Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone

Dejene Takele Gebissa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12

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Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone

Dejene Takele Gebissa

Published in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 3)

Received: 18 February 2014 Accepted: 20 April 2014 Published: 30 April 2014

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Abstract

This survey was carried out in Borana zone to assess the existing breed/breed strain and herd structure, husbandry practices for the animal, rate of inbreeding, and reproductive and productive performance of dairy cattle. Hence, various strains of Borana cattle and cattle type of neighboring adjacent zone, namely Qorti, Geleba, cross of Qorti and Geleba, Guji and Konso subtype, were observed, except non existence of Konso in mid-highland, in both agro-ecologies. Qorti was the true and preferred cattle strain for its potential milk production capacity however it was at decreasing trend due to the feed shortage resultant from the change in climatic condition combined with shrinkage of grazing land. Respectively, the coefficient of inbreeding was 0.0059 and 0.0088 for the lowland and mid-highland area which seemed to be less than the maximum acceptable level however the prevalence of inbreeding was inhabitable as long as there was uncontrolled mating practice. The average age of sexual maturity, calving interval, reproductive life time and crops of calves during the life time of female were 3.9 and 3.7 years, 16.8 and 13.8 months, 11.5 and 10.9 years, and 7.1 and 6.6 calves in the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Average age of sexual maturity and the reproductive life time of the breeding bull were 4.6 and 4.2, and 9.86 and 7.68 years in the lowland, and mid-highland areas, respectively. Milk production of both agro-ecologies and the seasons of the year were characterized by paramount variation and hence a cow could produce daily 1.85 and 1.10 liter during the wet, and 0.35 and 0.95 liter during the dry season from the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Therefore, the higher proportion of cows and young animals in the herd endeavor large crops of calves for rapid herd growth and enhance cattle productivity of the country, provided that there is appropriately and efficiently enacting of multifaceted strategies to improve the reproductive performance and combat the danger of genetic dilution from cattle type of adjacent zone, and the problem of feed shortage and nutritive value deterioration.

Published in	Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12
Page(s)	62-69
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Dairy Cattle, Husbandry Practice, Reproductive and Productive Performance, Lowland and Mid-Highland Area of Borana Zone

References

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[2]	Abebe O. (2009). Cattle production in high and low market access areas in the Borana pastoral system of southern Ethiopia. MSc. Thesis Presented to the College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources of Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
[3]	ACTESA (Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa) (2011). Ethiopia livestock value chain base line study.
[4]	Adugna Tolera and Aster Abebe (2007). Livestock production in pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems of southern Ethiopia. Department of Animal and Range Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, Ethiopia.
[5]	Armstrong J.B. (2006). Inbreeding: Why we will not do it? Accessed on February 05, 2010 from http://www.parispoodles.com/Inbreeding.html.
[6]	Ayana Angassa and Fekadu Beyene (2003). Current Range Condition in Southern Ethiopia in Relation to Traditional Management Strategies: The Perceptions of Borana Pastoralists. Department of Animal Production and Rangeland Management, Awassa College of Agriculture, Debub University, Awassa, Ethiopia.
[7]	Ayana Angassa and Oba G. (2007). Relating long term rainfall variability to cattle population dynamics in communal rangelands and a government ranch in southern Ethiopia. Agricultural systems, 94: 715 – 725.
[8]	Desta S. and Coppock D.L. (2002). Cattle population dynamics in the southern Ethiopian rangelands, 1987 – 97. Journal of Range Management, 55: 439 – 451.
[9]	Falconer, D.S. and T.F.C. Mackay, (1996). Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. 4th ed. Harlow, England, Longman. pp. 438.
[10]	Kamara A. (2004). Chapter 3: Ethiopia, In: Mc Carthy, N. (ed.), Managing Resources in Erratic.
[11]	Environments: An Analysis of Pastoralist Systems in Ethiopia, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Research Report 35, Washington, IFPRI, 26-38.
[12]	Kanuya N. L., Matiko M.K., Nkya R., Bittegeko S.B.P., Mgasa M.N., Reksen O. and Ropstad E., (2006). Seasonal changes in nutritional status and reproductive performance of zebu cows kept under a traditional agro-pastoral system in Tanzania. Journal of Tropical Animal Health and Production. Volume 38. Issue 6. Pp 511- 519.
[13]	Land O'Lakes, Inc. (2010). The Next Stage in Dairy Development for Ethiopia: Dairy Value Chains, End Markets and Food Security. USAID Cooperative Agreement No. 663-A-00-05-00431-00.IDD.
[14]	Okeyo A.M., Mosi R.O. and Langat L.K.I. (1998). Effects of parity and previous parous status on reproductive and productive performance of Kenya Boran cows. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad) 75(3):384-389.
[15]	Pratt D., F.Le Gall and Cornelis De Haan (1997). Investing in Pastoralism: Sustainable Natural Resource Use in Arid Africa and Middle East. World Bank Technical Working Paper No 365, Washington D.C.: World Bank.
[16]	Zelalem Nemera (2012). Borana pastoralists’ indigenous knowledge in cattle breeds management. Proceedings of the 19th annual conference of the Ethiopian society of animal production (ESAP) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 15 to 17, 2011.

