Selection Criteria for Holstein Friesian and Crossbreed Dairy Cattle Objective Traits in Ethiopia

Abstract

There was no research regarding selection criteria for the economically relevant dairy cattle objective traits in Ethiopia. Therefore, the goal of this paper was to determine the selection criteria for Holstein Friesian and crossbreed dairy cattle economically relevant traits. The research was based on 236 respondents of large, medium and small scale dairy farms from Dire-Dawa, Harar, Bishoftu, Holeta agricultural research center and Mekele. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis software and traits preferences were ranked by calculating index values with the principle of weighted average. For Holstein Friesian producers, the most preferred breeds were pure Holstein Friesian, Holstein Friesian crossbreeds and local cattle breeds with an overall index value of 0.47, 0.36, and 0.13, respectively. Similarly for crossbreed producers, pure Holstein Friesian (0.46), Holstein Friesian crossbreed (0.37) and local cattle (0.15), respectively were their main breed preferred. In the present study, both Holstein Friesian and crossbreed producers were used milk yield (0.61, and 0.64) and milk yield composition (0.39, and 0.34), as the main preferred selection criteria for milk composition, respectively. On the other situations, age at first calving (0.45, and 0.39), age at first service (0.38, and 0.37), and service per conception (0.08, and 0.17), were the preferred selection criteria for economically relevant reproduction traits both for Holstein Friesian and crossbreed, respectively.