Reproductive performance of dairy cattle at Asella livestock farm, Arsi, Ethiopia. I: Indigenous cows versus their F₁ crosses

Abstract

Summary In this study the reproductive performance of indigenous Ethiopian cows and their F1 crosses was evaluated and factors affecting reproductive performance were assessed, based on crossbreeding data collected from Asella Livestock Farm, Ethiopia. Age at first calving, number of services per conception, days open, gestation length and calving interval were considered in the evaluation of reproductive performance. Results obtained showed that genetic (breed) group was a significant source of variation for almost all of reproductive performance traits studied. First (F1) crosses were found to be better than the indigenous cows. Among the first crosses, Jersey crosses were the best. They had a lower age at first calving, required less number of services per conception, shorter days open and calving intervals than the rest of the genetic groups. Under the prevailing conditions (feeding, management, etc.), upgrading indigenous cows with Jersey inheritance would be recommendable provided that sound breeding programmes are established to maintain the merits of first crosses. Zusammenfassung Die Untersuchung wertet Daten über die Reproduktionsleistung äthiopischer Rassen und ihrer Kreuzungsnachkommen aus und schätzt genetische und nicht‐genetische Einflüsse auf die Fortpflanzung. Die Aufzeichnungen stammen von der Asella‐Livestock‐Farm, Arsi, Aüthiopien. Verwendet wurden die Fruchtbarkeitsmerkmale Erstkalbealter, Besamungsindex, Güstzeit, Trächtig‐keitsdauer und Zwischenkalbezeit. Die Ergebnisse zeigen die genetische Gruppe (Rasse) als signifikante Variationsursache für fast alle untersuchten Merkmale. F1‐Kreuzungstiere waren den einheimischen Rassen überlegen. Dabei hatten Jersey‐Kreuzungstiere bessere Leistungen als Holstein‐Kreuzungen. Bei ersteren war ein geringeres Erstkalbealter festzustellen, sie hatten einen niedrigeren Besamungsindex, und kürzere Güst‐ und Zwischenkalbezeiten als alle andern genetischen Gruppen. Unter den vorherrschenden Bedingungen hinsichtlich Futterangebot, Management usw. empfiehlt sich die Kreu‐zungzucht mit Jersey unter der Voraussetzung, daß fundierte Zuchtprogramme die überlegenheit der F1‐Tiere erhalten.

Assessment of Reproductive Performance and Problems in Crossbred (Holstein Friesian X Zebu) Dairy Cattle in and Around Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

“…In contrast, the present study showed shorter postpartum estrus period compared to studies in Abernosa Ranch [25] and in small scale farms in and around Mekelle, Ethiopia [15]. In the present study, the calving interval was similar to previous reports [8,19]. In contrast, the present findings revealed shorter calving intervals compared to previous studies in central part of Ethiopia [6], Abernisa Ranch, Ethiopia [17], small scale dairy farms in and around Mekelle, Ethiopia [15], Malawi [22] and Tanzania [18].…”

“…Further, comparable ages at first calving were recorded in previous studies in urban and in peri-urban crossbred dairy cattle farms, in central Tigray [16], and in crossbred cattle in Tanzania [17,18]. However, later age at first calving was recorded in the present study than in crossbred (Arsi breed X Jersey, and Arsi breed X Holstein Friesian) cattle in Asella, Ethiopia [19,20]. The current study showed comparatively earlier age in crossbred dairy heifers at first calving than in Zimbabwe [21], other parts of Ethiopia [6] and in Malawi [22].…”

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

“…Data collected for a long time on crossbreeding studies by different institutions has not been -E-mail: a.haile@cgiar.org systematically analyzed and documented to help in the design of sound and sustainable breeding program. Indeed, some studies compared indigenous cattle breeds with their contemporary crosses for dairy performance in Ethiopia (IAR, 1982;Kiwuwa et al, 1983;Haile-Mariam et al, 1993;Negussie et al, 1998;Demeke et al, 2004). Some workers (Haile-Mariam et al, 1993;Demeke et al, 2004) also estimated genetic parameters for the economic traits.…”

Early Growth and Reproductive Performances of Horro Cattle and thier F₁ Jersey Crosses in and around Horro-Guduru Livestock Production and Research Center, Ethiopia

“…Abortion, infertility and sub-fertility are also some of the major problems recorded in many farms in urban and periurban areas in Ethiopia (Yoseph et al, 2003). Therefore, accurate evaluation of the reproductive efficiency of indigenous stocks and their crosses in different production systems is essential for the Original Research development of appropriate breeding strategies (Negussie et al, 1998).…”