Breeding Practices and Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Dairy Cattle in the Urban and Peri-urban Smallholder Dairy Production System of Arsi Highland, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the breeding practice and reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cattle in the urban and peri-urban smallholder dairy cattle production systems of Tiyo, DigeluTijo and LemuBilbilo districts of Arsi. 260 households were selected and data on herd composition, breeding practice and reproduction were collected using questionnaire. A total of 476 cows were studied for reproductive performances. The herd composition comprises cow (2.8±0.1), heifers (1.3±0.1), calves (1.5±0.1) and breeding bull (0.2±0.03) and was significantly higher in the peri-urban but the same among the three districts. Number of cow comprises highest proportion of the herd in the urban (57.0%) and peri-urban (49.9%) production systems. AI and natural bull service is the mating system practicing in the districts. The use of AI or bull service only or combination of AI and bull services was significantly different between the two production systems and among the three districts. Farmers get AI service either calling to AI technicians and get the service in their farm or taking their cows to AI service center.