Milk production performances of Holstein Friesian x Arsi and Holstein Friesian x Boran cross-bred cattle at Agarfa Agricultural Technical Vocational and Educational Training (ATVET) College, Oromia, Ethiopia
Department of Animal science, Assosa University, P.O.Box 18, Asosa, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), LIVES Project, P.O.Box 1867, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Wassie, T., Department of Animal science, Assosa University, P.O.Box 18, Asosa, Ethiopia; Mekuriaw, G., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Mekuriaw, Z., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), LIVES Project, P.O.Box 1867, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
The study was carried out at Agarfa ATVET College dairy farm to evaluate the milk production performances of Holstein Friesian x Arsi and Holstein Friesian x Boran cross cattle breeds. For the study, records compiled from 1983 to 2012 at the Agarfa dairy farm were used as original data. Effects of breed, blood level, season and parity on milk yield traits were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the general linear model of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.1. The overall means for daily milk yield were 6.38 and 7.02 kg and for lactation milk yield 1925 and 2136 kg for Friesian x Arsi and Friesian x Boran cross, respectively. Generally the productive performance of cows reported in this study was lower than the performance reported in many tropical regions. Therefore, due consideration should be given to calf and heifer management, heat detection, feeding and health care. Furthermore, in this study Friesian x Boran cross were better than Friesian x Arsi in performance therefore attention should be given to keep this cross in the farm.