Lactation and Reproductive Performance of Local and Cross Bred Cows in Selected Urban and Peri-Urban Dairy Production System of West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State

Abstract

The study was conducted in Ambo, Dandi and Dirre inchini districts of West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State. The objective of this study was to assess the reproductive and lactation performance of local and cross bred cows in urban and peri- urban dairy production system.  A total of 240 respondents (80 respondents from each district) were purposively selected and interviewed individually. The result of the study indicated that the overall average milk yield per cow per day in Ambo, Dandi and Dirre inchini were 1.66, 1.43 and 1.48 liter for local and 7.56, 7.17 and 7.37 liters for cross bred cow, respectively. The average lactation length in Ambo, Dandi and Dirre inchini were 8.00, 8.41 and 8.18months for local bred and 10.00, 10.06 and 10.25 months for cross bred cow, respectively. The overall estimated average milk yield and lactation length for both local and cross bred cows were statistically different (P<0.01) among the districts of the study sites. The average AFS (age at first service), AFC (age at first calving), CI (calving interval), DO (days open), NSPC (number of service per conception) and GL (gestation length) in Ambo were, 42.76 months, 53 months, 21 months, 180.65 days, 1.24 times and 276.7 days for local bred and 26.19 months, 36.5 months, 15.17 months, 85.07days, 1.91 times and 276.3 days for cross bred cow, respectively. The overall estimated mean of AFS, AFC, NSPC and GL for local bred cows were, statistically not different (P > 0.05) among the districts of the study sites while the overall mean of CI and DO for local bred cow were statistically different (p<0.05) among the districts of the study sites. But the overall mean of AFS, AFC, CI, DO and NSPC for cross bred cows were, statistically different (P < 0.05) among districts of the study sites. However, GL for cross bred was statistically not different (p>0.05) among districts of the study sites. The average AFS, AFC, CI, DO, NSPC and GL in Dandi were, 41.6 months, 51.88 months, 22.91 months, 206.25 days,1.44 times, 276.8 days for local bred  and 23.5 months, 34.11 months,16.25 months 107.17 days, 2.26 times and 276.3 days for cross bred cow, respectively. Similarly, the AFS, AFC, CI, DO, NSPC and GL in Dirre inchini were, 40.5 months,51.07 months, 22.6 months, 212.5 days,1.35 times, 276.87 days for local bred cow and 22.93 months, 33.70 months,16.05 months,110 days, 2.13 times and 276.57 days  for cross bred cow, respectively. The prevailing constraints of dairy production in the study areas were lack of breed selection, shortage of feed and feeding, lack of oriented market, shortage of land, lack of health care and lack of extension services. Therefore, from the current study it was concluded that the reproductive and lactation performance are relatively low. Improved management practices are sturdily needed.

Keywords: cross bred, lactation performance, local bred, reproductive performance, West Shoa