Early Growth and Reproductive Performances of Horro Cattle and thier F1 Jersey Crosses in and around Horro-Guduru Livestock Production and Research Center, Ethiopia
Journal Title: STAR Journal - Year 2013, Vol 2, Issue 3
Abstract
A cross-sectional survey, an assessment of recorded data and measurements of different traits were conducted to determine the reproductive and early growth performances of Horro cattle and their F1 Jersey crosses in and around Horro-Guduru livestock production and research center. The mean(SD) total farmland, cropland and grazing land holdings of individual smallholder were 3.6±3.16, 2.86±2.51 and 0.81±0.89 respectively, while the mean(SD) livestock species holding were 17±11.66, 2.9±3.98,2.9 ±4.83, 1.8±1.66 and 9.3±8.97 for cattle, sheep, goats, equine and poultry respectively. Anestrous, repeat breeder, endo-metritis and dystocia were the main reproductive health problems reported with the proportion of 21.1%, 19.7%, 5.6% and 1.4%, while the remaining 52% attributed to non pregnancy in cows due to voluntary waiting period, post partum period and lack of AI service. The overall mean age at first service across both production sites (on station and on farm) was 48.85 months for local Horro and 33.25 months for Horro-Jersey F1 Crosses, where as the mean (SD) NSPC for Horro and Horro-Jersey crossbred heifers was found to be 2.1±1.09 and 1.7±0.94 respectively. Breed of animals had high significance effect (P< 0.001) on AFS and AFC. The mean birth weight of Horro and Horro-Jersey crossbred calves was 17.5±2.25 and 18.2±2.03 kg respectively. Calf birth weight was significantly (P<0.001) influenced by breed use, sex, season and year of birth of a calf. The mean (SD) body weight of Horro calves at six, twelve, eighteen and twenty four months age is found to be 69.8±31.19, 117.7±22.65, 129.4±24.82 and 150±23.56 kg respectively. While, their respective counterpart Horro-Jersey F1 crossbred calves were live weight of 64.42±10.18, 136.6±27.97 and 145.1±22.27 kg mean(SD) body weight at six, twelve and eighteen months of ages respectively.
Authors and Affiliations
Demissu Hundie| Wollega University, Post Box No: 395, Nekemte, Ethiopia, Fekadu Beyene| Wollega University, Post Box No: 395, Nekemte, Ethiopia, Gemeda Duguma| Bako Agricultural Research Center, Post Box No: 3, Bako, Ethiopia
Keywords
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- EP ID EP9590
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4314%2Fstar.v2i3.98752
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