Reproductive and productive performance of Zebu × Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows in and around Sendafa town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The research aimed to investigate the reproductive and productive performances of crossbred dairy cows in and around Sendafa town, Oromia region, Ethiopia. For the survey, 156 (78 from urban area and 78 from peri-urban area) respondents which had crossbred dairy cows were selected. For the monitoring study, a total of 24 dairy farms and from which 180 crossbred dairy cows were purposefully selected, i.e., 60 from large scale, 60 from medium scale, and 60 from small scale. The findings revealed that the average age at first service of crossbred dairy heifers was 21.5±1.5 months for large, 22.1±1.2 for medium, and 23.9±1.5 for small-scale production in urban dairy farms and 22.2±2.4 months for large, 22.7±2.5 for medium, and 24.8±2.1 for small-scale production in peri-urban dairy farms. The average age at first calving was 32.6±2.8 months for large, 33.0±2.1 for medium, and 32.7±2.7 small-scale production in urban dairy farms and 33.7±3.8 months for large, 33.4±3.0 for medium, and 34.5±3.1 for small-scale production in peri-urban dairy farms. The overall numbers of services per conception for crossbred dairy cows was 1.6± 0.6 for urban and 1.6±0.8 for peri-urban production systems. The findings revealed that days open for different genotype levels of crossbred dairy cows varied across production systems. According to the monitoring results, crossbred dairy cows with genotype levels of 25%, 50%, 75%, and >75% produced an average daily milk yield of 7.2±1.0, 8.9±1.2, 11.5±2.4 and 12.7±2.3 litres per day in urban dairy farms and 8.2±0.8, 8.5±0.5, 9.7±1.4 and 11.5±3.6 litres per day in peri-urban dairy farms, respectively. The average daily milk yield was increased from parity one to parity four, then decreased to parity five across all production scales and systems. The overall lactation length for all genotype levels was 323.0±46.7 days for urban and 319.0±45.6 days for peri-urban production systems. It is concluded that the crossbred cows' age at first service, age at first calving, days open, and calving interval are all longer, and the milk yield also does not match to their milking potential. As a result, it is recommended that crossbred dairy cows' reproductive and productive performances be enhanced by improving the farm management practises.