Reproductive performance of semi-intensively managed dairy herd in Zambia
Keywords:
Dairy cattle, breeds, milk production, calving interval, parity, Zambia
Abstract
This study was undertaken to provide empirical evidence for some reproductive performance traits in a dairy herd managed under a semi-intensive production system in Zambia. Milk production and calving records on 106 milking cows were analyzed over a 12-year period involving Friesian, Jersey, Friesian x Jersey, Friesian x Simmental and Jersey x Sussex breeds. With an average parity order of 4.4, the average total milk production per lactation, average daily milk production, calving interval, and calving rate were 1,996+493.5Kg, 7.9 +2.6Kg, 473.1 +138.5 days, and 77.2% respectively. Milk production was significantly higher from December to March compared to other months for all breeds. A significant breed effect was found with total milk yield per lactation and average milk yield. There were significant parity effects on average daily milk production and calving interval. However, there was no significant breed effect on the calving interval. The correlation of average milk yield with calving interval was -0.26, and the parity order with average milk yield was 0.65. Friesian x Jersey crossbred showed heterosis for milk production (48.3%) and calving interval (11.4%). Breeding strategies can, therefore, be targeted at using Jersey x Friesian crossbred for the emergent smallholder farmers.References
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IPCC, 2006. 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. IGES, Japan.
Kawambwa, P., Hendriksen, G., Zandonda, E., Wanga, L., 2014. Business Viability assessment study of smallholder dairy farming in Zambia 52p.
Lean IJ, Golder HM, LeBlanc SJ, Duffield T. and Santos JEP. Increased parity is negatively associated with survival and reproduction in different production systems. Journal of Dairy Science. 2023 Volume 106 (1) 476-499. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21672
Ledgard, S., Falconer, S., Carlson, B., Wedderburn, L. and Howley, C., 2018. Review of greenhouse gas profiles for six MFAT agricultural aid projects. November 2018. Report for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. RE450/2018/074.
MAL, 2012. The livestock sector in Zambia for Economic growth and poverty reduction: an analysis (LSIPT 2012). Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, 2020. The 2020 Annual Report of Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Lusaka, Zambia.
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Zambia Statistics Agency, 2022. The 2022 Livestock Survey report. Lusaka, Zambia
Neven, D., Katjiuongua, H., Adjosoediro, I., Reardon, T., Chuzu, P.N., Tembo, G. and Ndiyoi, M., 2006. “Food Sector Transformation and Standards in Zambia: Smallholder Farmer Participation and Growth in the Dairy Sector.” Staff Papers, 2006-18, May (August). https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.11701
Odubote IK. Establishment of National Livestock Databank for Genetic Improvement Programmes in Zambia. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production, 2019 Vol. 67 (2) 161-168.
Odubote IK. Characterization of production systems and management practices of the cattle population in Zambia. Tropical Animal Health and Production 2022 Vol 54 (216) 1-11.
Odubote I.K., Mumba, C., Wassie, S.E. and Bateki, C.A., 2023. Inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from cattle in Zambia (1994-2022) calculated using the IPCC Tier 2 approach. Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Mulungushi House, Ridgeway Lusaka, Zambia.
Opoola O, Shumbusho F, Hambrook D, Thomson S, Dai H, Chagunda MGG, Capper JL, Moran D, Mrode R. and Djikeng A. From a documented past of the Jersey breed in Africa to a profit index linked future. Frontier Genetics 2022. 13:881445. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.881445
SAIPR, 2019. Affordability of Protein-Rich Foods: Evidence from Zambia https://assets.cdcgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/14110951/Affordability-of-Protein-Rich-Foods-Evidence-from-Zambia.pdf.
SAS (Statistical Analysis System), 2014. SAS for Windows, Release 9.3. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
SIDA, 2020. Project review of the Dairy Association of Zambia’s Digital Information Management System (DIMS) project. Lusaka, Zambia
SNV, 2013. Netherlands Development Organisation. Assessment of opportunities for improving dairy production, marketing, and adoption of good animal husbandry practices within traditional cattle keeping areas of Zambia., Lusaka. http://saipar.org: 8080/eprc/bitstream/handle/123456789/307/SNV_Assessment of Opportunities for Improving Dairy Production%2C Marketing and Adoption of Good Animal Husbandry_Dec. 2012.pdf?sequence=1.
Temesgen MY, Assen AA, Gizaw TT, Minalu BA and Mersha AY. Factors affecting calving to conception interval (days open) in dairy cows located at Dessie and Kombolcha towns, Ethiopia. PLOS ONE 2022 17(2): e0264029. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264029
Walter LL, Gärtner T, Gernand E, Wehrend A, Donat K. Effects of Parity and Stage of Lactation on Trend and Variability of Metabolic Markers in Dairy Cows. Animals 2022 12(8):1008. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12081008
World Bank, 2011. What would it take for Zambia’s beef and dairy industries to achieve their potential? Finance and private sector development Unit, Africa Region. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitst ream/handle/10986/2771/
Zambia Dairy Transformation Programme (ZDTP), 2020. Practical farm advice F06A- Feeding calendar for smallholder Dairy cows in Zambia.
Zambia Environmental Management Agency, 2020. Zambia – First Biennial update report (BUR) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Published
2024-05-07
How to Cite
1.
Odubote K, Moono M. Reproductive performance of semi-intensively managed dairy herd in Zambia. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 7May2024 [cited 1Jun.2025];7(4). Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1155
Section
Agriculture Sciences
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