the indigenous cows ranged from 494 to 850 kg under optimum management condition (EARO, 1999). The milk production of Boran cattle, based on few studies ranged from 500 to 1000 kg per lactation with lactation length of less than 200 days (IAR, 1976;Demeke et al, 2004;Haile et al, 2009). Thus, the milk produced from the indigenous cattle was not sufficient to meet the ever increasing demand for milk.…”

“…Comparing the performance of crossbreds and indigenous cattle, and evaluating the genetic and cross breeding parameters is an essential pre-requisite for a sound and sustainable cross breeding program. Few studies have assessed milk production performance of indigenous and crossbred cows by considering life time milk production (Demeke et al, 2004;Haile, et al, 2009;Kefena et al, 2011). Besides, there is limited information on first lactation traits in Ethiopia.…”