Estimation of non-genetic factors affecting birth weight and reproductive traits of pure Jersey dairy cattle at Adea Berga research station, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to estimate the effect of non-genetic factors on birth weight and reproductive traits of pure Jersey dairy cattle at Adea Berga Research Station. A total of 9,207 pure Jersey dairy cattle performance records collected during 1986 to 2019 were used for the study. General Linear Model (GLM) procedures of SAS software were used to determine the effects of fixed factors. The results indicated that the overall least squares means (± SE) of age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), number of service per conception (NSC) and birth weight (BW) were 32.68 ± 0.1 9 months, 479.80 ± 4.45 day, 2.01 ± 0.02 and 22.3 ± 0.0 9 kg, respectively. The results obtained for CI and NSC performance of pure Jersey dairy cattle at Adea Berga farm were high indicating the need of better management and selection. Year of birth had significant (p < 0.001) effect on AFC and BW. Similarly, the season of birth had significant (P < 0.001) effect on AFC. Postpartum cow weight (PPW) and parity of dam had also significantly (p < 0.05) influenced calf BW and CI. Furthermore, calving interval was significantly (p < 0.001) affected by year of calving. Therefore, improving the level of farm management system is essential for optimal reproduction performance of pure Jersey breed in the farm.