Solomon Mekuria
Reproductive performance and milk bacteria study carried out using questionnaire survey and milk bacteriology from December, 2011 to March, 2013 in Hawassa and Debrebrihan cities. Four hundred forty nine household interviewed and 87 pooled milk samples research work result were used to draw inference about smallholder dairy farm management in the study area. It was observed that there was no plot for forage development in sampled household and there was poor feeding, housing and health management. Cross breed and local zebu were breed by artificial insemination (72%) and natural mating (28%) in Hawassa, whereas almost all cross breed animals were breed by natural mating (85%) in Debrebrehan the remaining was artificial insemination. Health problems of calf mortality (34%), infectious (13%), retained placenta (10%), dystocia (5%), mastitis (8%) and others were reported. Average milk yield in cross breeds were 6-10 liters and local zebu produce an average range of 2-4 liters. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in calving interval, where local breed had 14.2 ± 0.44 months than others; age at first calving was 33.9 ± 0.9 than other breeds the difference was significant (p<0.05). Number of service per conception using artificial insemination was within the range of 1.18 up to 1.72 in majority of the selected animals which was in the accepted ranges. Bacterial milk assessment indicated that different gram positive and negative bacteria observed, showing the level of bacterial contamination The study indicates that there was clear managerial problems in smallholder dairy farms, where feeding, housing, health and milk quality management were poor. Therefore, strong policy should be implemented in order to leverage the existing smallholder dairy farm status in the country in general.
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