Management Practice and Comparison of Reproductive and Productive Performance of Dairy Cattle between Beneficiary and None Beneficiary of Estrus Synchronization and Mass Insemination in North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
The aim of this study was to assess the overall management practice and comparison of reproductive and productive performance between beneficiaries and none beneficiaries of oestrus synchronization and mass insemination (OSMI) of dairy cattle in north shewa zone of dairy cattle. Data were obtained by interviewing 270 estrus synchronization and mass insemination beneficiaries and 135 none beneficiaries’ dairy farmers. Data were analyzed using Statistical Packaging for social science (SPSS) version 20. Natural pasture and crop residue were the most common feed resources in the study areas. River water was the major source of water for their cattle and well water was used when river water is not available. In their order of importance; FMD, mastitis, and abortion were the major diseases of cattle in the study area. The reproductive performance of dairy cows in OSMI beneficiaries were age at first service (30.81±7.6), calving interval (6.9±5.2), lactation length (8.95±2.46), day open (5.3±3.18) and number of service per conception (1.5±0.38) whereas in none beneficiary age at first service (32.88±6.64), calving interval (18.18±5.8), lactation length (9.6±0.54), day open (5.17±3.43) and number of service per conception (1.22±0.54) months. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference in milk yield between beneficiaries and none beneficiaries in HFC, HHFC and JERC dairy cows per day per cow.The major factors affecting reproductive performance of dairy cows are management, nutritional status, genotype, and disease. Therefor the productive and reproductive performance of the dairy cows reared by the participants were better than those of the nonparticipants.