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Reproductive performance of F1 crossbred dairy cows used for draught: effect of work and diet supplementation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

E. Zerbini ,
T. Gemeda ,
R. Franceschini ,
J. Sherington  and
A. G. Wold
E. Zerbini
Affiliation:
International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
T. Gemeda
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
R. Franceschini
Affiliation:
International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
J. Sherington
Affiliation:
International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
A. G. Wold
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Abstract

Forty pregnant F1 crossbred cows (20 Holstein-Friesian × Boran and 20 Simmental × Boran) were assigned to a 2 × 2 (work × diet) factorial experiment as follows: supplemented-non-working (SNW), supplemented-working (SW), non-supplemented-non-working (NSNW) and non-supplemented-working (NSW). Working cows pulled sledges 100 days/year (pull = 350 to 450 N, 4 h/day, 4 days/week). Conception and oestrus at fixed times (200 and 365 days post partum) were analysed using linear logistic models. Proportional hazard models were used for analysing ‘failure’ time data such as time to first oestrus or time to conception. Diet supplementation significantly decreased days to first oestrus and days to conception in non-working and working cows. SW cows had similar reproductive performance to NSNW cows. In supplemented cows, work significantly delayed days to conception. However, by 365 days post partum, conception rate was similar for SNW and SW cows. Body condition at calving significantly affected post-partum reproductive ability of non-working and working cows. Natural grass hay alone could not support potential reproductive ability of crossbred cows. Work output of supplemented cows may be associated with longer calving intervals. The economic trade-offs between longer calving intervals and work output should be examined in detail.

Keywords

concentratesconceptioncowsdraught animalsoestrus
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 57 , Issue 3 , December 1993 , pp. 361 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

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