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APA Style

Dejene Takele Gebissa. (2014). Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone. Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2(3), 62-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12

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ACS Style

Dejene Takele Gebissa. Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone. Anim. Vet. Sci. 2014, 2(3), 62-69. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12

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AMA Style

Dejene Takele Gebissa. Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone. Anim Vet Sci. 2014;2(3):62-69. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12

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@article{10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12,
  author = {Dejene Takele Gebissa},
  title = {Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone},
  journal = {Animal and Veterinary Sciences},
  volume = {2},
  number = {3},
  pages = {62-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.avs.20140203.12},
  abstract = {This survey was carried out in Borana zone to assess the existing breed/breed strain and herd structure, husbandry practices for the animal, rate of inbreeding, and reproductive and productive performance of dairy cattle. Hence, various strains of Borana cattle and cattle type of neighboring adjacent zone, namely Qorti, Geleba, cross of Qorti and Geleba, Guji and Konso subtype, were observed, except non existence of Konso in mid-highland, in both agro-ecologies. Qorti was the true and preferred cattle strain for its potential milk production capacity however it was at decreasing trend due to the feed shortage resultant from the change in climatic condition combined with shrinkage of grazing land. Respectively, the coefficient of inbreeding was 0.0059 and 0.0088 for the lowland and mid-highland area which seemed to be less than the maximum acceptable level however the prevalence of inbreeding was inhabitable as long as there was uncontrolled mating practice. The average age of sexual maturity, calving interval, reproductive life time and crops of calves during the life time of female were 3.9 and 3.7 years, 16.8 and 13.8 months, 11.5 and 10.9 years, and 7.1 and 6.6 calves in the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Average age of sexual maturity and the reproductive life time of the breeding bull were 4.6 and 4.2, and 9.86 and 7.68 years in the lowland, and mid-highland areas, respectively. Milk production of both agro-ecologies and the seasons of the year were characterized by paramount variation and hence a cow could produce daily 1.85 and 1.10 liter during the wet, and 0.35 and 0.95 liter during the dry season from the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Therefore, the higher proportion of cows and young animals in the herd endeavor large crops of calves for rapid herd growth and enhance cattle productivity of the country, provided that there is appropriately and efficiently enacting of multifaceted strategies to improve the reproductive performance and combat the danger of genetic dilution from cattle type of adjacent zone, and the problem of feed shortage and nutritive value deterioration.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone
AU  - Dejene Takele Gebissa
Y1  - 2014/04/30
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12
T2  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
JF  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
JO  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
SP  - 62
EP  - 69
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5850
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12
AB  - This survey was carried out in Borana zone to assess the existing breed/breed strain and herd structure, husbandry practices for the animal, rate of inbreeding, and reproductive and productive performance of dairy cattle. Hence, various strains of Borana cattle and cattle type of neighboring adjacent zone, namely Qorti, Geleba, cross of Qorti and Geleba, Guji and Konso subtype, were observed, except non existence of Konso in mid-highland, in both agro-ecologies. Qorti was the true and preferred cattle strain for its potential milk production capacity however it was at decreasing trend due to the feed shortage resultant from the change in climatic condition combined with shrinkage of grazing land. Respectively, the coefficient of inbreeding was 0.0059 and 0.0088 for the lowland and mid-highland area which seemed to be less than the maximum acceptable level however the prevalence of inbreeding was inhabitable as long as there was uncontrolled mating practice. The average age of sexual maturity, calving interval, reproductive life time and crops of calves during the life time of female were 3.9 and 3.7 years, 16.8 and 13.8 months, 11.5 and 10.9 years, and 7.1 and 6.6 calves in the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Average age of sexual maturity and the reproductive life time of the breeding bull were 4.6 and 4.2, and 9.86 and 7.68 years in the lowland, and mid-highland areas, respectively. Milk production of both agro-ecologies and the seasons of the year were characterized by paramount variation and hence a cow could produce daily 1.85 and 1.10 liter during the wet, and 0.35 and 0.95 liter during the dry season from the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Therefore, the higher proportion of cows and young animals in the herd endeavor large crops of calves for rapid herd growth and enhance cattle productivity of the country, provided that there is appropriately and efficiently enacting of multifaceted strategies to improve the reproductive performance and combat the danger of genetic dilution from cattle type of adjacent zone, and the problem of feed shortage and nutritive value deterioration.
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Dejene Takele Gebissa

