Assessment of Dairy Cattle Husbandry and Breeding Management Practices of Lowland and Mid-Highland Agro-Ecologies of Borana Zone

Abstract

This survey was carried out in Borana zone to assess the existing breed/breed strain and herd structure, husbandry practices for the animal, rate of inbreeding, and reproductive and productive performance of dairy cattle. Hence, various strains of Borana cattle and cattle type of neighboring adjacent zone, namely Qorti, Geleba, cross of Qorti and Geleba, Guji and Konso subtype, were observed, except non existence of Konso in mid-highland, in both agro-ecologies. Qorti was the true and preferred cattle strain for its potential milk production capacity however it was at decreasing trend due to the feed shortage resultant from the change in climatic condition combined with shrinkage of grazing land. Respectively, the coefficient of inbreeding was 0.0059 and 0.0088 for the lowland and mid-highland area which seemed to be less than the maximum acceptable level however the prevalence of inbreeding was inhabitable as long as there was uncontrolled mating practice. The average age of sexual maturity, calving interval, reproductive life time and crops of calves during the life time of female were 3.9 and 3.7 years, 16.8 and 13.8 months, 11.5 and 10.9 years, and 7.1 and 6.6 calves in the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Average age of sexual maturity and the reproductive life time of the breeding bull were 4.6 and 4.2, and 9.86 and 7.68 years in the lowland, and mid-highland areas, respectively. Milk production of both agro-ecologies and the seasons of the year were characterized by paramount variation and hence a cow could produce daily 1.85 and 1.10 liter during the wet, and 0.35 and 0.95 liter during the dry season from the lowland and mid-highland area, respectively. Therefore, the higher proportion of cows and young animals in the herd endeavor large crops of calves for rapid herd growth and enhance cattle productivity of the country, provided that there is appropriately and efficiently enacting of multifaceted strategies to improve the reproductive performance and combat the danger of genetic dilution from cattle type of adjacent zone, and the problem of feed shortage and nutritive value deterioration.