REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS IN CROSSBRED CATTLE IN CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

The reproductive problems of crossbred cattle in four dairy farms were studied in 1988 and 1989. The mean calving intervals were 445.4 +/- 4.6, 544.9 +/- 7.7, 435.2 +/- 4.2 and 495.5 +/- 10.0 days in the four farms. There were significant (P < 0.05) differences between calving intervals of different farms. Parity at two farms, and season and year of calving at one increased significantly (P < 0.05) the calving interval. The mean number of services per conception ranged from 1.60 +/- 0.85 to 2.33 +/- 1.04 at the four farms with significant (P < 0.05) differences between farms. Season of conception increased significantly (P < 0.05) services per conception at two farms. Observed cases of abortion ranged from 1.7 to 20.2%. There were significant effects of parity (P < 0.01) and season (P < 0.05) on abortion at two farms.