INTRODUCTION BACK GROUND OF BDU DAIRY FARM

Farm experience is one of the course given for under graduate veterinary students for the partial
fulfillment of Doctor of veterinary medicine with objective of acquainting students with knowledge
of intensive farming system to handle a number of animals with high production in a small area. This
farm experience was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 in Bahirdar University farm,
which is found in north west of Ethiopia .in amhara national regional state,in west gojjam zone at a
distance of about 575km far away from addis abeba.astronomically location of the farm is at an
elevation of 1800 M.a.s.l. It has found at 1229'Nand 3729'E . The annual average temperature of
the area is 23.7and annual average rain fall of 1421mm.the farm is located in zenizelima campus,
college of agriculture and environmental science,under the list of bahirdar city adiminstration.it is
located 10km north west of bahir dar town. The farm was established in June 2005 EC by
purchasing 34 cattle population with unkown blood level. currently, the farm has a total number of
74 intensively managed cattle population. The objective of farm is to support teaching learning
process, for reasarch purpose and to supply milk and milk products for the university community.
the farm has started with cross holistian and Fogera breeds.

2. ROUTINE FARM ACTIVITIES

2.1 Husbandry
The ways in which animals were handled decided their health, production, and reproduction. At
Gondar University farm foot bath were not used at entrance of farm for disinfection but only farm
workers, researchers and students enter in to the farm. The herds were provided with dry, clean
comfortable standing and laying concrete floor. Feed was given based on their age, production and
physiological status and fresh water was available for the cattles at exercise room. To keep the health
of dairy cattle animals at the farm were vaccinated to some infectious disease and treatment were
also given for diseased based on their clinical signs and tentative diagnosis in the crush nearest to the
exercise room.
2.2 Breeding and Genetics
In Gondar University farm now a days cross Holstien Frisian breed is found to be the most important
breed for milk production, they gives up to 30 litters/day. A calf receives one half of its genes from its
sire and one half from its dam. These genes, which together are called the animals genotype. As the
generation of exotic breed increases, the exotic blood level also increases which in turn decreases
adaptability of the animal to the environment which may decrease resistance of disease. The selection
methods in this dairy farm is based on; high milk yield, calving interval, lactation length, body
weight (size), hair coat color, and the behavior of the animal.
Mating system of Gondar university dairy farm is by artificial insemination only but use bull when
there is no semen and nitrogen gas. The estrus signs are recognized by visual observation. In this
farm there is no inbreeding due to artificial insemination practices. This dairy farm uses AI, by
introducing semen from Holstein Friesian bulls from Addis Abeba to increase superiority 3
2.3. Feeding and Nutrition
this dairy farm gives special attention to the feed of animals. the source of feed is mainly from
different compus of the university.and the remaining was purchased from the market. specially
concentrate feedswere totally purchased from the market. Feeding system is depending on age,
purpose and production of animals. In Bahirdar university dairy farm the animals are fed different
types of feeds such as forages and concentrates. The major feed resource used are roughages that is
harvested hays,and concentrates like grains, soyabean,wheat bran and suspania, the was supplied for
the animals with out restriction. how ever concentrate feed has provided to the cattle in different
amount.that means the cows which produce higher milk requires high amout of concentrate feed.as
ageneral for lactating cows 4-6kg concentrate feed is required per day. for hiefers 2-2.5kg of con is
given per day. the concentrate feed were offered twice a day in the morning and at the noon. at this
farm the feed ration is formulated as follow,
Feed Items percentage
Soya bean 30%
maize 40 %
Wheat bran 26%
Lime stone 3%
Salt 1%

2.4. Housing and Other farm infrastructure

bdu dairy farm is an intensive farming system and it has a closed type system. The farm has four
separated houses used for different purpose, these are, dairy house, growing house, feed storage
house and worker house. the two separate houses(cow and growing) have estimated to stock
144heads of cattles . the lactating, pregnant cows and one bull were kept in cow house. where as
weaned male and female calves were kept in growing house. in side the cattle house there are three
rows and the the animals are arenged in tail to tail and head to wall arrengements of the cattle.the
calf room is found with in the cow house which is separated by a wall.the houses have an
adequate ventilation and the floor is constructed from concrete,cement. the house has cleaned
daily and also have afiltration machine at the roof of the house.