Vol. 10(12), pp. 1508-1516, 19 March, 2015 DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2014.8952 Article Number: ACC822E51915 ISSN 1991-637X Copyright ©2015 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/AJAR
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Full Length Research Paper
Studies on some non-genetic factors affecting reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian × Deoni crossbred cows W. Zewdu1*, B. M. Thombre2 and D. V. Bainwad2 1
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia. 2 Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Marathwada Agricultural University (MAU), Parbhani-431402(M.S.) India. Received 28 June, 2014; Accepted 18 March, 2015
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of non-genetic factors on reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian × Deoni crossbred cows. Data representing 256 HF × Deoni crossbred cows from cattle crossbreeding project with 1485 total records of lactation over a 30 years period were analyzed to determine the effects of period of calving, season of calving, age at first calving and parity on reproductive performance. The parameters used as indicators of reproductive performance in this study were age at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), dry period (DP) and inter calving period (ICP). The overall least squares mean of age at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), dry period (DP) and inter calving period (ICP) were 1198.54±8.18, 149.15±3.87, 126.90±1.76 and 422.95±2.53 days, respectively. All sources of variations except season of calving had significant effect on AFC and ICP. The AFC as seen in this study was somewhat longer. Cows calving in summer had reduced reproductive performance, as measured by DO and DP. First lactation cows had longer DO, DP and ICP, which were poorest values as reproductive traits. It is therefore concluded that, the reproductive performance of these crossbred cows is affected by some non-genetic factors and hence, additional reproductive strategies are needed to improve their performance. Key words: Reproductive traits, period, season, parity, crossbred cows. INTRODUCTION Reproductive traits are crucial factors in determining the profitability of dairy production (Lobago et al., 2007). The reproductive performance of the breeding female is probably the single most important factor that is a prerequisite for sustainable dairy production system and influencing the productivity. The size of the calf crop is all-important for herd replacement and the production of milk depends heavily on the cow’s reproductive activity
(Kiwuwa et al., 1983). Reproductive performance of cattle is influenced by feed, genetics, disease and management practices (ILCA, 1990). In India there are about 37 breeds of cattle. In spite of the presence of large and diverse cattle genetic resources, the productivity of cows remains low in the country, for various reasons, such as inadequate nutrition, poor genetic potential, inadequate animal
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health services, the harsh climatic conditions and other management related problems. The milk productivity in India remains one of the lowest as compared to the many leading countries of the world. In the country, the average milk productivity of crossbred cows, indigenous cows and buffaloes is about 6.44, 1.97 and 4.3 kg/day, respectively (GOI, 2007). The indigenous cattle breeds are low producers; they mature late and have a delayed conception coupled with long calving intervals. The productivity of dairy animals could be increased by crossbreeding the low yielding non-descript cows with high yielding suitable exotic breeds. This, systematic crossbreeding of indigenous and temperate dairy breeds is principally undertaken to combine the high milk yield and early sexual maturity of European dairy breeds with hardiness, disease resistance and adaptability of zebu cattle. Thus, crossbreeding of local non-descript cattle with exotic breeds of high genetic potential is considered to be a rapid and effective method of improvement. Deoni is an important indigenous cattle breed of India. These animals are mainly found in the Latur district and the adjoining area of Parbhani, Nanded and Osmanabad districts of Maharashtra. Deoni is a medium heavy animal. It is found in three-colour variations viz. Wannera (clear white with black colour at the sides of the face), Balankya (clear white with black spots on the lower side of the body) and Shevera (white body with irregular black spots). The body is moderately developed and symmetrical with distinct muscles. Deoni cattle are hardy and well adapted to their breeding tract and constitute an important cattle genetic resource of India. The breed was found to be hardy and well adapted to tropical draught prone areas. The animals are docile and calm. Traditionally, Deoni cattle are maintained under a semiintensive system of management. Marathwada Agricultural University has taken a project for improvement of Deoni cattle breed by cross breeding local Deoni cows with Holstein Friesian. The success of dairy production in general and crossbreeding programmes in particular needs to be monitored regularly by assessing the productive and reproductive performance under the existing management system. The aim of the present study is, therefore, to investigate the effect of non-genetic factors on the reproductive performance of HF × Deoni crossbred cows kept at cattle crossbreeding project (CCBP).
