ILCA Research Report No 11
September 1983
Gabriel H. Kiwuwa
John C.M. Trail
Mohamed Y. Kurtu
Getachew Worku
Frank M. Anderson
Jeffrey Durkin
ARSI RURAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT (ASELA), and INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK CENTRE FOR AFRICA (ADDIS ABABA), ETHIOPIA
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ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
ABSTRACT
Analyses were carried out on a range of performance traits and productivity estimates for indigenous Arsi and Zebu cattle and eight different grades of these crossed with Jersey and Friesian, maintained for milk production. Data covered the period 1968 to 1981, and the animals were kept at Asela station and on surrounding smallholder farms in the Arsi Region of Ethiopia. Major points to emerge concerning overall productivity were the clear superiority of all crossbreds over the indigenous breed groups; the similarity in performance of the 75% Bos taurus and the 50% Bos taurus; the similarity in performance between indigenous Arsi and Zebu; and the major advantages of calving in the wet season compared with the rest of the year. Production levels on smallholder farms were similar to those on Asela station and, based on annual milk yield, the rankings of the four crossbred groups kept on smallholder farms were the same as their rankings on Asela station.
KEY WORDS
/Breeding/ /dairy cattle/ /crossbreeding/ /productivity indices/ /smallholder/ /Ethiopia/ /Jersey/ /Friesian/ /Zebu/ /Arsi cattle/
AUTHORS
Gabriel H. Kiwuwa, Associate Professor of Animal Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, ILCA Visiting Scientist (1982).
John C.M. Trail, Team Leader, Livestock Productivity and Trypanotolerance Group, ILCA, Nairobi, Kenya.
Mohamed Y. Kurtu, Head of ARDU Research Section, Asela Station, Arsi Region, Ethiopia.
Getachew Worku, Animal Breeding and Improvement Coordinator, Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Frank M. Anderson, Team Leader, Highlands Research Programme, ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Jeffrey Durkin, Computer Manager, ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Introduction
Asela station
Cattle
Herd management
Data recording
Data preparation
Data analyses
Reproductive performance
Body weight
Lactation milk yield
Butterfat
Dairy productivity
Initial indications of production on smallholder farms
The consultative group on international agricultural research