Reproductive Performance of Arsi × Holstein Friesian Crossbred Dairy Cattle
Teshome Gedefa1, Ajebu Nurfeta2* and Nega Tola3
1School of Animal and Range Sciences, Salale University; Ethiopia
2Schools of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, Ethiopia
3Department of Animal Science, Arsi University, Ethiopia
*Corresponding Author: Ajebu Nurfeta, Schools of Animal and Range Sciences,
Hawassa University, Ethiopia.
Received:
February 14, 2023; Published: March 25, 2023
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of Arsi-Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows at Assela Model Agricultural Enterprise (AMAE). A retrospective study was carried out using data recorded from 1996 to 2011 to evaluate number of services per conception (NSPC), days open (DO), calving interval (CI), age at first service (AFS), and age at first calving (AFC). Fixed factors considered were year (16), season (3), parity (6) and blood level (4). Data of cows with complete information were considered, and a total of 855 records for NSPC, 678 records for DO, and CI, 177 records for AFS and AFC, were used. The overall least square means of CI, DO, AFS, AFC and NSC were 488, 209, 951, 1314, and 1.818, respectively. Season had no significant effect on reproductive performance of dairy cows. Year of calving showed significant influences (p < 0.01) on NSPC. Blood levels showed significant difference on CI and DO (P < 0.05) and AFS and AFC (P < 0.01). First parity showed higher (p < 0.05) values for CI and DO than third and above. The NSPC at 4th parity was shorter than the 6th. Except NSPC, blood levels had an economic importance in determining reproductive performance of dairy cows. Year had an important role in determining the reproduction performance of dairy cows indicating that the variation in feed availability and quality as well as variation in management through the years. Thus are, stabilizing environment, setting breeding program, and benchmarking parity is important to improve reproductive performance of the farm.
Keywords: Arsi; Assela; Crossbred; Holstein-Friesian; Reproductive
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