Environmental factors influence the lactation performance of crossbred dairy cattle in Ethiopia: A review

By Fikadu, WT (2023).

Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

ISSN: 2276-7770

Vol. 13(1), pp. 31-36, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7730552

https://gjournals.org/GJAS

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Environmental factors influence the lactation performance of crossbred dairy cattle in Ethiopia: A review

Fikadu Wodajo Tirfie

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holetta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 2003 Addis Ababa or 31 Holetta, Ethiopia

ARTICLE INFO	ABSTRACT
*Article No.:* 022223017 *Type: Review* *Full Text: PDF, HTML, PHP, EPUB* *DOI:* 10.5281/zenodo.7730552	The effect of environmental factors on the lactation performance of crossbred dairy cattle in Ethiopia is discussed in this review. The efficiency of dairy farming systems is largely determined by the herd's lactation performance. The evaluation of lactation performance of dairy cattle is critical for the overall development of the dairy industry. Non-genetic (environmental) factors (parity, calving season, and calving year) significantly influenced common lactation performance indicators (daily milk yield (DMY), lactation milk yield (LMY), 305day milk yield (305DMY), and lactation length (LL)). Improving cow management (such as feeding, housing, disease control, and seasonal breeding) should be required to improve the lactation performance of crossbred dairy cattle.
*Accepted:* 01/03/2023 *Published:* 13/03/2023
Corresponding Author Fikadu* Wodajo Tirfie *E-mail:* fikadu121084z@ gmial.com Phone: +251919198563
*Keywords: daily milk yield, lactation length, lactation milk yield, non- genetic factors, 305 day milk yield*

INTRODUCTION

In Ethiopia, genetic improvement of indigenous cattle has primarily focused on crossbreeding. For decades, crossbred cattle, predominantly zebu crosses with Holstein-Friesian cattle, have been used for milk production (Niraj et al 2017). The efficiency of dairy farming systems is largely determined by the herd's lactation and reproductive performance. The evaluation of lactation and reproductive performance of dairy cattle is critical for the success of the entire dairy industry development (Wondossen, 2018)

Evaluation of crossbreeding achievement and generation of performance information could provide valuable documentation for developing a future national breeding policy. Lactation performance is commonly measured by daily milk yield (DMY), lactation milk yield (LMY), 305day milk yield (305DMY), and lactation length (LL). Information on the influence of environmental factors on economic traits is thought to be very important in developing proper management practices for trait improvement.

Some research has been conducted on the lactation performance of some Ethiopian crossbred dairy cattle. The current review looks at the impact of the environment on the lactation performance of crossbred dairy cattle in Ethiopia.

Effect of environment on lactation performance of cross breed dairy cattle in Ethiopia

Animal performance is influenced not only by genetic merit, but also by nutritional, management, health, and environmental factors. Milk yield and milk-related traits are influenced by a variety of factors, including feed quantity and quality, breed, parity, season, milking intervals, and milking frequency, as well as diseases (Nitsuh, 2018; Wubshet, 2018).

Dairy cattle lactation performance is typically measured by total milk yield per lactation or per year, average daily milk yield, lactation length, milk production persistency, and milk composition (Zewdu et al 2013). The milk produced by a dairy animal during a specific period of lactation is used to judge its lactation performance.

Effect of calving season

According to Haile et al. (2009), the calving season had no effect on all milk production traits (daily milk yield, lactation length, lactation milk yield and 305 day milk yield). This finding is comparable to Destaw's (2018) research at the Alage Agricultural Technical Vocational Educational Training (ATVET) College dairy farm (Table 1). The effect of management and weather conditions on daily milk yield varied significantly between seasons. Cows that calved during the dry and main rain seasons produced more daily milk yield than cows that calved during the short rain season. The calving season had a significant impact on daily milk production. The lower daily milk yield could be attributed to changes in weather and pasture productivity during this season (Tadesse, 2014).

Season had a significant effect on the average daily milk yield at Menkorer Agro Industry Enterprise Dairy Farm (MAIEDF) in Debre Markos town Nitsuh (2018), which is higher during the long rainy season. This may be related to the lowest temperature recorded during the long rainy season in the Ethiopian Highlands, as well as better forage availability; it may favor high-quality exotic breeds from temperate regions.

