Veterinary Science & Technology

Department of Veterinary Science, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Publications

• Research Article   
  Meta-Analysis of Early Growth Performance of Cattle in Ethiopia
  Author(s): Fikadu Wodajo Tirfie*
  
  Growth performance, a critical parameter for assessing cattle productivity, is influenced by genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors. This study systematically analyzed data on the growth traits of Ethiopian cattle breeds, including Birth Weight (BW), Weaning Weight (WW), Yearling Weight (YW), and Pre-Weaning Average Daily Gain (PrWADG). The analysis utilized 213 records from diverse secondary sources, encompassing local and crossbred genetic groups using SAS software. The mean BW was 24.31 ± 3.61 kg, with crossbreds, particularly Simmental crosses, outperforming indigenous breeds due to their dual-purpose characteristics. The mean WW and YW were 90.84 ± 19.97 kg and 134.97 ± 20.50 kg, respectively, with crossbreds again demonstrating superior performance. The PrWADG averaged 405.29 ± 45.00 gram, highlighting the heterosis effect in crossbreeds. Loc.. Read More»
  

  Abstract PDF