ASSESMENT OF LACTATION PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL COWS OF GURAGE ZONE IN CHEHA WOREDA, GURAGHE ZONE,SNNPR, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was carried out in Susinamate, Gasore and Ewan kebeles of Cheha woreda GurageZone, aiming to assess the overall lactation performance of local cows, daily milk yield, andlactation length of local cows. The data were gathered using semi-structure questionnaire and interview with agriculture and extension workers. The data collected includes lactation length, calving interval, number of service per conception, age at first calving, management practices and constraints in relation to lactation performance of cows. Then both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. The average milk yield of local cows in 1st, 2nd and 3rd stage of lactation was 1.29±0.068, 1.76±0.065, 1.24±0.066 respectively with overall mean value of1.43±0.199 which is the average daily milk yield. The average lactation length of local cows was found to be8.31±0.203months. The average calving interval, age at first calving and number of service per conception was found to be 28.53±0.877months, 53.07±0.894months, and 1.58±0.074 respectively. Most of the respondents (86.7%) reflected that feed shortage is the major factor that reduces milk production. Most of the cattle herd in the study area was local breed which is very low in lactation performance as compared to exotic breeds available in the area. The overall performance of local cows in the study area was lower than other study results in Ethiopia. This is due to lack of quantity and quality feed, lack of credit from governmental organizations, lack of extension services. To avoid this problem we should: practice Introduction of exotic breed, integrated type of development program for genetic improvement, forage development and feeding strategies, Promotion of input and output supply of dairying and Provision of timely and adequate extension service will be essential.