The performance of indigenous Begait cattle (498 cows, 284 calves, and 48 heifers) in northern Ethiopia was studied. System of herd management significantly (P < 0.01) influenced all production traits. Calves in medium-input herds (MIHM) grew faster than those in low-input herds (LIHM), by 232 g/d from birth to 9 months (Gain) and by 385 g/d from 9 to 12 months (Gain). Cow's dry period, calving interval (CI), and age at first calving (AFC) were 234, 222, and 343 days shorter for MIHM than for LIHM. Compared with LIHM, cows from MIHM had 74% higher daily milk yield (DMY) and 91% higher lactation milk yield (LMY). Calves born at wet season grew faster by 14 and 10% than those calves born in the dry season at Gain and Gain. The subsequent CI of cows calved in the wet season had 77 days shorter, 0.45 kg DMY, and 93 kg LMY increment. The differences between production systems can be attributed to differences in management skills and access to better quality feeds. Technical intervention is needed to ensure provision of balanced rations to exploit the potential productivity of Begait cattle.

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Background Abortion is among the leading cause of production losses in Tigray. A retrospective study on abortion cases were conducted for over seven years in goat farm located in Tanqua Abergelle district of Ethiopia with the objectives of investigating the occurrence of abortion and associated risk factors. Results The study illustrated that the overall abortion rate observed was 29.8% in the goat farm. The highest abortion rate was observed in Begait goat breeds (50.9%, CI 0.36–0.64) during the 2015/16 study year. The chi-square test and univariable regression analysis revealed that the overall abortion rate significantly varied with breed type, season, age, and year (P < 0.05) but no variation with parity (P > 0.05). Accordingly, goats during the dry season (OR 1.74, CI 1.28–2.37) were more likely to have abortion than during the wet season (OR 0.29, CI 0.23–0.37) and Begait breeds (rate. 37.5%, OR 3.5, CI 1.85–7.23) show higher abortion as compared to the other breeds. Looking at the within breeds (animal level), the factors parity, age, years and season (p < 0.05) were among the important factors in Abergelle breeds, season and study years (P < 0.05) were significantly differed in Begait breeds, and none of the factors were important in cross breeds for the occurrence of abortion. A survey at the community level (outside the farm) revealed that 26 out of 29 (89.7%) households responded that their goats experienced abortion. Conclusions The results showed that high abortion rate and seasonally and/or yearly varied abortion cases were observed along with causative agents remained to be investigated. This research finding could provide essential information for the breeding research center and nearby farmers to introduce better management, and abortion prevention methods. In addition, appropriate investigation to identify the causes of abortion should be the next research direction.