The calving season had no effect on lactation milk yield (LMY) at the Holleta bull dam station and the Debre Zeit genesis dairy farm (Alewya, 2014). Tadesse et al. (2010), Direba (2012), Abdu (2014), Haile (2014), and Destaw (2014) all reported the same result (2018). Cows calving during the long rainy season produced the most milk, due to the low environmental temperature and the availability of high-quality fodder.

On the other hand, calving season had an effect on lactation milk yield Niraj et al (2014) at Gondar, accounting for 1.91% of the total variation in the trait. Cows calving in July-October (1482.05+68.90 liters) had significantly higher LMY than cows calving in November-February (1376.39+74.50 liters) and March-June (1364.23+84.32 liters) (Table 1). According to Tadesse (2014), the calving season has a significant effect on lactation length. This was agreed upon by Destaw et al (2016) and Nitsuh (2018) in their reports on Alage & Ardaita Agricultural Technical Vocational Educational Training College and Menkorer Agro Industry Enterprise Dairy Farm (MAIEDF) (Table 1). According to some research, the calving season had no significant effect on the lactation length of crossbred dairy cattle (Abdu, 2014; Alewya, 2014; Niraj et al 2014; Destaw, 2018; Kefale, 2018; Wubshet, 2018).

At Holleta and Debre Ziet agricultural research center dairy farm (Haile et al 2009; Yosef, 2006) and Alage Agricultural Technical Vocational Educational Training (ATVET) College dairy farm, 305 day milk yield was not significantly affected by season (Destaw, 2018). According to Wubshet (2018), it had a significant effect on 305 day milk yield at Elfora Cheffa Dairy Farm in Oromia Zone of Amhara Region.

Table 1: Effect of calving season on lactation trait (LMY, LL, 305DMY and DMY)
Traits					Study Site	Authors
LMY		LL	305DMY	DMY	Study Site	Authors
*		-	-	-	BARC	(Sisay, 2015).
NS		NS	-	-	Holleta and D/Z	(Alewya, 2014).
**		NS	-	-	Gondar	(Niraj et al 2014)
NS		NS	NS	NS	Holleta and D/Z	(Haile et al 2009)
NS		-	-	-	Central high land	(Tadesse et al 2010)
****		NS	-	*	HARC	(Kefale, 2018)
-		NS	*	-	Cheffa ELFORA	(Wubshet, 2018)
-		-	NS	-	HARC	(Yosef, 2006)
NS		NS	-	-	Adea’Berega	(Direba, 2012)
NS		NS	-	-	SCBMC	(Abdu, 2014)
NS		NS	-	*	ATVETC	(Haile, 2014)
*		*	-	-	Alage & Ardaita TVETC	(Destaw et al 2016)
*		***	-	***	MAIEDF at D/M	(Nitsuh, 2018)
NS		NS	NS	NS	ATVETC	(Destaw, 2018)
*		*	-	*	HARC	(Tadesse, 2014)
	LMY= Lactation Milk Yield, LL=Lactation Length, 305DMY= 305 Day Milk Yield, DMY= Daily Milk Yield, ** = Significant at p<0.0001, * = Significant at p< 0.001, ** = Significant at p< 0.01, =Significant at p<0.05 and NS = Non- Significant or p>0.05, - not available*

Effect of parity

According to Wondossen et al (2018), parity had a significant effect on daily milk yield, revealing that the mean daily milk yield of the herd increased from parity one to parity three. The increasing trend in DMY could be attributed to the fact that cows calving in the first parity were not mature enough to produce more milk due to physiological conditions such as udder development and energy reserve for both body maintenance and milk production; however, increased production was observed in later parities with the attainment of maturity. Other researchers have also reported the significance of parity on daily milk yield with varying levels of significance (Table 2) (Demeke et al 2003; Haile et al 2009; Gebregziabher et al., 2014; Haile, 2014; Destaw, 2018; Kefale, 2018 and Nitsuh, 2018).

One of the non-genetic (environmental) factors that had an effect on the lactation milk yield of crossbred dairy cattle was parity. Parity was found to have a significant effect by Wondossen et al (2018), Demeke et al. (2003), Tadesse et al (2010), and Destaw et al (2016). First lactation cows produced the least amount of milk, while third parity produced the most. The primary cause of variation in the given set of genes and their interactions with non-genetic factors is lactation physiology (Wondossen et al 2018).

