Conformation traits of crossbred dairy cows in the South Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Conformational variations between and within crossbred dairy cattle populations have significant economic and socio- cultural implications for producers. Therefore, this study was conducted to characterize conformation traits of crossbred  dairy cows in the South Gondar zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. A total of 204 lactating crossbred dairy cows  were selected for measurement purposes. The independent variables considered were location, stage of lactation,  genotype level, and parity while linear body conformations (Stature (STA), Chest Width (CW), Body Depth (BW), Body  Length (BL), Rump Length (RL), Heart Girth (HG), Neck Length (NL), and Neck Circumferences (NC)), linear udder  conformation traits (Rump Width (RW), Udder Depth (UD), Udder Width (UW), Udder Circumferences (UC), Rear Udder  Height (RUH), Teat Length (TL)), non-linear body conformations (Angularity (ANG), Rear Legs Rear View (RLRV), Rear  Legs Side View (RLSV), Body Condition Score (BSC)) and non-linear udder conformation traits (Fore Udder Attachment  (FUA), Rear Teat Placement (RTP), Front Teat Placement (FTP)), Teat Thickness (TT)) were the dependent variables. Data  was analyzed using the General Linear Models procedure (GLM) of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2004). The overall  STA, CW, BD, BL, RL, HG, NL, NC, RW, RUH, UD, UW, UC and TL were 127.81±5.4 cm, 23.1±3.1cm, 99.2±4cm,  120.45±4.6cm, 32.2±3.9cm, 168.32±5.1cm, 56.7±3.2 cm, 92.88±3.6cm, 17.39±2.65cm, 14.27±1.8cm, 18.02±2.7cm,  16.85±2.5cm, 59.16±4.3cm and 4.65±0.88cm, respectively. Parity had a significant effect on linear conformational trait  characteristics of crossbred dairy cows at (p<0.01) and (p<0.001) significant levels except for CW, BD, RL, and RUH.  Similarly, genotype level had a significant effect on linear conformational trait characteristics of crossbred dairy cows at (p<0.05), (p<0.01), and (p<0.001) significant levels except for CW, RL, NL, and RUH but the stage of lactation had no  significant effect (p>0.05) on linear body conformation except STA and had a significant effect (p<0.01) on linear udder  traits except UD and TL of crossbred dairy cows. Therefore, selecting dairy type traits could be an ideal option to  improve cow productivity and enterprise profitability. However, future studies with large populations and various  genotype levels are required to associate conformation with reproductive and productive traits.