Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Vol. 6(9), pp. 570-576. December, 2018.

ISSN: 2360-7874 

 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASRD2018.096

Full Length Research

On-Farm Comparative Study of Productive and Reproductive Performance of Crossbred (Friesian with Local Zebu) and Local Cows in Walmera District of Oromia Regional State

Hirpha Ketema^1*, Amanuel Bekuma², Mitiku Eshetu³ and Kefana Effa⁴

^1*Holleta Polytechnic College, Holleta, Ethiopia

²Department of Animal Science, Mettu University, Bedele, Ethiopia

³School of Animal and Range Science, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia

⁴International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Accepted 15 November 2018

The study was conducted in Walmera district of Oromia Regional State to evaluate on-farm productive and reproductive performance of crossbred and local dairy cows. Eleven target kebeles were purposively selected (two kebeles from Holleta town and nine from rural areas) on the basis of dairy production potential and viability. The data required for the current study were collected from 102 sampled dairy producers using semi-structured questionnaire; and key informant interview, focused group discussion and personal observations were also parts of data collection methods. All the generated data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 21) and SAS. The current result showed that 2.02±0.8, 7.18±1.47 and 11.55±2.3 litters were the average daily milk produced from local, 50% Holstein Friesian (HF) and above 50% Holstein Friesian (HF) (high-grade) cows, respectively. Lactation length (LL) for local, 50% HF and high-grade dairy cows were 6.11±2.33, 8.62±1.41 and 9.31±1.2 months, respectively. The study result also revealed that 15.03±1.08, 14.84± 1.2 and 14.04±1.04`months were the calving interval and 42.23±7.4, 29.02±5.43 and 22.69±3.98 months were the  age at first service (AFS), respectively for local,  50% Holstein Friesian (HF) and above 50% Holstein Friesian HF) (high-grade) dairy cows, respectively.  Age at first calving (AFC) was 51.73±6.97, 38.14±5.27 and 31.75±4.8 months for local, 50% Holstein Friesian (HF) and above 50% Holstein Friesian (HF) (high-grade) cows, respectively. It could be concluded from the present result that on-farm production and reproduction performance of all type of crossbred and local dairy cows found in the study area were relatively poor comparing the recommended standards. This might be due to poor dairy husbandry practiced by dairy producers in the study area. Therefore, the dairy sector of the study area planned technical and institutional interference on provision of advanced dairy husbandry practices to enhance productive and reproductive performance of both crossbred and local dairy cows and thereby improve the livelihood of the dairy producers in the study area.
 
Keywords: Crossbreed, Local, Productive and Reproductive Traits, Walmera District
 

How to cite this article (APA Style): Ketema, H., Bekuma, A., Eshetu, M., Effa, K.(2018). On-Farm Comparative Study of Productive and Reproductive Performance of Crossbred (Friesian with Local Zebu) and Local Cows in Walmera District of Oromia Regional State. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 6(9): 570-576