MATERIALS AND METHODS Study area This study was conducted at CCBP of Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani India. It is located at an altitude of 407 m above the mean sea level and is situated between 17° 35' N and 20° 40' N latitude and between 70° 40' E and 78° 15' E longitude. The mean daily maximum temperature varies from 29.1°C in December to 42.5°C in May. The mean daily minimum temperature varies from 6.9°C in December to 25.4° C in May. The relative
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humidity ranges from 11 to 90%. Normally the summer becomes hot and general dryness persists throughout the year except during south-west monsoon. The region is essentially a subtropical one and it comes under assured rainfall zone with an average rainfall of 900 mm spread in about 70 rainy days mostly received from June to September.
Study animals The Deoni cattle are an important dual-purpose breed of cattle in India. These animals are quite popular in the tracts of former Hyderabad State which now forms the north-western part of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining districts of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Their crosses with Holstein and Jersey are very good milk yielders. Deoni cattle are hardy and well adapted to their breeding tract and constitute an important cattle genetic resource of India. They are medium-sized animal. Cows of this breed are moderately good milkers, yielding about 1135 kg in a lactation period of 300 days. Deoni bulls are good for heavy work and are particularly suitable for intensive cultivation. Traditionally, Deoni cattle are maintained under a semi-intensive system of management. This study is thus focusing on the reproductive performance of HF × Deoni crossbred cows kept at CCBP (Figures 1 and 2).
Management of animals The management of animals at CCBP becomes identical with variation due to reason beyond control. The daily routine management activity for lactating animals starts at 8 a.m. After calving, the calves remain with their dams for about 5 to 7 h. The calves then weighed, tagged and bucket milk fed twice a day until weaning. All the calves are separated from their dam at birth and weaned at around 3 months of age. The milk recording starts after 4th day from calving. The dams remain in barn for the first five days during which they provided with green fodder, concentrate meal, and transferred to the milking herd afterwards. Cows are handmilked twice a day, early in the morning (6:00-7:00 am) and late in the afternoon (5:00-6:00 pm) after feeding concentrate mixture regularly. The cows are allowed for grazing in fallow land from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on a regular basis. However, in summer season (March-June) the cows are allowed for grazing from 9.00 a.m to 12.00 a.m. after that the animals are tied and stall-fed with required quantities of dry and green fodder under the shed. All animals are routinely checked for any incident of health problem and treatments given if any abnormality exists. Additionally, animals regularly vaccinated against major diseases such as FMD, Black Leg and Haemorrhagic Septicaemia. The milking cows are washed and groomed regularly and fed individually. The project used teaser bull for regular heat detection. Upon heat detection, cows mated naturally to a bull. From conception up to 7 months of pregnancy, cows are grazed on natural pasture after which they are kept indoor and offered roughage and concentrate feed.
Sources and nature of data Data representing 256 HF × Deoni crossbred cows from CCBP with 1485 total records of lactation over a 30 years period (1981-2010) were collected and organized to study the effects of period of calving, season of calving, age at first calving and parity on reproductive performance. The parameters used as indicators of reproductive performance in this study were ge at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), dry period (DP) and inter calving period (ICP). The complete year was divided into 4 seasons, according to season prevailing climatic conditions and that of the durations of study into 6 time-periods having 5 years each. The seasons
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Figure 1. Atypical representative of a Deoni cow at CCBP, MAU.
Figure 2. Atypical representative of HF × Deoni crossbred cow at CCBP, MAU.
considered were winter (December to February), summer (March to May), monsoon (June to September) and post-monsoon (October to November). Six levels of age at first calving (AFC) were coded as A1 for 1000 days to A6 for 1601 days with a class interval of 150 days. The parties included L1 to L10. The four seasons namely winter (Dec-Feb), summer (Mar-May), monsoon (Jun-Sept) and post monsoon (Oct-Nov) were coded as S1, S2, S3 and S4. Cows having at least three offspring’s were considered in this study (Tables 1 to 4).
