Evaluation of trait preferences and effect of parity, season and lactation stage on production performance of indigenous dairy cow in kaffa zone, southwest Ethiopia

The current research focused on the effects of parity, season, and lactation stage on the milk yield of indigenous dairy cows in selected districts of the Kaffa Zone of southern Ethiopia. The districts of Gesha and Chena were purposefully chosen. The study design for the 384 household surveys was a cross-sectional survey with a simple random sample approach as the sampling method. Following the survey, 192 lactating cows were chosen for a monitored investigation to track nighttime and morning milk supply. In addition to key informants and focus group discussions, primary and secondary data were obtained via a semi-structured questionnaire, interview, and field observation. The most favored features functioning as selection criteria were those favored for production, reproduction, physical appearance, physiological function, and temperament, in that order. Evening milk yield (EMY), mornning milk yield (MMY), daily milk yield (DMY), lactation length (LL) and lactation milk yield (LMY) were 0.91 ± 0.033 L, 1.22 ± 0.037 L, 2.125 ± 0.07 L, 6.36 ± 0.116 months, and 427.10 ± 20.678 L, respectively, with significant difference (p < 0.01) amongst districts, parity, and season. However, there was no significant variation between studies in EMY, MMY and DMY. Significantly higher values of production performances were recorded for interaction among districts, parity, and season. The study also revealed that interaction between district (Gesha) and parity (third), which were signficantlly higher for EMY, MME, DMY, LL, and LMY 1.50 L, 2.00 L, 3.50 L, 8.10 months, and 850.50 L, respectively. The same trend also observed for interaction among district (Gesha), season (wet), and parity (third), which were obtained to be highly significant values of EMY, MMY, DMY, LL, and LMY were 1.35 L, 1.75 L, 3.10 L, 7.65 months, and 716.80 L, respectively. The study region has a large population of indigenous dairy cows and produces higher yields than the national average. However, it falls short of the worldwide production benchmarks, and the trait preferences used as a selection criterion were based on the farmers' indigenous knowledge. Measures to enhance production abilities must be incorporated and selection criteria must be modernized.