Global Veterinaria 12 (2): 207-212, 2014 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2014.12.02.82119 Corresponding Author: Niraj Kumar, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P.O. Box-231, Mekelle, Ethiopia. 207 Production Performance of Dairy Cows under Farmer’s Management in and Around Mekelle, Ethiopia Niraj Kumar, Yemane Abadi, Berihu Gebrekidan and Desalew Tadesse Tegegne College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P.O. Box-231, Mekelle, Ethiopia Abstract: The study was conducted on altogether 475 milch animals comprising of 223 indigenous and 252 Holstein-Friesian (HF) crossbred cows, maintained under farmer’s managemental system in and around Mekelle (Ethiopia), were analyzed according to Least Squares Analysis to study the magnitude as well as direction of variation in their lactation length (LL), lactation milk yield (LMY) and peak-yield (PY) due to genetic and some non-genetic factors. The overall Least Squares Means for LL, LMY and PY were estimated to be 292.53±24.09 days, 1320.64±94.68 liters and 7.89±0.14 liters respectively. Genetic group and lactation order had significant effect (P 0.01) on LL, LMY and PY. Season of calving had significant effect (P 0.01) on LMY and PY but its effect on LL was non-significant. Effect of herd-size was significant (P 0.05) on LMY while its effect on LL and PY was non-significant. Variation in all the traits due to location of herd and farming system were statistically non-significant. Key words: Lactation length Lactation milk yield Mekelle Peak yield INTRODUCTION Genetic improvement of indigenous breeds is possible by Ethiopia holds the largest cattle population in Africa some effort has been exerted to date to improve any of estimated at about 49.33 million heads of cattle [1] of the indigenous breeds [4]. Increase in milk yield in the F1 which 10 million is dairy cows yielding 3.2 billion liters generation, compared with local stock, crossbred females per year. About 99 percent of the dairy cattle are non- reach age of puberty (age at first service) at a much descriptive indigenous animals. The national average milk younger age and also calved at younger age than their yield per cow per day is 1.54 liters for indigenous cows local herd mates. Furthermore, cross breeds have slightly [1]. In Ethiopia, milk production is predominantly the shorter calving intervals and in general cross bred exhibit domain of small and marginal farmers keeping 1-3 increase fertility rate more than indigenous cattle [5, 6]. milch animals under mixed farming system. For The success of dairy production in general and augmentation and sustainability in milk production, it is crossbreeding programmes in particular needs to be imperative to strengthen the small dairy units in private monitored regularly by assessing the productive sectors where animals are managed under farmer’s performance under the existing management system. managemental system without adequate facilities/ However, information is limited about the productive infrastructures including various services and market. performance of dairy cows in smallholder urban and peri- The introduction of modern agriculture enforces to urban dairy farms in the tropics, particularly in Ethiopia introduce modern breeding practices targeted to improve [7]. livestock productivity [2]. The increase in productivity Lactation period, quantity of milk produced per unit could be obtained through crossing of Bos taurus and time and input as well as peak yield of a milch animals are Bos indicus (local Zebu). The aim has been to combine the directly observed indicators of their economic worth. adaptability, hardiness, disease resistance and heat A relative determination of magnitude as well as direction tolerance of local zebu with the high milk producing of variation in these economic traits due to different potential and faster growing rate of exotic breed [3]. causes are necessary to formulate and recommend an way of selective breeding and/or strategic cross breeding,