Evaluation of Adaptive, Productive and Reproductive Performance of Boran Dairy Breed in the Lowland Agro‐Ecology of Kaffa Zone, South‐Western Ethiopia
Ephrem Worku NigatuABSTRACT
Background
Adaptive traits, along with productive and reproductive performance, are essential for assessing the suitability and long‐term sustainability of indigenous cattle in specific production environments.
Objective
This study evaluated the adaptive, productive and reproductive performance of Boran dairy cattle in the lowland agro‐ecology of the Kaffa Zone, south‐western Ethiopia.
Methods
The study was conducted at a commercial farm in Gojeb, and sixty (60) multiparous Boran dairy cows were selected based on health status, parity, and lactation stage, following an adaptation period before data collection. This study covered the early, mid and late lactation stages over a 25‐week monitoring period. Daily milk yield was recorded twice daily, and reproductive parameters, including age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), number of services per conception (NSPC), days open (DO) and gestation length (GL), were obtained from farm records. Adaptive performance was assessed using rectal temperature (RT) and respiration rate (RR) in relation to the meteorological variables. Blood samples were collected from 30 cows (10 per lactation stage) for haematological (HC, RBC, WBC and PCV) and biochemical (TP, GLU, URE, TGL, TC, AST and ALT) analyses. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20, and descriptive statistics were summarized as mean ± SD.
Results
The current study revealed that the mean daily milk yield was 2.43 ± 0.62, 2.12 ± 0.58 and 1.72 ± 0.45 L/day for early, mid and late lactation, respectively. Parity 1 and 2 cows produced 1.71 ± 0.46 L and 2.47 ± 0.52 L, respectively, with an overall mean of 2.09 ± 0.62 L/day. Parity and lactation stage significantly ( p < 0.001) affected production performance. The reproduction performance of Boran dairy cows was as follows: AFC (51.63 ± 1.82 months), CI (19.07 ± 1.93 months), GL (276.50 ± 2.15 days), DO (338.05 ± 21.71 days) and NSPC (1.60 ± 0.22). Lactation stage and parity significantly influenced several biochemical (TP, GLU, TGL, TC, ALT and AST) and haematological (HC, WBC and PCV) parameters, with total protein and urea being the main contributors to blood profile variation. Blood values remained within the normal range, indicating good physiological adaptation to the local conditions.
Conclusion
The productive and reproductive performances of Boran cows were within the expected ranges for indigenous breeds, suggesting that crossbreeding could enhance productivity. Further studies should consider age, season and comparisons with other locally adapted breeds.