A Review on Dairy Cattle Breeding Practices in Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper was aimed to review and indicate dairy cattle breeding practices including mating system, breeding objectives, traditional selection practice of farmers, reproduction, estrus detection and time of insemination and the gaps that exist in Ethiopia. There is no such a satisfactory cattle’s breeding system and reproduction performance in the country in general and particularly at the farmers’ level. More farmers practiced natural, unplanned and uncontrolled mating system. Communal grazing land is the main source of breeding bull in most part of Ethiopia with exception of few AI service. Therefore, in Ethiopia, there is a need to use breeding objectives in line with vibrant and effective breeding policies for both AI and natural service for sustainable and effective animal breeding practice. Besides, breeding records such as breeding dates, pregnancy rates and days to first service used to monitor fertility are other advantages of breeding practices that should be given attention. Equally, importance, genetic conservation should not be underestimated in improving dairy cattle. In conclusion, animal breeders, policy designers and any development practitioners have to give due attention to transform the existing agrarian breeding practices targeting towards dairy productivity and production with careful consideration of genetic conservation of local cattle breeds.

Keywords: Breeding Practice; Dairy Cattle; Ethiopia