1. Characteristics of a good dairy cow
2. Steps in a breeding program
a. Dam selection - select the best dam based
on traits of economic importance
b. Bull Selection - select the most superior
bull with the desired traits
c. Breed - use the most appropriate method
of breeding to achieve the objectives set
3. Traits of importance
• Milk yield (quantity)
• Milk density
• Butterfat percentage
• Fertility
• Body conformation
• Feed conversion efficiency
• Hardiness
• Resistance/ tolerance to diseases
• Docility
Breeding a dairy cow
• Today’s calf is tomorrow’s cow
• Proper breeding with poor nutrition is impossible
• Raising cattle for milk production requires proper breeding for maximum
milk production
• Planning is necessary: record keeping, selection and mating is paramount
• Heifers of the small, local cattle breeds should be mated at about 200 kg
while heavy breeds should be mated at 270 kg
Pictures
4. Reproduction techniques
Bull – Direct mounting by a bull
Artificial Insemination (AI) –
Extraction of semen from a superior
bull and administering to selected
dams
5. Breeds of dairy cattle
Friesian
Ayrshire
Guernsey
Jersey
Source:
https://pixabay.com
Source: www.nation.co.ke/business/seedsofgold
Source: http://livestockpedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ayrshire1.jpg
Source: https://i2.wp.com/www.dairymoos.com/wp-
content/uploads/2016/03/Guernsey.jpg
Source: https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/jersey-cows-14076025448.html
Source: http://www.nzhfa.org.nz/news.cfm?article_id=331&page_obj_id=107
MOET – Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer
Farmers’ workshop: 5th-10th
February, 2018
Nandi and Bomet Counties
Phyllis Ndung’u, Peter Kirui and Linus Kiprotich
International Livestock Research Institute
Phyllis Ndung’u
Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute,
P.O. Box 30709-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
This project was funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development.
This document is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence. July 2018
ILRI thanks all donors and organizations which globally support its work through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund