Research
On-Farm Hormonal Oestrus Synchronization and Mass Insemination Technique of Dairy Cattle in Sidama, Ethiopia
This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of oestrus synchronization and mass insemination under the action research and development intervention. For the evaluation, a total of 126 and 883 dairy cattle were taken under action research and development intervention, respectively. The result of estrus response (90%) in action research was somewhat higher than the result obtained from development intervention (87.2%). The number of AI services per conception in action research was (1.75) lower than the development interventions (2.36). The result of conception was higher (58.4%) under action research than the development intervention (42.2%). The result further revealed that both in action research and development intervention conception significantly (P<0.05) affected by genotypes. Conception was higher in the 2nd parity both in action research and development intervention. The BCS was higher (P<0.05) among the cattle with a higher conception rate. Conception also significantly varied across cows’ age, with higher values observed among those aged between 5 to 7 years. Conception rate was a significant (P<0.05) difference among the time of insemination, with higher results observed between 10 to 15 hours after the onset of estrus. Results from action research and development intervention indicated a possibility to improve the conception rate by 16.2%. Therefore, appropriate animal selection, semen quality, and the time of insemination need to be considered for a successful estrous synchronization and AI program.
On-Farm Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Cattle in its Production Environment in Sidama, Southern Ethiopia
This study was conducted to phenotypically characterize the local cattle population under farmers’ management conditions. Field studies and collection of data carried out through household survey, focus group discussions, and linear body measurements of sample cattle. A total of 180 households were randomly selected for household interview and 345 cattle were sampled for morphological characterization. Indigenous cattle have variable coat color types, and the most dominant were plain (56.7%), patchy (31.2%), and spotted (11.6%). The frequently observed coat color types are light red, dark red, and black. Body measurements of indigenous cattle are significantly (P≤0.01) affected by sex and location and, found to be higher in male animals and hotter environments. In male cattle between HG and BL, the linear body measurements show a strong positive correlation (r=0.71). Average daily milk yield, lactation yield, and lactation length were significantly (P ≤0.01) higher in highlands areas. Age at first calving (53months) was also shorter in highland. The criteria used for the selection of breeding animals by the community are high milk yield, fertility, and body size. Phenotypic results of the highland cattle populations varied from the midland and lowland location and, therefore, to put specific characteristics’ of the cattle type, further molecular characterization, and productivity evaluation is needed.
