Abstract
Reproduction is a basic requirement to increase stock size, successfully replace culled cows and maintain constant milk production in dairy farms. However, the reproductive physiology of dairy cows is disturbed by several factors, the most important of which are reproductive disorders. The current study was conducted to identify major reproductive health problems in two selected zones of Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Reproduction and production performance history of selected cows were collected from 123 farm owners. The mean age, parity, age at first calving (AFC), age at first service (AFS), calving to first service (CFS), service per conception (SPC), average calving interval (ACI), the average lactation length and average daily milk yield were 65.8 ± 30.5 M, 2.48 ± 1.6, 30 ± 8.6 M, 19.61 ± 6.3, 3.3 ± 1. 7M, 2.75 ± 1.74 M, 14.3 ± 3.4 M, 11.5 ± 3.4 M and 12.3 ± 6.6 L, respectively. From a total of 252 studied dairy cows, 102 (40.5%) had either a history or active reproductive health problem. Among the problems identified, mastitis (43.6%), abortion (13.8%), retention of placenta (21.3%) and dystocia (7.4%) were found with high magnitude. While Vaginal prolapses (1.6%), repeated breeding (3.25%) and anoestrus (5.3%) were other reproductive health problems with a relatively lower incidence rate. Age (p= 0.01), Breed (p=0.04) and body condition (p=0.04) were identified as risk factors for reproductive problem. The observed reproductive health problems were higher as compared to other reports. Therefore, the constraints need to be addressed using holistic interventions which consist of feeds and nutrition, breeding and health packages. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-11-02 Publication date: June 30 th 2021
Highlights
Background and justificationReproduction is a basic prerequisite to efficient livestock production
Materials and methods 2.1 Study Area The study was conducted in two zones of the Oromia region, namely East Shewa and Oromia Finfine Special Zone Dukem City Administration (OFSZDCA)
A 26 years retrospective analysis made by Yalew et al (Yalew et al 2011), a reproductive constraint in crossbred dairy cows under four different production systems in the central highlands of Ethiopia by Shiferaw et al (Shiferaw et al 2003), reproductive performances of Jersey dairy cattle maintained at Adeaberga dairy farm by Siyoum et al (Siyoum et al 2016) showed the mean AFS, AFC and CI to be 26-29 M, 35-41M and 15-18M, respectively
Summary
2.1 Study Area The study was conducted in two zones of the Oromia region, namely East Shewa and Oromia Finfine Special Zone Dukem City Administration (OFSZDCA). The study was done by selecting dairy cows in representative farms. The selection criteria were ease of access and the presence of one or more dairy cows in the farm at the time of the study. All dairy cows in selected farms with or without a history of reproductive disorders were considered for the study. 2.5 Study methods A semi-structured questionnaire was designed, tested in a pilot study and employed to collect information about livestock holding pattern, management practices, production and reproductive performance, existing constraints and the magnitude and clinical presentation of reproductive disorders. The clinical study was performed on selected animals at the time of investigation and cases were diagnosed tentatively. 3.1 Housing Condition A little more than half of the respondents keep their animals in a simple barn built adjacent to the living house (Table 3). Biosecurity measures were in place in only 15% of the farms
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