Comparative Performance of Local and Crossbred Cattle in Different Production Systems

The study was conducted in selected districts of south Gondar zone, Amhara Region, to assess the comparative performance of local and crossbred cattle in different production systems and determine factors affecting the performance of local and crossbred cattle in Estie, Farta and Simada districts. A total of 180 dairy cow owners were randomly selected and interviewed to obtain information on reproductive and productive performance of cows. A structured and semi structured questionnaires were used. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the data and means were compared statistically using the GLM of SAS version 9.1 and SPSS version 20.0, 2011. Daily milk yield (DMY) in crossbred cows was 6.16±1.29, 5.37±2.06 and 3.74±1.61 liters in urban, peri-urban and rural production systems, respectively. The average value of DMY in locals was 2.32±1.29, 1.42±0.68 and 1.10±0.77 liters in urban, peri-urban and rural production systems, respectively. Lactation length (LL) in crosses was 10.33±2.31, 14.07±4.22 and 10.56±2.47 months in urban, peri-urban and rural production systems, respectively. While in locals, LL was 9.11±2.67, and 9.95±3.30 and 9.02±2.17 months in urban, peri-urban and rural production systems, respectively. The average values of age at first service (AFS), calving interval (CI), number of services per conception (NSC) and days open (DO) of local cows were 50.48±12.26, 701.80±275.36 days, and 1.80±1.25and 344.7±283.2 days, respectively. While in crosses the average values of AFS, CI, NSC and DO were 33.21±13.31, and 637.44±203.95 days, 1.90±1.49, and 222.3±127.8 days, respectively. The main constraints were shortage of feed and grazing land, disease and poor extension service in terms of credit schemes, supply of improved dairy breeds, accessibility to AI/bull service and veterinary services. Farmers and government officials do interactively to alleviate the problems. Keyword: Crossbred, local cattle, monitoring, performance, production systems. International Journal of Agriculture & Agribusiness ISSN: 2391-3991, Volume 5 Issue 2, page 108 – 117 Zambrut Zambrut.com. Publication date: August, 2019. Melak, A., Alemayehu, K. & Mekuriaw, Z. 2019. Comparative Performance of Local and Crossbred Cattle in Different Production Systems ............ 109