Statistical analysis System (SAS, 2002 version 9.1.3). When the analysis of variance
indicated the existence of significant variation among groups, Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was employed to test and locate means significantly differed from the rest. The following statistical model was employed to analyse the data. Yijklm = µ + Ti +Sj +Ak +Pl + eijklm Where, Yijklm – is the Days Open (DO), Dry Period (DP) and Inter Calving Period (ICP) record of a cow calved during i th period, in jth season, at kth age of first calving, on lth parity, µ - is the population mean common to all the observations, Ti – is the effect of ith timeperiod of calving (where i = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5and 6), Sj – is the effect of jth season of calving (where j = 1, 2, 3 and 4), Ak – is the effect of kth Data were analyzed by linear models using Statistical Analysis
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Table 1. Period of calving and number of crossbred cows calved.
S/No. Time-period of calving 1 P1 2 P2 3 P3 4 P4 5 P5 6 P6 Grand total
Years 1981-1985 1986-1990 1991-1995 1996-2000 2001-2005 2006-2010
No. of calving 405 408 364 124 90 94 1485
No. Animals 103 138 130 62 29 27
Percentage 27.27 27.47 24.51 8.35 6.06 6.33 100
Table 2. Frequency of seasonal calving and number of crossbred cows calved.
S/No.
Season of Calving
S1 1 2 3
Winter (Dec-Feb) December January February Total
155 152 106 413
Summer (Mar-May) March April May Total
103 144 107 352
Monsoon (Jun-Sep) June July August September Total
69 79 105 164 417
S2 1 2 3
S3 1 2 3 4
S4
No. of calving
Post monsoon (Oct-Nov) October November Total
Grand total
161 143 303 1485
AFC (where k = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) groups, Pl – is the effect of lth parity (where l = 1, 2……………10), eijklm – Random error associated with the measurement, which is assumed to be normally, identically and independently distributed with a zero mean and common error variance i.e., IND (0.σ 2e).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Age at first calving Age at first calving is one of the important factors
No. of animals
Frequency of calving From season From the year 37.53 36.80 25.67
10.44 10.24 7.14 27.81
29.26 40.91 30.40
6.94 9.70 7.21 23.84
16.55 18.94 25.18 39.33
4.65 5.32 7.07 11.04 28.08
53.14 47.19
10.84 9.63 20.47 100
187
157
199
165 100
contributing to economic return. A reduction in AFC will minimize the raising costs, shorten the generation interval, and subsequently maximize the number of lactations per head. Earlier first calving increases lifetime productivity of cows. It is an important factor in determining the overall productivity of dairy cows (Singh et al., 1986). The least square means and ANOVA of AFC as affected by season and period of calving are presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. The overall mean of AFC in HF × Deoni crossbred cows was observed as 1198. 54±8.18 days. Considerably, lower
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Table 3. Classification of crossbred cows based on AFC during the study period.
S/No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Age of first calving (AFC) 1000 days 1001-1150 days 1151-1300 days 1301-1450 days 1451-1600 days 1601 days
Codes
No. animals
A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 Total
48 64 53 41 32 18 256
Table 4. Parity and number of lactation records of crossbred cows.
Parity L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9 L10 Total
No. of records 256 255 224 190 168 147 109 74 41 21 1485
estimate of 974.64±17.99 days was reported by Patil (1983) in same crossbred cows. It is recommended that heifers calve between 23 and 25 month of age, however, average AFC observed in this study (about 40 months) is higher than the optimum AFC. Mureda and Mekuriaw (2007) reported environmental factors, especially nutrition, determine pre-pubertal growth rates, reproductive organ development, and onset of puberty and subsequent fertility. Substantial evidence exists that dietary supplementation of heifers during their growth will reduce the interval from birth to first calving, probably because heifers that grow faster cycle earlier and express apparent oestrus.
The effect of period of birth and season on age at first calving The age at first calving was affected significantly by period of birth (P