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Yabello Pastoral and Dryland Agriculture Research Center, Yabello, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Dejene Takele Gebissa. (2014). Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone. Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2(3), 62-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12

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ACS Style

Dejene Takele Gebissa. Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone. Anim. Vet. Sci. 2014, 2(3), 62-69. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12

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AMA Style

Dejene Takele Gebissa. Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone. Anim Vet Sci. 2014;2(3):62-69. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12

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@article{10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12,
  author = {Dejene Takele Gebissa},
  title = {Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone},
  journal = {Animal and Veterinary Sciences},
  volume = {2},
  number = {3},
  pages = {62-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.avs.20140203.12},
  abstract = {This survey was carried out in Borana zone to assess the existing breed/breed strain and herd structure, husbandry practices for the animal, rate of inbreeding, and reproductive and productive performance of dairy cattle. Hence, various strains of Borana cattle and cattle type of neighboring adjacent zone, namely Qorti, Geleba, cross of Qorti and Geleba, Guji and Konso subtype, were observed, except non existence of Konso in mid-highland, in both agro-ecologies. Qorti was the true and preferred cattle strain for its potential milk production capacity however it was at decreasing trend due to the feed shortage resultant from the change in climatic condition combined with shrinkage of grazing land. Respectively, the coefficient of inbreeding was 0.0059 and 0.0088 for the lowland and mid-highland area which seemed to be less than the maximum acceptable level however the prevalence of inbreeding was inhabitable as long as there was uncontrolled mating practice. The average age of sexual maturity, calving interval, reproductive life time and crops of calves during the life time of female were 3.9 and 3.7 years, 16.8 and 13.8 months, 11.5 and 10.9 years, and 7.1 and 6.6 calves in the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Average age of sexual maturity and the reproductive life time of the breeding bull were 4.6 and 4.2, and 9.86 and 7.68 years in the lowland, and mid-highland areas, respectively. Milk production of both agro-ecologies and the seasons of the year were characterized by paramount variation and hence a cow could produce daily 1.85 and 1.10 liter during the wet, and 0.35 and 0.95 liter during the dry season from the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Therefore, the higher proportion of cows and young animals in the herd endeavor large crops of calves for rapid herd growth and enhance cattle productivity of the country, provided that there is appropriately and efficiently enacting of multifaceted strategies to improve the reproductive performance and combat the danger of genetic dilution from cattle type of adjacent zone, and the problem of feed shortage and nutritive value deterioration.},
 year = {2014}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone
AU  - Dejene Takele Gebissa
Y1  - 2014/04/30
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12
T2  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
JF  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
JO  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
SP  - 62
EP  - 69
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5850
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20140203.12
AB  - This survey was carried out in Borana zone to assess the existing breed/breed strain and herd structure, husbandry practices for the animal, rate of inbreeding, and reproductive and productive performance of dairy cattle. Hence, various strains of Borana cattle and cattle type of neighboring adjacent zone, namely Qorti, Geleba, cross of Qorti and Geleba, Guji and Konso subtype, were observed, except non existence of Konso in mid-highland, in both agro-ecologies. Qorti was the true and preferred cattle strain for its potential milk production capacity however it was at decreasing trend due to the feed shortage resultant from the change in climatic condition combined with shrinkage of grazing land. Respectively, the coefficient of inbreeding was 0.0059 and 0.0088 for the lowland and mid-highland area which seemed to be less than the maximum acceptable level however the prevalence of inbreeding was inhabitable as long as there was uncontrolled mating practice. The average age of sexual maturity, calving interval, reproductive life time and crops of calves during the life time of female were 3.9 and 3.7 years, 16.8 and 13.8 months, 11.5 and 10.9 years, and 7.1 and 6.6 calves in the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Average age of sexual maturity and the reproductive life time of the breeding bull were 4.6 and 4.2, and 9.86 and 7.68 years in the lowland, and mid-highland areas, respectively. Milk production of both agro-ecologies and the seasons of the year were characterized by paramount variation and hence a cow could produce daily 1.85 and 1.10 liter during the wet, and 0.35 and 0.95 liter during the dry season from the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Therefore, the higher proportion of cows and young animals in the herd endeavor large crops of calves for rapid herd growth and enhance cattle productivity of the country, provided that there is appropriately and efficiently enacting of multifaceted strategies to improve the reproductive performance and combat the danger of genetic dilution from cattle type of adjacent zone, and the problem of feed shortage and nutritive value deterioration.
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
ER  -

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