Abstract:
The study was conducted in two districts of Kembata Tembaro zone, with the objective to
assess breeding and husbandry practices of dairy cattle and to evaluate estrus synchronization
and artificial insemination services of dairy cattle in Hadero- Tunto and Doyogena districts.
Data were collected using semi structured questionnaire, retrospective study, field monitoring
and a participatory farmers’ group discussion. A total of 180 respondents were randomly
selected from the two districts (90 from each) for questionnaire survey. For retrospective
study, data were collected on productive and reproductive performance of 911 dairy cattle
from record book of the AI centers for 2017 to 2018 period. Field monitoring was conducted
for 3 months on 80 cows. The dairy cows or heifers were selected purposively from kebeles
and households. The data from survey were analyzed using (SPSS version 20) and the data
from retrospective study and field monitoring were analyzed using (SAS version 9.1). For
quantitative data obtained from field monitoring general linear model procedure of statistical
analysis system (SAS version 9.1) was used. The overall mean for family size and ages of the
respondents were 8.41±1.92 and 45.73 respectively. The mean family size and age of
respondents showed highly significant (P<0.01) and significant (P<0.05) difference between
the districts respectively. Around half and quarter of respondents were completed grade 1-6
and illiterate respectively. The mean land size possessed per respondent was 2.66±0.12 ha.
Natural pasture was the dominant feed sources in highlands whereas non-conventional feed
was the dominant feed sources in midl-altitude. Farmers keeping Holstein Friesian and jersey
breeds gave slightly higher priority to milk production for cash income, whereas those keeping
local cattle breeds gave higher priority to milk production for home consumption. Farmers
keeping bull of local breeds gave slightly higher priority to traction power. The average age at
first calving for native and crossbred cows was 56.48±0.88 and 48.66±8.07 months
respectively. AI was the dominant mating system (70.0%) followed by natural mating system
(21.7%) in the study areas. The study indicated that the respondents selected animals based on
higher milk yield, fast growth rate, feeding behavior and good temperament. The main reasons
for presence of less satisfaction on AI service were heat detection problem followed by
disease, absence of artificial insemination technician’s efficiency and distance of AI center.
Around half (48.3%) of the respondents have medium satisfaction about AI service and
synchronization program. The overall conception rate and number of service per conception
of action research was 77% and 1.3% respectively. This study concluded that selecting
animals with appropriate age, BCS and parity; heat detection efficiency of farmers and AITs,
farmers’ awareness to detect heat and on time insemination were important factors for
improving the efficiency of synchronization program
