Jimma University, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Jijiga University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia
Ibrahim, N., Jimma University, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Abraha, A., Jijiga University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia; Mulugeta, S., Jimma University, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia
The present study was carried out from November 2009-March 2010 in Gonder town to assess the reproductive performance of crossbred (Holstein Friesian X Zebu) dairy cattle kept in small, medium and large scale dairy production systems. A total of 62 (50 smallholders that owned <6 crossbred dairy cows, 10 medium holders that owned 6-30 crossbred dairy cows were kept in intensive production system and 2 large holders that owned >30 crossbred dairy cows) were kept in intensive and semi-intensive production systems were visited and reproductive performance of 279 crossbred dairy cattle and the effect of production system and parity on reproductive performance were studied. The overall mean values for age at first service (AFS) and age at first calving (AFC) were 23.1 months (n=202) and 34.7 months (n=170), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in AFS and AFC among production systems. The overall mean values for calving to first service interval(CFSI), calving to conception interval (CCI), calving interval (CI) and number of services per conception (NSPC) were 5.5 months(n=193), 5.7 months(n=193), 13.93 months(n=155) and 1.29(n=249), respectively. The values of CFSI and CCI were significantly shorter (p<0.05) in the small and medium scale of production systems as compared to the large scale of production system, but there was no statistically significant difference in CFSI and CCI between small and medium scale of production systems. Cows managed in the medium scale of production system had significantly shorter CI (p<0.05) as compared to the other scales of production systems. There was no statistically significant difference in value of NSPC among the production systems. There was no statistically significant difference in Values of CFSI, CCI, CI and NSPC among Parity numbers. In general, crossbred dairy cows managed in medium scale of production system had better reproductive performance than in the other production systems. The overall observed reproductive performance crossbred dairy cattle in this study was good. Thus, the ongoing activities to improve and expand crossbred dairy cattle production in the area should be encouraged. © IDOSI Publications, 2011.