Assessment of Dairy Cattle Breeding Practices and Reproduction Performances in Derashe District, Southern Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Derashe District, Southern Ethiopia with the aim of assessing the breeding practices and the reproductive performance of crossbred and local cows in the district. Field observations, key informant discussion and structured questionnaire were used to generate data. The district was stratified in to three agro-ecologies namely highland (2301-2622 m.a.s.l), mid-altitude (1501-2300 m.a.s.l) and lowland (below1500 m.a.s.l) with a total of 149 respondents. The number of respondents were determined by using probability proportional to size-sampling technique. The overall average cattle herd size in the study areas was 9.5 of local cows and crossbreds. However, the average cattle herd size of crossbred and local cows was 9.5 headsper household. Age at first services, age at first calving, days open, calving intervals and number of services per conception of HF in the mid-altitude were 19.85±1.101months, 28.519±1.354 months, 141.111±6.435 days, 22.815±0.912 months and 1.781±0.102, respectively. Age at first services, age at first calving, days open, calving intervals and number of services per conception of Jersey  crosses were 24.09±0.513 months, 33.09±0.5 month, 152.273±3.835 days, 24.455±0.312 months and 1.982±0.018, respectively. Age at first service, age at first calving, days open, calving intervals and number of services per conception rate of local cows were 39.414±0.552 months, 48.483±0.558 months, 170.624±0.882 days, 26.559±0.321 months and 2.009±0.005, respectively. The overall daily milk yield of HF crosses, Jersey crosses and local cows in the study areas was 8.344±0.576, 4.06±0.248, and 1.971±0.052 liters, respectively(P<0.05). The mean lactation length of HF crosses, Jersey crosses and local cows was 8.62±0.233, 7.51±0.552 and 7.40±0.076 months, respectively (P<0.05). Poor extension and shortage of AI services were the major problems in the study area. The opportunities for improving dairying are suitable climatic condition, road access, AI services and increased demand of dairy products by increasing human population. Generally, dairy cattleproduction in the study district was subsistent type of production. Except for mid-altitude dairy producers, the highland and lowland farmers did not focus on dairy production. The local Zebu, Boran and unknown breed types are dominant cattle population in highland and lowland areas of the district which were associated with low productivity. In order to alleviate these problems, farmers should be halped to have awareness to use AI services.