ASSESSMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND ON-FARM MONITORING OF FEEDING PRACTICES ON MILK YIELD OF HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN CROSSBRED DAIRY COWS IN GIDOLE TOWN, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The aim of the study was Assessment of management and on-farm monitoring of feeding practices on milk yield of Holstein Friesian crossbred dairy cows in Gidole town, Ethiopia. The study involved both cross-sectional survey, on-farm monitoring of farmers' practice on dairy cow feeding and a laboratory-based investigation to determine the feed composition and milk yield. From a total of 150 households of HF crossbred dairy cow owners 60 respondents were selected for cross-sectional study was done by purposely sampling techniques and semi-structured questionnaires were used in the interview. Based on feeding practices of crossbred dairy cow, 12 households in three feeding categories (poor, good and better) were laid down randomly and on-farm monitoring was conducted. Chemical compositional analysis was done for major feed types and milk. The statistical package for social science software were used to analyze the data. Based on cross-sectional survey, the average daily and lactation milk yield (litter) was 7.29±0.22 and 1727.73±9.57 respectively, with average lactation length of 7.9±1.45 months. About (53.3%) of the respondents own breed of blood level of (50%), (43.3%) respondents own blood level of (50-75%), and (3.3%) respondents own blood level of above (75%). All respondents keep their dairy cow in a separate house. Milking practice was done by hand, milking equipment used were plastic materials and the majority (56.66%) of the household clean barn once a day and (43.33%) cleans two times per a day. Major cattle feed resources were crop residues, improved forages (Desho grass, Guatemala grass and Elephant grass), enset, atella and salt. As determined by laboratory analysis, atella have the highest (CP) crude protein 29.24 % followed by elephant grass18.44 % and Teff straw has the least (CP) crud protein 6.34 % content. The contents of DM of selected feed items were comparable. Based on farm level evaluation, in the early, mid, and late lactation stage and in three identified feed management practice (poor, good and better-off) average daily milk yield in a liter were determined. In early lactation stage daily milk yield was 3.61±0.23, 8.25± 0.69 and 9.47± 0.88 in mid lactation stage, 3.64±0.75, 7.81±0.87 and 9.37±0.71 in late lactation stage was 2.01±0.24, 3.03±0.41, 3.63±, 0.39 respectively. The fat (%) were 3.03±0.77, 3.42±0.34 and 3.76±0.64 in early lactation stage, 3.17± 0.73, 3.21±0.22 and 5.01±0.66 in mid lactation stage and 2.85±0.47, 3.26±0.38 and xiii 4.20±0.53 in late lactation stage respectively. The protein (%) content of milk were 2.62±0.31, 3.02±0.17 and 3.14±0.12 in early lactation stage, 2.86±0.23, 3.10±0.16 and 3.21±0.15 in mid lactation stage and 3.11±0.19, 3.25±0.16 and 3.29± in late lactation stage respectively. The lactose content (%) was 4.01±0.47, 3.91±0.49 and 4.01±0.23 in early lactation stage, 4.34±0.29, 4.35±0.22 and 4.29±0.34 in mid lactation stage and 4.36±0.44, 4.61±0.22 and 4.32±0.28 in late lactation stage respectively. The variation observed to milk compositions in different lactation stage were significant to different feeding practices of the households. The main constraints of milk production are shortage of land, high cost of feed, low productivity and the main opportunities of milk production are high demand of milk consumption, rising of income and awareness of extension service.