Comparative Study of Reproductive and Productive Performance of Holstein Friesian Dairy Cows at Holeta Bull Dam Station and Genesis farms
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababauniversity
Abstract
The study was conducted at Holeta Bull Dam Station and Genesis Farms with the objective of evaluating age at first effective service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), number of service per conception (NSC), calving interval (CI), lactation milk yield (LMY) and lactation length (LL). Data recorded in the Holeta Bull Dam Station from 1997 to 2003 and in Genesis Farms from1996 to 2005was used for this study. the independent variables considered included location, birth year and season, calving year and season and parity while AFS, AFC, DO, CI, NSC, LMY and LL were the dependent variables. Data were analyzed using The General Linear Models procedure (GLM) of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS 2002). The results indicated that the overall least squares means (± standard error) of AFS, AFC, DO, CI, NSC, LMY and LL were 733 ±16 days, 1001 ± 17days, 202 ± 13 days , 470 ±12days, 2 ± 1, 4097± 1491liters and 301±91days, respectively. Location had highly significant (p<0.001) effect on all traits except NSC. Higher LMY and longer DO, LL, CI, were recorded in the Genesis Farms while longer AFS and AFC were recorded in the Holeta Bull Dam Station. Year of calving had significant effect on CI, DO, LMY and LL. Highest and lowest LMY was recorded in 2002 and 2000, respectively. Higher values of LL, DO and CI were observed in 2003, 2001, 2001, respectively while the lowest values of LL, DO and CI were observed in 2000, 2002 and 2001years, respectively. Parity had significant effect on NSC, LMY and LL while non- significant effect on CI and DO. Higher value of LMY, LL and NSC was absorbed in 2nd, 8th and 7th parity, respectively while lower value of LMY, LL and NSC in absorbed was 7th, 7th and 6th parity respectively. Birth year had highly significant (p<0.001) effect on AFC and AFS. Longest AFC and AFS were absorbed in cows born in1994 while shortest AFC and AFS were absorbed in those born in 2001 and 2002 birth years, respectively. All the traits were non-significantly influenced by season. The reproductive and productive performance of Holstein Friesian in the study Farms is better than many other states and private owned farm in the country. To improve the reproductive and productive performance of dairy cows by improved nutrition, to give attention in heat detection, health care, timely insemination, proper management of postpartum reproductive problems and early growth heifers, to use new reproductive technology, to minimize voluntary waiting period after calving, establish well planed Breeding poly and Standard Record keeping practice should be applied.
Keywords: Genesis farms, Holeta, Holstein Friesian, reproductive performance, productive performance
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Keywords
Genesis farms, Holeta, Holstein Friesian reproductive, performance, productive performance