Reproductive problems in indigenous cattle in the Ghibe valley farming populations in central Ethiopia

Authors

  • Tekelye Bekele International Livestock Centre For Africa (ILCA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • O.B. Kasali International Livestock Centre For Africa (ILCA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Woudyalew Mulatu International Livestock Centre For Africa (ILCA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Keywords:

Reproduction, Calving interval, Days open, Abortion, Culling, Indigenous cattle, Ethiopia

Abstract

In the study of the reproductive performance in indigenous cattle in 1988 and 1989 at the Ghibe valley in Ethiopia, calving interval was 507.5 ± 9.4 days and days open were 232.4 ± 13.9. Abortion rates were 16.8 and 16.3% of 179 and 43 cattle in 1988 and 1989, respectively, with significant (P < 0.01) seasonal differences. The control of the seasonal flare-up of trypanosomiasis and other health-management interventions were suggested as the possible remedy to overcome reproductive wastage in the future.

Issue

Section

Research Papers