Federal Technical Vocational and Education

Training Institute

Department of animal production technology

Productive and Reproductive Performances of
pure jersey in Ethiopia
submitted by :Adem Yusuf
submitted to: Abeba Bereda(Phd)

Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
 1.Introduction
 The Jersey cattle breed originates from Jersey Island (a
small British island found in the English Channel,
 It is the smallest of the common European dairy breeds
and has been reported as a highly prized productive cow.
 Notwithstanding its origin on a small island, the Jersey
breed has been exported to nearly all parts of the world :
 For dairy development over the past century, and
numerous benefits of the breed have been reported in the
global dairy industry.
 Introductions of Jersey cattle to Africa have been
opportunistic.
 To further evaluate the use of the Jersey breed for dairy
development in selected African countries:
 (specifically Rwanda, Ethiopia and Malawi)
 It was necessary to create a knowledge base to guide
development and deliver relevant interventions for genetic
improvement that would transition into
 profitable, sustainable and efficient dairy production
systems.
 In Ethiopia, the genetic improvement of dairy cattle is
mainly based on cross breeding and adoption of improved
exotic breeds.
 Even though there is a concern about adaptation of pure
exotic dairy cattle to tropical environment (climate, feed
and disease challenge),
 pure Friesian and Jersey dairy breeds have been raised by
large scale private and state dairy farms in Ethiopia.
 Improved exotic breed would potentially serve selected
niches :
 In milk supply and have been also used as a genetic pool
 For the national artificial insemination center (NAIC) to
recruit AI bulls for genetic improvement program in the
country.
 There is limited information on reproductive and
productive performance of pure Jersey breed in Ethiopia.
 Research reports in the tropics revealed that Jersey cows
are characterized by:
 Small body size, hardy and adaptable,
 Low maintenance requirement, high feed conversion
efficiency, high milk fat content, and
 Good reproductive performance and has been selected for
tropical research and development programs.
1.1.Objective
 To review Productive and reproductive performances of pure
Jersey in Ethiopia
2.Literature review
2.1 Jersey cattle breed
 They are excellent grazers and perform well in intensive grazing
programs.
 Jerseys are adaptable to many environments and are now found
throughout the world.
 They are more tolerant of heat than larger breeds.
 With an average weight of 900 pounds, the Jersey produces more
pounds of milk per pound of body weight than any other breed.
 Most Jerseys produce far in excess of 13 times their body weight
in milk in each lactation.
 Jersey cattle are smallest of the dairy breeds.
 Jersey cows usually have an extreme weight range of between 800
and 1200 pounds, but medium-sized cows are usually preferred.
 2.1.1. Reproductive performance
Age at first service
 Age at first service is the age at which breeding heifers
reach for sexual maturity and accept mating for the first
time.
 The economy of the farm can be feasible by showing
oestrous as early as possible for female animal.
Age at first calving (AFC)
 AFC is a better practical indicator of cow reproduction, if
animal age is known.
 It is dependent up on age at successful conception (sexual
maturity) and not necessarily on age at puberty.
Number of service per conception (NSC)
 It is the number of services or inseminations per final
pregnancy.
 A low service per conception is a very important economic
factor both in natural breeding and AI
Calving interval (CI)
 Calving interval is a fertility trait which refers to the
period between consecutive calving and is a function of
open period and gestation length.

2.1.2.Productive performance
Lactation milk yield and lactation length
 Increasing milk production is the ultimate goal of dairy
sectors to attain milk self-sufficiency and to maximize the
profitability of dairy industry.
 Lactation milk yield is the yield between calving and dry
off in one lactation.
 Lactation length is days in milk from the date of calving
to the final drying off or cessation of milking.
 Lactation length has a genetic basis and is a major
limiting factor of milk production in the tropics.
2.2 Challenges of dairy production
 Inadequate Animal Feed Resources
 Animal diseases
 Shortage of land
 Lack of Research and Information Exchange System
 Reproductive Problems
 Lack of Education and Consultation
 Inadequate Extension and Training Services
 Limited Availability
of Credit to the Dairy Farmer
 Limited Access and High Cost of Dairy Heifers/cows
 Way forward
 Itneeds government and private investors’ participation in the
establishment of feed processing centers so on provide a feed
with a daily quality and a decent price.
 Higher inistitutions and different agricultural researches have
to expand and conduct researches on improved breeds.
 Farmers should train different aspects of improving cattle
productivity by considering productive traits for improvement
of sustainable milk cow production and productivity
 The dairy industry would address and serve as one of the
major instrument of the governments’ policy in achieving
food security. This in turn promotes dairy production due to
the attention of given by the government .
 The development of infrastructure like, transportation would
help change the traditional thinking of fresh milk not for sale
other than exclusively intended for human consumption
among the rural population.
 3.Summary
 In Ethiopia, the genetic improvement of dairy cattle is mainly
based on cross breeding and adoption of improved exotic
breeds.
 Jersey dairy breeds have been raised by large scale private and
state dairy farms in Ethiopia.
 One measure of productivity is reproductive performance.
 Seasonal inadequacy of the quantity and quality of available
feeds are the major problems facing dairy cattle production.
 Animal diseases negatively influence production and
reproduction in dairy cows.
 Weak linkages between research, extension and technology
users are one of the critical factors that hinder dairy
development in the country.
 This weakness stems partially from the absence of sound
linkage polices in the agricultural knowledge generation and
transfer system
Thank you