Veterinary Science & Technology

Productive and Reproductive and Performances of Indigenous Dairy Cattle in Ethiopia − A Review

Abstract

Abera Teshome Aleli*

This senior seminar was conducted to review the reproductive and productive performance of indigenous dairy cattle in Ethiopia. The age at first service in different indigenous breed of cattle are 55 month, 44.8month, 53.9month, 34.4month for Horro, Fogera, Borana and Ogaden cattle respectively. The average age at first calving was 35-53 months, calving interval was 12-24 months, number of services per conception was 2.1, days open was 250 days and reproductive lifespan of breeding female and male was 11-13 and 6.5 years respectively. The milk yield and lactation length was 1.09 liter/day/cow and 273.9 days respectively. The major problems for dairy cattle productivity in the Ethiopia were shortages of feed, diseases, repeat breeding and poor veterinary service, inadequate supply of improved cattle breeds and poor breeding system. The reproductive and productive performance of indigenous dairy cow in the Ethiopia was low, thus it calls attention to improve management system to improve the reproductive and productive performance of dairy cows.