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Reproductive performance of Horro and Horro-crossbred dairy cows in Ethiopia’s subhumid tropical environments

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Abstract

Estrus detection, timing of insemination, feeding, and health care practices are all factors that can significantly affect cattle breeding efficiency and lifetime production. In Ethiopia’s subhumid environment, the age at first calving, number of days open, duration from calving to first heat, and number of services per conception are economic traits that affect reproductive performance of Horro and Horro-crossbred dairy cows. Data collected at Ethiopia's Bako Agricultural Research Center between 1980–2019 was used to study the reproductive performance of Horro and Horro-crosses with Holstein Friesian and Jersey dairy cows. We identified overall mean ± standard error values of factors that affect reproductive performance, including age at first service (AFS) (29.2 ± 0.2 months), age at first calving (AFC) (39.8 ± 0.2 months), number of services per conception (NSC) (1.76 ± 0.4 months), calving interval (CI) (13.2 ± 0.3 months), days open (DO) (94.3 ± 4.3 days), conception rate (CR) (75.0 ± 1.3%), and replacement rate (RR) (28.4 ± 0.3%). The odds ratios of the 60-day and 90-day nonreturn rates (NRR) were 0.22 and 0.96, respectively. Sire and dam breed and birth period had significant (P < 0.001) effects on AFS and AFC, while season and dam parity had significant effects on CI and DO. Inconsistencies regarding feeding, heat detection, inseminator skills, insemination timing, animal health, and other husbandry practices may extend periods of AFS, AFC, CI, and DO. To optimize reproductive performance in Horro cows and Horro crossbreeds in Ethiopia's subhumid environments, improving management practices should be a priority.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the Bako Agricultural Research Center for providing us with the resources we needed from the start to the end of this research manuscript. The study was coordinated and facilitated by Assosa University and Jimma University.

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The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Asosa University, P.O. Box 18, Asosa, Ethiopia

    Beshatu Jalata

  2. Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETin) and Ministry of Innovation and Technology, PO Box 5954, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Habtamu Abera Goshu

  3. Bako Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 03, Bako, Ethiopia

    Tesfaye Mediksa & Dereje Bekele

  4. Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 3, Jimma, Ethiopia

    Mohammed Aliye

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  1. Beshatu Jalata
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  2. Habtamu Abera Goshu
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  4. Dereje Bekele
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  5. Mohammed Aliye
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Contributions

The study's conception and design were contributed to by all authors. Beshatu Jalata, Tesfaye Mediksa, and Dereje Bekele prepared the materials, collected data, and analyzed the results. Beshatu Jalata wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and all authors provided feedback on previous drafts. Habtamu Abera edited the data, edited the manuscript, designed, supervised, reviewed the literature, and wrote the final manuscript. Mohammed Aliye was in charge of supervision. The final manuscript was read and approved by all authors.

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Correspondence to Habtamu Abera Goshu.

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Jalata, B., Goshu, H.A., Mediksa, T. et al. Reproductive performance of Horro and Horro-crossbred dairy cows in Ethiopia’s subhumid tropical environments. Trop Anim Health Prod 55, 323 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03718-w

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