Understanding Livestock Systems and their Effect on Reproductive Performance of Achai and Jersey Crossbred Cows in Northern Hindukush Mountainous Ranges
Understanding Livestock Systems and their Effect on Reproductive Performance of Achai and Jersey Crossbred Cows in Northern Hindukush Mountainous Ranges
Zia ur Rehman Khalil1, Abdur Rehman2, Ziaul Islam1, Muhammad Shuaib3*, Adil Hussain2, Muhammad Saleem4, Kalim Ullah5, Shakoor Ahmad6 and Abdul Ghaffar2
ABSTRACT
A detailed survey was conducted to study the adopted farming practices and their effect on the reproductive performance of dairy cows to find out possible aspects of enhancing livestock profitability in high altitudes. For this purpose, 720 livestock households containing pure Mountainous Achai and its crossbreds with Jersey cattle and two state farms were investigated for management, nutrition, breeding practices, and reproductive performances i.e. Postpartum anoestrus interval (PPAI), open period (OP), services per conception (SC), and calving interval (CI) were recorded through a structured questionnaire and physical observations. Age and body condition of animals were considered as dependent variables with the main effect of farming systems and data was analyzed within each and across different farming systems. Results revealed that animals in households that modified their management, nutrition, and breeding approaches (rural progressive farming systems) had significantly improved their reproductive performance than animals in traditional practices. The study also revealed that crossbreeding significantly improved the reproductive performance of the mountainous Achai breed on either management practices. It was also observed that good condition adult (5 to 6 years age) cows of both breeds had shorter intervals (OP, CI, PPAI) and required fewer inseminations for a successful conception in traditional and progressive farming practices. However, it was noticed that introducing Achai cows to intensive farm management as in state farms, deteriorated their reproductive potentials revealing its nomadic nature well adapted to free mountainous ranges. Results from this study indicate that the reproductive performance of local Achai could be further improved through a very systematic and scientific approach to crossbreeding and improved management practices.
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