Productive and Reproductive Performance of Zebu X Holstein-Friesian Crossbred Dairy Cows in Jimma Town, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess productive and reproductive performance of crossbred (Zebu x Holstein-Friesian) dairy cows and factors affecting their performance in Jimma town, Oromia State, Ethiopia. A total of 54 small-scale dairy farm owners were randomly selected and interviewed with pre-tested structured questionnaire to obtain information on the productive and reproductive performance of cows. A follow-up study was also conducted to obtain milk production based on lactation stages. The results of the study showed that from the follow-up study, the mean daily milk yield for the first, second and third stage of lactations was 7.01± 2.73, 5.55±2.83 and 3.50±1.64 liters per cow, respectively. The milk yield was decreased significantly in the third stage of lactation than that of first and second (P<0.01). The milk yield was observed significantly (P<0.01) higher in the morning than in the evening for the three stage of lactations. From the survey results, the mean milk production per day/cow and per lactation was 8.45±1.23 and 2314.45 litres, respectively. The overall average lactation length was 9.13±1.99 months The mean age at first service(Months), age at first calving (year), days open till conception, calving interval (Months) and number of services per conception from survey data were 24.30±8.01, 3.05±0.65, 21.36±3.84 months and 1.56±0.57, respectively. The present study showed that productive and reproductive performance of crossbred cows owned by small-scale dairy producers in Jimma town was low. Thus, there is a need to improve feed supply, health care and services, access to artificial insemination, proper breeding management and supply of improved genotypes in order to improve the performance of dairy cows in the study area