Diagnosis of the situation of breeding of zero-grazing dairy cattle in a semi-arid region (Tunisian Sahel)

Houchati, Amani; Aloulou, Rafik; M’sadak, Youssef

Agriculture
Volume 7, Numéro 2, Pages 25-33
2016-12-31

Diagnosis Of The Situation Of Breeding Of Zero-grazing Dairy Cattle In A Semi-arid Region (tunisian Sahel)

Auteurs : Houchati Amani . Aloulou Rafik . M’sadak Youssef .

Résumé

This article referred to the dairy cattle population of breeder’s adherents in mentoring program of DHI led by the Office of Livestock and Pasture (OEP). The main aim of this study is to evaluate the reproductive performances. To do so, data from the application of genetic improvement are collected. The diagnosis of reproduction traits revealed poor results exceeding the objectives. The means of age at first mating, age at first conception and age at first calving were respectively 21.2, 21.8 and 30.9 months. The parameters of fecundity were 98, 140 and 419 days, respectively for the calving to first service interval (CSI), days open (DO) and calving interval (CI). Month and year of calving were affected significantly the fecundity parameters. An important variation in these parameters was demonstrated, which suggests that a wide margin of improvement is possible. This would normally encourage the various stakeholders of the industry to standardize benefit the breeding. To improve the efficiency of reproduction performances, it is recommended to give more attention in estrus detection system, feeding and managerial systems, insemination services (time, semen quality, technicality of inseminator…) and early growth management of heifers.