Evaluation of reproduction and productivity of local boran cows and boran X friesian heifers at Abarnosa cattle breeding ranch

Data collected from 1994 to 1998 on abarnosa ranch were used to assess the reproduction, production and productivity of the herd. These data were from herd of 442 local cows and 139 Boran x Friesian animals that existed at the beginning of 1994 and additional purchase of 500 local Boran heifers in 1996 and 1998 that entered the herd. Mating, conception and calving rate were calculated from average breeding stock (Boran cows and Boran x Friesian heifers (F1). The production potential of local cows was estimated as number of Boran x Friesian bullocks (2 year's age) and number of Boran x Friesian heifers (F1). The production potential of local cows was estimated as number of Boran x Friesian heifers (3 months pregnant) produced per year. All results discussed in this paper were based on average values of 5 years. The average annual opening and closing breeding cow was about 452 and 483 respectively. Every year about 2% and 6% of opening breeding Boran cows left the herd through deaths and culls, and about 22% of opening stock entered through purchase. The average mating, conception and calving rate of Boran cows left the 51% and 40% respectively. Between Boran x Friesian heifers mating rate of 54% and conception rate of 51% were estimated. Annual calf mortality rate for Boran x Friesian (F1) calves, bullocks, growing heifers and matured heifers was (17%), 4%, 10% and 5% respectively. Culling rate was 4% for growing and 13% for matured heifer. The annual in calf heifer (Boran x Friesian) production was about 24 (31% of matured heifers), of which 19 in calf heifers of 3 months pregnant were distributed to the farmers yearly. At the end of each year about 45 matured heifers (Boran * Friesian F1) available at the ranch. This realized lower in calf heifers out put was attributed to different factors related to technical (management level, feed supply, heath, etc.), environmental, socio-economic situation and their interactions. The cumulative effects of these factors resulted in poor reproduction performances of local cows and crossbred heifers, unwanted births of local animals, abortion (due to Brucellosis) culling (due to Striptotricosis and Brucellosis) which in tern contributed to low crossbred animals of both sexes.