Breeding Practices and Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Dairy Cattle in the Urban and Peri-urban Smallholder Dairy Production System of Arsi Highland, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/ajsi.v1i1.3133Keywords:
Herd composition; Artificial Insemination; reproductive performance; breedingAbstract
The study was conducted to assess the breeding practice and reproductive
performance of crossbred dairy cattle in the urban and peri-urban smallholder
dairy cattle production systems of Tiyo, DigeluTijo and LemuBilbilo districts
of Arsi. 260 households were selected and data on herd composition,
breeding practice and reproduction were collected using questionnaire. A
total of 476 cows were studied for reproductive performances. The herd
composition comprises cow (2.8±0.1), heifers (1.3±0.1), calves (1.5±0.1) and
breeding bull (0.2±0.03) and was significantly higher in the peri-urban but
the same among the three districts. Number of cow comprises highest
proportion of the herd in the urban (57.0%) and peri-urban (49.9%)
production systems. AI and natural bull service is the mating system
practicing in the districts. The use of AI or bull service only or combination
of AI and bull services was significantly different between the two
production systems and among the three districts. Farmers get AI service
either calling to AI technicians and get the service in their farm or taking
their cows to AI service center.