PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF INDIGENOUS AND CROSSBRED DAIRY CATTLE IN MUZAFFARABAD, AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Abstract

The study was conducted at Livestock Development Research Centre Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The primary objective of this study was to improve the milk production of indigenous cows along with other productive and reproductive traits by crossing with European breeds. The indigenous heifers were artificially inseminated with Jersey semen and F 1 crossbred were produced. The F 1 offspring were selfed to obtain the F 2 offspring and on the other hand the F 1 cows were crossed with Frisian bull to produce three-breed crossbred cows. The information regarding productive and reproductive traits of all the cows was studied. The number of cows for each group were 48 for indigenous, 32 for F 1 (Indigenous × Jersey) cross, 19 for F 2 (F 1 × F 1 ) cross and 18 for F 1 × Frisian cross. Highly significant increase (P < 0.0001) in milk yield and birth weights of calves was observed in all the crossbred cows compared to indigenous cows. Highest milk yield per lactation (1411.0 ± 92.88 liters) and highest lactation length (354.5 ± 16.70 s) was observed in F 1 × Frisian cross whereas the highest 305day milk yield (1674.0 ± 47.58 liters) and daily average milk yield (5.07 ± 0.14 liters) was observed in F 1 (Indigenous × Jersey) cows. 305day milk yield did not differ significantly between F 2 (1295.0 ± 75.36 liters) and F 1 × Frisian (1355.0 ± 60.32 liters) cows. The sex ratio of male and female calves did not differ significantly among the all breed groups (P > 0.05). Similarly method of breeding did not affect the sex ratio of male and female calves. Mean age at first calving (AFC) reduced highly significantly (P < 0.0001) in all the crossbred cows (951.2 ± 37.35 s for F 1 , 1086 ± 37.89 for F 2 and 952.1 ± 28.23 s for F 1 × Frisian) compared to indigenous (1861 ± 42.45 s) cows. Mean AFC of F 1 and F 1 × Frisian cows did not differ significantly (P = 0.9869). Mean dry period of F 1 (110.2 ± 4.78 s); F 2 (124.8 ± 10.14 s) and F 1 × Frisian (99.76 ± 6.67 s) cows decreased highly significantly (P < 0.0001) compared to indigenous cows (239.5 ±7.87 s). The dry period among the crossbred cows did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The service period recorded in present study was 256.0 ± 8.67, 92.60 ± 5.04, 81.81 ± 11.19 and 266.7 ± 16.56 s for indigenous, F 1 , F 2 and F 1 × Frisian cows respectively. The mean service period in F 1 and F 2 crossbred cows decreased highly significantly (P < 0.0001) compared to indigenous cows but no significant difference (P = 0.5493) was observed between the service period of indigenous and F 1 × Frisian cows. Mean calving interval of one year was observed in F 1 (368.8 ± 5.32 s) and F 2 (359.8 ± 11.68 s) crossbred cows where as a calving interval of 518.6 ± 9.54 and 540.9 ± 22.39 s was observed in indigenous and F 1 × Frisian cows respectively. The mean calving interval decreased highly significantly in F 1 and F 2 cows compared to indigenous and F 1 × Frisian cows (P < 0.0001). Mean calving interval of indigenous and F 1 × Frisian cows did not differ significantly (P = 0.2895). High breeding efficiency was observed in F 1 (93.68 ± 1.85 %) and F 2 (93.71 ± 2.74 %) and it increased highly significantly (P < 0.0001) in F 1 and F 2 compared to indigenous cows (73.46 ± 2.50 %). The mean breeding efficiency of F 1 × Frisian (65.62 ± 3.05 %) did not differ significantly from that of indigenous cows (P = 0.0870). Within F 2 crossbred cows significant (P < 0.05) sires effects were observed on 305 milk yield, daily milk yield and service period while the birth weight, milk yield per lactation, lactation length, age at first calving, dry period and calving interval were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) by sire. The sire effects within F 1 × Frisian crossbred cows were not observed (P > 0.05). Parity has significantly affected 305day milk yield in indigenous, F 1 and F 2 cows whereas parity did not significantly affected 305day milk yield in F 1 × Frisian cows (P = 0.2472). The 305day milk yield in indigenous cows decreased significantly (P = 0.0063) from parity one to parity five. 305day milk yield in F 1 and F 2 increased significantly (P < 0.05) towards 4 th and 5 th parity and decreased thereafter. The mean lactation length in indigenous cows decreased significantly from first to five parity (P = 0.0024). Parity did not affect significantly (P > 0.05) lactation length of crossbred cows in relation to parity. Season of calving significantly (P < 0.05) affected the 305day milk yield in indigenous and crossbred cows. In indigenous cows autumn calvers produced the highest 305day milk compared to spring, summer and winter calvers. In crossbred cows highest 305day milk yield was observed in winter calvers compared to spring, summer and autumn calvers. The lactation length was not affected significantly (P > 0.05) by the season of calving in nondescript and their crossbred. Year of calving had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on 305 milk yield and lactation length of nondescript indigenous cows. 305 milk yield and lactation length of all the crossbred groups was not affected significantly (P > 0.05) by the year of calving. Overall productive and reproductive performa nce of indigenous × Jersey (F 1 ) crossbred cows was found to be better compared to F 2 and F 1 × Frisian crossbred cows. Thus upgrading of indigenous cows of AJ&K with exotic breed of Jersey is suggested in this study.