Abstract
The economic benefit of dairy products can be enhanced by increasing the efficiency of growth and survival rate of calves. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of non-genetic factors on pre- and post-weaning growth traits and mortality rate of pure Fogera and their F1 cross Fogera × Holstein Friesian calves at the Andassa and Chagni Cattle Breeding and Improvement Ranch. Retrospective types of study design and direct measurement were used to collect the data. A total of 3,626 for pre-weaning weight records and 107 for post-weaning measurements were used for analysis. Genotype, sex, dam parity, year of birth, the season of birth, and location were the considered production factors. The overall least square means (LSM ± SE) of birth weights were 22.33 ± 0.12 and 24.56 ± 0.11 kg for Fogera and their crosses, respectively. The overall LSM ± SE of weaning weights were 93.25 ± 0.85 and 111.63 ± 0.84 kg for Fogera and their cross calves, respectively. The overall post-weaning weight for Fogera and their cross calves were 101.02 ± 1.62 and 111.08 ± 2.65, respectively. All variables considered in the model, except dam parity, significantly (P < 0.05) affected post-weaning weight. The overall recorded mortality rate was 3% which was nearly the optimum that many scholars agreed to successful rearing practices.
Highlights
Ethiopia is endowed with huge livestock resources of varied and diversified genetic pools with specific adaptations to a wide range of agro-ecologies (Roessler et al, 2008; Duguma et al, 2010)
The birth weight of Fogera calves recorded in this study was similar to the findings of Addisu (1999) (22.5 ± 0.17 kg), while relatively higher than the value of 21, 21.5, and 21.35 ± 0.09 kg found by Almaz (2012), Metekel Fogera Breed Conservation Multiplication Ranch (MFBCMR) (2013), and Assemu et al (2016), respectively for the same breed
The present study has revealed that the performance level and mortality rate of the Fogera and × Holstein Friesian cross breeds were comparable with results from other zebu and their crosses
Summary
Ethiopia is endowed with huge livestock resources of varied and diversified genetic pools with specific adaptations to a wide range of agro-ecologies (Roessler et al, 2008; Duguma et al, 2010). A recent report indicates that there are about 32 breeds of cattle in Ethiopia (Kebede et al, 2017). The Fogera cattle are among these and distributed around Lake Tana in south Gondar and west Gojjam zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Cattle provide draught power, income to farming communities, means of investment, and an important source of foreign exchange to the nation. They provide milk, meat, manure, and serve as a hedge against risk. Cattle together with sheep and goats are the most important sources of live animals, and skins for export markets (Belete et al, 2010)
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