The significant effect of parity on lactation milk yield may be due to differences in udder size, feed requirements related to gastro intestinal tract development and environmental conditions during lactation. In fact, as animal’s age, they will use feed for maintenance, production, and reproduction rather than growth. As a result, the feed used for heifer growth will be used for milk production in older animals (Nitsuh, 2018). Jersey Cattle Breeding and Multiplication Center at Wolaita Zone, parity had not a significant impact on lactation performance (Table 2) (Abdu, 2014)

According to the findings of Kefale (2018), parity had a significant effect on lactation length. The first parity had the longest lactation length, while the eighth parity had the shortest lactation length. Milk yield increased with lactation length, but lactations longer than one year did not appear to be advantageous. The daily milk yield decreases in the later stages of lactation, affecting lifetime production. Furthermore, longer lactations lengthen the calving interval, reducing the number of calves that can be born during a cow's lifetime (Alewya, 2014).

Lactation length was significantly influenced by parity due to the increase in efficient feed utilization by dairy animals as they aged. As animals age, their uterus recovery time decreases, and they can more efficiently use feed for both milk production and uterus recovery (Nitsuh, 2018). This is consistent with studies conducted at HARC by Demeke et al (2003), Yosef (2006), Kefena et al (2011), Tadesse (2014), Selamawi et al (2017), and Kefale (2018).

According to Haile (2014) on Alage Agricultural Technical Vocational Educational Training (ATVET) College dairy farm; Destaw et al (2016) on Alage & Ardaita TVETC; and Nigusu (2012) on Adama milk shade /east shewa, the effect of parity has no effect on lactation length (Table 2). According to Haile et al (2009), Kefena et al (2011), Selamawi et al (2017), Destaw (2018), and Wubshet (2018) at HARC and DZARC dairy farms, parity affected the 305 day milk yield (305DMY) . However, parity had no effect on 305-day milk yield for cross-bred dairy cattle at the Holleta agricultural research center herd (Table 2) (Yosef, 2006).

According to Wubshet (2018) study, milk yield increased from parity 1-5, then declined due to decline in body condition and degeneration of the body system over the recurring pregnancies. It will depend on the cow's ability to keep the condition at a survivable level. In addition, because the heifers were still growing, the feed that was given to them was channeled toward their growth. Milk yield increased as the parities progressed because the feed requirements for growth decreased (Wubshet, 2018).

Table 2: Effect of parity on lactation trait (LMY, LL, 305DMY and DMY)
Traits				Study Site	Authors
LMY	LL	305DMY	DMY	Study Site	Authors
***	**	-	**	Wolkite town	(Wondossen et al 2018)
**	*	-	-	Holleta and D/Z	(Alewya, 2014).
**	**	-	-	Gondar	(Niraj et al 2014)
**	**	**	**	Holleta and D/Z	(Haile et al 2009)
***	***	-	***	Holleta	(Demeke et al 2003)
***	-	-	-	Central high land	(Tadesse et al 2010)
***	***	***	-	HARC	(Kefena et al 2011)
****	****	-	****	HARC	(Kefale, 2018)
-	*	**	-	Cheffa ELFORA	(Wubshet, 2018)
-	-	NS	-	HARC	(Yosef, 2006)
****	****	-	-	Adea’Berega	(Direba, 2012)
****	-	-	****	BARC & HARC	(Gebregziabher et al 2014)
NS	*	-	-	SCBMC	(Abdu, 2014)
***	NS	-	***	ATVETC	(Haile, 2014)
***	NS	-	-	Alage & Ardaita TVETC	(Destaw et al 2016)
-	NS	-	***	Adama milk shade /east shewa	(Nigusu, 2012)
***	***	-	**	MAIEDF at D/M	(Nitsuh, 2018)
**	***	***	***	ATVETC	(Destaw, 2018)
***	***	***	-	HARC	(Selamawi et al 2017)
**	**	-	**	HARC	(Tadesse, 2014)
LMY= Lactation Milk Yield, LL=Lactation Length, 305DMY= 305 Day Milk Yield, DMY= Daily Milk Yield, ** = Significant at p<0.0001, * = Significant at p< 0.001, ** = Significant at p< 0.01, =Significant at p<0.05 and NS = Non- Significant or p>0.05, - not available*

Effect of calving year

The year of calving had a significant effect on the lactation performance of crossbred dairy cattle. The daily milk yield varied significantly depending on the calving year. The variation in milk yield observed over time may be related to the availability of quantity and quality forage, the feeding system, the size of the herd, the management system, and environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and disease, which vary from year to year (Nitsuh, 2018). Demeke (2003) and Tadesse (2014) at the Holleta Agricultural Research Center Dairy Farm (HARC), Haile (2014) and Destaw (2018) at the Alage Agricultural Technical Vocational Educational Training College (ATVETC), and Nitsuh (2018) at the Menkorer Agro Industry Enterprise Dairy Farm (MAIEDF) in Debre Markos town study report found that the year of calving had a significant effect on daily milk yield (Table 3).

