REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES AND DISEASES OF DIFFERENT CROSS BRED COWS AT CENTRAL CATTLE BREEDING AND DAIRY FARM OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

This study was conducted on reproductive performances and diseases status of different cross bred cows of dairy cattle at Cental Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm Savar, Dhaka to know about existing reproductive performances and diseases occurrence. In this farm, the existing genotypes of cattle were Local (L), Sahiwal (SL), Friesian (F), Australian Friesian Sahiwal (AFS), Local×Friesian (L×F), Sahiwal×Friesian (SL×F), Friesian 62.5% (LF 1 ×F), Friesian 75% (LF 2 ×F). The highest age at puberty was (1392.47±15.49) days found in Friesian. The lowest age at puberty was found (1052.14±9.53) days in F75% cow. The highest gestation length was (285.86 ± 3.92) days and it was for Local milch cow and lowest gestation length was (278.21 ±3.90) days and it was for F75% cow. Maximum number of service per conception was found in case of Friesian (3.412 ± 0.59) and minimum in local (1.49±0.24). Maximum birth weight was found in case of Friesian (37.35 ± 1.15) kg; minimum in Local (16.51±0.96) kg. Highest milk yield was found in case of Friesian (14± 6.64) L/day and lowest in Local (2.1 ± 0.56) L/day. The highest lactation length was observed in Holstein Friesian milch cow (412.13 ± 6.13 days) & lowest was found in Local (196.15±10.17 days). The highest calving interval was found in Holstein-Friesian x Sahiwal (607.04 ± 8.72) days and lowest in Local (479.78±6.24) days. The highest Postpartum heat period was found in case of LF (298.75 ± 5.80) days and lowest in case of Local (102.41±5.75) days milch cow. The maximum average sperm concentration of frozen semen was obtained from SL and the mean value was 1786.2 million/ml. The minimum average sperm concentration of frozen semen was obtained from F62.5% and the mean value was 1246.2 million/ml. The maximum average pH of frozen semen was obtained from F75% and the mean value was 6.3. The maximum average motility of frozen semen was obtained from SL and the mean value was 66.8%. However, the minimum average motility of frozen semen was obtained from L and the mean value was 65%. Nine major reproduction related diseases and disorders were diagnosed among (n=150) registered sick cows. The highest proportion of cows was diagnosed as retained placenta (24.67%; n=37). Reproductive performances of Holstein Friesian were superior to other dairy crossbreds. Friesian75% breed ranked second and performances of other genotypes were nearly similar. The highest occurrence of retained placenta and anoestrus is very alarming which needs further research to decrease the occurrence of such disorders of cows in population.