World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

STUDY ON THE FEEDING, NUTRITION AND MANAGEMENT STATUS OF TWO SELECTED DAIRY FARMS IN BAHIR DAR CITY, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Dr. Tewodros Alemneh Engdaw*

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted from October 2009 to March 2010 in Bahir Dar city to identify the major problems of livestock production and husbandry practices, to assess the feeding and breeding practices, to follow the health management and record keeping systems in dairy farms and to assess some of the determinant factors involved in the study area. Natural pasture, harvested hay, grass feed and supplements (concentrates) were the major sources of feed for dairy animals. Pure fogera breed (in Andassa) and cross-breeds of Fogera with Holstein (in both farms) are the available breeds found. Artificial Insemination (AI) service was used as the mating system. Animals were feed and reared according to their age groups, sex, physiological status and production systems, separately. Mastitis, repeat breeding, Infectious, Non-infectious, parasitic diseases and injury were found the major herd problems in both dairy farms. However, regular deworming, treatment and vaccination practices were performed to minimize these problems. Continuous heard health management systems and record keepings; using the corresponding identification number of the animals, were also the major tasks practiced in dairy farms. Due to its enormous importance; for humans and the ecology, emphasis should be given for the improvement of livestock production and husbandry practice.

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