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Reproductive performances of dairy cows in smallholder production system in Selalle, Central Ethiopia

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Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the reproductive performance and factors that influence reproductive efficiency of cows in smallholder dairy farms in Selalle, Central Ethiopia. Three hundred dairy farms (average herd size = 8) were visited and data on reproductive, breeding and management histories were collected and analysed. The overall geometric means for calving to conception interval (n = 382) and duration after last calving (n = 422) were 187 and 201 days in pregnant and non-pregnant cows, respectively. The least-squares mean calving to conception interval was higher (p < 0.05) in mixed crop–livestock production (MCLP) than in small urban dairy production (SUDP) systems and was lower (p < 0.01) in non-suckling than in suckling cows. District significantly influenced (p < 0.01) the least-squares mean duration after last calving and, among the districts, non-pregnant cows in Wuchale-Jida had the highest values, whereas cows in Sululta and Mulo had the lowest values. The overall average number of services per conception (±SD) and the first service conception rate were 1.6 ± 1.0 (n = 382) and 56% (n = 456), respectively. The prevalences of abortion, dystocia (assisted parturition), retained fetal membrane, vulval discharge/endometritis and pre-weaning calf mortality were 1.4%, 1.3%, 5.4%, 2.8% and 17.4%, respectively. The present estimates of extended calving to conception interval and duration after last calving indicate poor reproductive performances of cows in Selalle smallholder dairy farms. The pre-weaning calf mortality rate is highly significant. Accordingly, a further detailed investigation is necessary to identify and quantify the specific reproductive disorders and associated interacting factors attributing to such poor performance and to determine the causes and predisposing factors behind such high calf mortality.

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Abbreviations

BCS:

body condition score

CCI:

calving to conception interval

DALC:

duration after last calving

MCLP:

mixed crop-livestock production

RFM:

retained fetal membrane

SUDP:

small urban dairy production

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7039, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden

    F. Lobago & H. Kindahl

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

    F. Lobago & M. Bekana

  3. Swedish Dairy Association, SE-63184, Eskilstuna, Sweden

    H. Gustafsson

Authors
  1. F. Lobago
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  2. M. Bekana
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  3. H. Gustafsson
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  4. H. Kindahl
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Correspondence to F. Lobago.

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Lobago, F., Bekana, M., Gustafsson, H. et al. Reproductive performances of dairy cows in smallholder production system in Selalle, Central Ethiopia. Trop Anim Health Prod 38, 333–342 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-006-4328-1

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