Evaluation of Reproductive Performance of Jersey Cattle Raised under Semi-intensive Management in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: The productivity and profitability of dairy cattle depend largely on reproductive performance. Thus, this study was intended to evaluate the reproductive performance of Jersey cattle raised under semi-intensive management system.Methods: A retrospective analysis consisted of data collected for the last 33 years was conducted. The fixed effects fitted were birth period, calving period, service period, birth season, calving season, service season, parity and genetic group. The general linear model procedure of SAS was used for the statistical analysis of data. Result: The overall least-square means for age at first service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), days open (DO) and the number of services per conception (NSPC) were 22.93±0.22 months, 32.95±0.22 months, 494.16±3.68 days, 221.09±3.73 days and 1.99±0.03, respectively. Year, season and parity had a significant effect on most of the investigated reproductive traits. Imported Jersey cows had an extended CI and DO than farm-bred cows. Besides, the inconsistency of management and variability of climatic variables across year and season seems to have a considerable influence on the reproductive efficiency of cows. Therefore, the improvement in the level of management and selection of parents based on their breeding value would be improve the reproductive performance of Jersey cows.

​An Evaluation of the Reproductive Performance of Sahiwal Heifers in the High Humid Climatic Condition of Assam

“…A relatively higher value for age at first calving was reported by Rehman et al (2008) in Sahiwal cows (1390 ± 3.9 days) and Moulick et al (1972) in Deshi cows (44.5 ± 6.8 months). Lower age of first calving was reported by Sherwin et al (2016), Jadhav et al (2019) and Beneberu et al (2021) for U.K. dairy herds (29.6 months), HF × Gir half breed cows (990.69 ± 6.53 days) and Jersey Cattle (32.95 ± 0.22 months), respectively. An Evaluation of the Reproductive Performance of Sahiwal Heifers in the High Humid Climatic Condition of Assam…”

Horro and their crossbred dairy cow’s reproductive performance in Ethiopia sub-humid tropical environments

“…Similarly, the large variation of AFC attributed to the management level provided to individual cows at the farm level (Yadessa et al2021). In comparison, the overall least-square means for AFS and AFC for Jersey cattle raised under semi-intensive management in Ethiopia were 22.93 ± 0.22 months, and 32.95 ± 0.22 months (Beneberu et al 2021). Nonetheless, under smallholder conditions in and around Zeway, Ethiopia, the current AFC result is slightly higher than crossbred heifers in the urban (31.9 months) and rural (32.4 months) (Yifat et al 2009).…”

“…According to Duguma (2021), the reproductive performance of crossbred cows was better and lower due to delayed AFS, late AFC, long CI, shorter LL, low daily and LMY, and high NSC. On the other hand, management inconsistency and variability of climatic variables across year and season appear to have a signi cant in uence on cow reproductive e ciency (Beneberu et al, 2021). Hammoud et al (2010) demonstrated that the sire of the cow, management systems, and appropriate environmental conditions all have a signi cant in uence on the reproductive e ciency of Friesian cows in semiarid Egypt.…”

“…Hammoud et al (2010) demonstrated that the sire of the cow, management systems, and appropriate environmental conditions all have a signi cant in uence on the reproductive e ciency of Friesian cows in semiarid Egypt. Improvements in management and parent selection based on breeding value would improve the reproductive performance of Jersey cows (Beneberu et al 2021). Ethiopian researchers reported on the reproductive e ciency of both indigenous and crossbred cows (Beneberu et al 2021;Getahun et al 2019).…”

“…Improvements in management and parent selection based on breeding value would improve the reproductive performance of Jersey cows (Beneberu et al 2021). Ethiopian researchers reported on the reproductive e ciency of both indigenous and crossbred cows (Beneberu et al 2021;Getahun et al 2019). Selection, environmental variability, and the use of multiple sires all contribute to the farm's genetic diversity.…”