IMPROVEMENT IN ECONOMIC TRAITS OF LOCAL CATTLE THROUGH CROSSBREEDING WITH HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN SEMEN

M. Subhan Qureshi, J. M. Khan¹, I. H. Khan², R. A. Chaudhry², K. Ashraf² and B. D. Khan

Veterinary Research Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan. ¹Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Bannu, ²College of veterinary Sciences, Lahore

Abstract   

    In this study, data on productive and reproductive records of 100 local and Holstein Friesian crossbred cows were analyzed for three different zones of Bannu division, NWFP. The crossbred cattle were the product of crossbreeding over the last 10 years, usually containing 50 to 75% exotic blood. The mean age at puberty was 74 3 ± 51 days and ranged from 410 to 1110 days. Age at puberty in local cow was 878.7 days, while in Holstein Friesian crossbred cows it was 610.3 days (P<0.0 1), The cows showed shortest age at puberty in irrigated area, followed by rainfed and hilly areas, The crossbred cows showed shortest age at puberty in rainfed area followed by irrigated and hilly areas. Mean age at first calving was 1106 ± 76.4 days, ranging from, 780 to 1490 days. The cattle showed shortest age at first calving in rainfed area, followed by irrigated and hilly areas (P<0.01). Mean for services per conception was 2 ± 0.1, ranging from 1 to 4. The value was 1.0 in local cattle and 1.05 in crossbreds. The number was slightly shorter in the hilly area than the irrigated and rainfed areas, Conception rate in crossbred cows was 15, 61 and 23% with first, second and third insemination, while in local cattle the mean was 14, 70 and 16%. Mean calving interval was 405 ± 29 days, ranging from 315 to 550 days. Calving interval in local cows was 4 18 days, while in Holstein Friesian crossbreds it was 390 days (P<0.05). The calving interval was longest in the irrigated area followed by rainfed and hilly areas (P<0.05). Mean dry period was 122 ± 5.3 days, ranging from 60 to 370 days. The dry period in local and Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle was 152.6 and 89.3 days, respectively (P<0.01). Average milk production was 6 ± 0.4 liters/day, ranging from 3 to 12 liters/day. The average milk recorded in local cows was 4.76 liters day and in crossbred cows it was 7.13 liters/day (P< 0.01). The cows showed highest milk yield in irrigated area, followed by rainfed and hilly areas (P< 0.01). Mean lactation length was 293 ± 23.3 days, ranging from 200 to 480 days. The length was 338.3 days in crossbred cattle and 249.8 days in local cattle (P<0.0 I). The cattle showed highest lactation length in hilly area, followed by rainfed and irrigated areas ( P< 0.01 ). Correlation analysis of the data showed that services per conception were not affected by any reproductive trait or milk yield. However, calving interval was correlated positively and significantly with age at puberty and age at first calving, lactation length, dry period and average milk production (r=0.27, 0.13, 0.35, 0.15 and -0.25. respectively: P< 0.01).

The findings of this study indicate that the productive potential of local cattle can be increased by using exotic semen of genetically superior sires, through intensive management and with effective disease control program.