Reproductive performance of dairy cows in a smallholder farm

Abstract

The aim of this study was to know the reproductive performance of dairy cows in a smallholder farm. The study was conducted in a dairy tie stall housing system farm with herd size of 30 dairy cattle in Enrekang Regency, Indonesia. A total of 25 dairy cows was observed during the study period. Reproductive parameters used in the present study were service per conception, interval from calving to conception, duration of pregnancy, and calving interval. The results of this study showed that out of 25 dairy cows observed, 20 of them become pregnant after one or more insemination. The average (standard deviation; SD) duration of pregnancy was 273.40 5.38 days after 1.55 0.76 inseminations. After calving, 13 cows (65.0%) become pregnant after repeated inseminations (3.00 2.24) with interval from calving to conception, duration of pregnancy, and calving interval were 254.31 187.78 days, 275.54 4.46 days, and 529.85 189.32 days, respectively. For the third pregnancy, out of 13 dairy cows, only six cows (46%) become pregnant after repeated inseminations with service per conception was 2.00 0.89 times. The interval from calving to conception, duration of pregnancy, and calving interval were 129.17 46.24 days, 275.00 4.98 days, and 404.17 48.87 days, respectively. The overall service per conception times, interval from calving to conception, duration of pregnancy, and calving interval of dairy cows in a smallholder farm were 2.05 1.49 times, 214.79 166.35 days, 274.51 5.10 days, and 490.16 167.81 days, respectively. In conclusion, reproductive performance of dairy cows in a smallholder farm decreased after first calving as well as the number of cows become pregnant.