According to Nitsuh (2018)'s study on MAIEDF at D/M, Calving year had no significant effect on lactation milk yield (LMY), which could be attributed to adequate supply of concentrate feed to the cow, high availability and quality of feed resources, and regular feeding management. According to Demeke (2003), Tadesse et al (2010), Kefena et al (2011), Alewya (2014), Haile (2014), and Destaw (2014), the calving year has a significant impact on the lactation milk yield of cross breed dairy cattle (2018).

According to a study conducted at Cheffa ELFORA by Wubshet (2018), the calving year had no effect on lactation length (LL). This was not agreed upon by Selamawi et al (2017) at Holleta agricultural research center and Nitsuh (2018) at Menkorer Agro Industry Enterprise Dairy Farm Debre Markos (Table 3).

According to a study conducted at the Holleta Agricultural Research Center, the year of calving had a significant effect on 305 day milk yield (Kefena et al 2011). A similar report was published for another study conducted at the Alage Agricultural Technical Vocational Educational Training (ATVET) College dairy farm (Destaw, 2018). This is consistent with and comparable to research at Cheffa ELFORA in the Oromia zone of the Amahara region (Wubshet, 2018). Other researchers in different agro ecology and sites reported similar findings. There was a significant difference in the calving year on 305 day milk yield at Holleta and Debre ziet agricultural research center dairy farm (Haile et al 2009; Yosef, 2006; Selamawi et al 2017).

Table 3: Effect of calving year on lactation trait (LMY, LL, 305DMY and DMY)
Traits				Study Site	Authors
LMY	LL	305DMY	DMY	Study Site	Authors
***	***	-	-	Holleta and D/Z	(Alewya, 2014).
**	**	**	**	Holleta and D/Z	(Haile et al 2009)
***	***	-	***	Holleta	(Demeke, 2003)
***	-	-	-	Central high land	(Tadesse et al 2010)
***	***	***	-	HARC	(Kefena et al 2011)
****	****	-	****	HARC	(Kefale, 2018)
-	NS	**	-	Cheffa ELFORA	(Wubshet, 2018)
-	-	**		HARC	(Yosef, 2006)
****	****	-		Adea’Berega	(Direba, 2012)
*	*	-		SCBMC	(Abdu, 2014)
***	***	-	***	ATVETC	(Haile, 2014)
***	NS	-	-	Alage & Ardaita TVETC	(Destaw et al 2016)
NS	***	-	***	MAIEDF at D/M	(Nitsuh, 2018)
***	***	***	***	ATVETC	(Destaw, 2018)
***	***	***	-	HARC	(Selamawi et al 2017)
**	**	-	**	HARC	(Tadesse, 2014)
Note; LMY= Lactation Milk Yield, LL=Lactation Length, 305DMY= 305 Day Milk Yield, DMY= Daily Milk Yield, ** = Significant at p<0.0001, * = Significant at p< 0.001, ** = Significant at p< 0.01, =Significant at p<0.05 and NS = Non- Significant or p>0.05, - not available*

CONCLUSION

The effects of non-genetic (environmental) factors (parity, calving season, and calving year) on lactation performance (daily milk yield (DMY), lactation milk yield (LMY), 305day milk yield (305DMY), and lactation length (LL)) were investigated. Non-genetic or environmental factors such as year of calving, season of calving, and parity had a significant effect on lactation traits and can be used as a selection criterion for increased production efficiency in crossbred dairy cattle. Lactation performance of crossbred cows requires improvement in overall dairy cow management. Crossbred cows were sensitive to seasonal and periodic changes in milk production performance. It may be difficult for them to increase and sustain their production capacity. As a result, improving environmental factors and cow management are required to mitigate the effects of periodic and seasonal changes.

Recommendation

To improve lactation performance of crossbred dairy cattle, cow management (such as feeding, housing system disease control, and seasonal breeding) should be improved.

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