Assessment of Productive and Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cows in Gindeberet and Abuna Gindeberet Districts of West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in Gindeberet and Abuna Gindeberet districts of West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows in the study areas. The study districts were stratified in to two agro-ecological zones (midland and lowland). Eight kebeles were purposively selected (four kebeles from each agro-ecological zone) based on dairy potential and accessibilities. A total of 240 households were selected by proportional random sampling technique. Data were collected by formal interview method by using semi-structured questionnaire. The result of the study indicated that the overall average milk yield per cow per day in the study areas were 1.42±0.15 and 4.5±0.12 liters for both local and cross cows, respectively. The overall average lactation length per cow in the study areas were 7.58±0.06 and 9.05±0.14 months for both local and cross cows, respectively. The overall average age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval and days open for local bred cows were 45.27± 0.47, 57.08 ± 0.61 and 20.93±0.22 months and 191.40 ± 0.35 days, respectively.  The overall average age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval and days open for cross bred cows were 32.11± 1.23, 40.79 ± 1.23 and 17.69±1.23 months and 113.08± 0.31days, respectively. The current constraints of dairy production in the study areas were lack of breed selection, shortage of feed and feeding, lack of health care and extension services. Therefore, from the current study it was concluded that the reproductive and productive performance of both local and crossbred cows are relatively low. Hence, there should be need extension services to improve the productive and reproductive of dairy cattle to enhance the improvement of livelihood of the small holders in the study areas.

Keywords: - Abuna Gindeberet, Cross bred, Gindeberet, lactation length, Local bred, Milk yield