EVALUATION OF PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY CATTLE UNDER FARMERS MANAGEMENT IN AGARFA DISTRICT, BALE ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

The aim of the study was to evaluate productive and reproductive performance of indigenous and their crossbred dairy cows owned by farmers and factors affecting their performance in Agarfa district of Bale Zone, Oromia Regional state. A total of 120 household dairy cows’ owners were selected from four kebeles and interviewed with pre-tested structured questionnaire to obtain information related to husbandry practices, animal productivity and feed resource. Out of this, 40 Dairy farmers who have lactating crossbred cows were purposively selected for monitoring study and milk off take was recorded about four months (November to February). The Collected data was analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science software (SPSS). The average milk production of cows in study areas were 1.7±0.09 and 7.7±0.23 liters for local and crossbreds, respectively. Based on exotic blood level of < 50%, 50-75%, >75% the crossbred cows produced 6.4±1.50 L/day, 6.9±1.39 L/day, 6.8 ±1.79 L/day, respectively. The mean lactation length was 6.5±0.09 and 8.2 ±0.2 months for local and crossbreds cows’, respectively. The mean age at first service (AFS) for local and their crossbred was 45.1±7.74 and 37.1±7.18 months, respectively. Age at first calving (AFC) for local and their crossbred was 54.8±8.21 and 47.2 ± 9.35 months, respectively. Days open till conception (Days) for local and their crossbred was 105.7 ±23.04 and 94.3±23.85, respectively. Calving interval for local and their crossbred was 15.5±4.06 and 13.3±1.69 months, respectively. Number of services per conception for local and their crossbred were 2.1±0.84 and 1.8±0.68. Longevity/replacement for indigenous cow and their crossbred was 5.8±1.75 and 7.9±1.36 years, respectively. The overall milk off take recorded (6.7±0.12) litters per day/cows during follow up was less than the result obtained from survey. It indicates that during survey the farmers speak the maximum production they have milked. But during the follow up it was the average of actual milk recorded. Shortage of feeds, diseases and parasites, inadequate veterinary service, inadequate AI service and poor infrastructure were identified as the major problems of dairy production in the study area. Generally, the present study showed that the productive and reproductive performance of local cows and crossbred owned by farmers was comparatively low. Therefore, it need to advance extension service to improve management practice regarding to feeding, health care, artificial insemination, recording and proper breeding management that enhance productivity of the cow.