Growth and reproductive performance of Fogera cattle breed at Andassa Livestock Research Center

Assemu Tesfa, Dilip Kumar¹, Solomon Abegaz², Getinet Mekuriaw^1,3, Tewodross Bimerew, Adebabay Kebede, Addisu Bitew, Yeshewas Ferede, Hailu Mazengia¹ and Mekonnen Tilahun

Andassa Livestock Research Center, P.O.Box 27 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia;
¹ Bahir Dar University Colleges of Agriculture and Environmental Science, P.O.Box 5501 Bahir Dar, Ethiopia;
² Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), P.O.Box 2003 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and
³ International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
assemu546@gmail.com

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the growth and reproductive performances of Fogera cattle breed at Andassa Livestock Research Center, Ethiopia. The data covers the period from 1992 to 2013 that were collected from farm records of the center. The fixed effects were birth year, season, sex, parity, mating type and dam source.

 

The least squares means and standard errors of birth and weaning weight were 21.4±0.09 and 102±0.77 kg, respectively; whereas age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval and number of service per consumption were 38.9±0.72 month, 51.8±0.72 month, 19.5±0.32 month and 1.17±0.01, respectively. Weaning weight and other reproductive performance traits showed slight up and down trends across the years which indicated fluctuation of management and other husbandry practices at the center. Almost all the non-genetic factors considered in the study had an effect on the production and reproductive performances of the breed.

Keywords: Ethiopia, fixed effect, indigenous breeds

Introduction

The productivity of cattle depends largely on their reproductive performance and the rate of genetic progress in both selection and crossbreeding programs particularly in dairy and beef production (Nuraddis 2011). An important prerequisite for the sustainability of a dairy production system is that cows must have efficient reproductive performance (Asheber 1991; Tewodros 2008).

 

Performance of pre-weaning growth performance of dairy cattle includes birth weight, weaning weight and average daily weight gain. Growth rate remains the primary selection criterion for both beef and dairy herds (Habtamu et al 2012). Both birth and weaning weight have an influence on reproductive and productive performances (Mekonnen 1987; Gidey 2001; Aynalem 2006; Almaz 2012). Reproduction influences the rate of genetic progress in both selection and crossbreeding programs particularly in dairy and beef production (Mukassa-Mugerewa and Azage 1989). Reproductive efficiency is expressed by the extent of reduction of reproductive wastage and it affects lifetime milk and meat production (Nuraddis 2011). The reproductive performance of the breeding female is probably the single most important factor influencing herd/flock productivity (Azage and Alemu 1998). The expression, reproductive performance, does not usually refer to a single trait, but to a combination of many traits. Many authors indicate that the main indicators that would be considered in evaluating reproductive performance are age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval, days open and number of services per conception (Assemu and Dilip 2014).

 

Fogera cattle breed is among the 27 (Rege and Tawah 1999) recognized indigenous cattle breed in the Ethiopia, that is reared in districts found around Lake Tana, and is one of the main populated and productive breed in the region (Addisu et al 2010a) and in the country (DAGRIS 2007). Fogera cattle breed is kept at Andassa and Metekel ranches for the past 52 and 28 years, respectively. The two centers had been originally established for conserving the pure Fogera cattle breed and additionally they had a mandate to cross the breed with Holstein Friesian for increasing the milk supply of the region by distributing in-calf cross-heifers to the farmers of the region.

 

Works on the estimation of growth and reproductive performance traits for Fogera cattle has been done by Gebeyehu et al (2005). Additionally, non-genetic parameter estimation was also computed by Addisu (1999), Melaku et al (2011a and b) at Metekel ranch, while Alemseged and Chakravarty (2003) did it in Andassa Livestock Research Center. Even if these efforts are exerted to analyze the data, there is also additional data that needs further analysis to see the potential and improvement of the breed for the past ten years and the report acts as a supplementation or as guideline for the breeding program that the research center is going to proceed on Fogera cattle breed improvement. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to evaluate the growth and reproductive performances of Fogera cattle breed at Andassa Livestock Research Center.

Materials and methods

Description of Andassa Livestock Research Center

 

Andassa Livestock Research Center (ALRC), which has been conserving Fogera cattle breed for the past 5 to 6 decades, is found at 587 km Northwest of Addis Ababa, and 22 km South of Bahir Dar city, on the way to Blue Nile fall. The Center is situated at 11^o29' North Latitude and 37^o29' East Longitude with an elevation of 1730 m above sea level. It receives an average annual rainfall of 1150 mm with temperature ranging from 6.5^oC to 30^oC. The total area of the center is about 360 hectares out of which 310 are covered by pasture land; of these, 170 ha are used for continuous grazing whereas 140 ha are seasonally grazed or partially used for hay making. The rest 50 hectares are covered with bushes and different constructions. The topography of the area is marked by a flat-to-gentle slope that is bisected by Andassa River, a permanent water source for the animals. In general, the area is characterized by dark clay soil, which is seasonally water logged and cracked when dry.

 

Description of Fogera cattle breed

 

Fogera breed is characterized and well known by its pied coat of black-and-white or black-and-grey; short, stumpy, pointed horns; hump ranges from thoracic to cervico-thoracic; dewlap is folded and moderate to large in size; docile temperament; used for draught, milk and meat (Rege and Tawah 1999; DAGRIS 2007). The breed is known for its tolerance to high altitudes, parasite and disease infestation, fly burden, wet soils or swampy areas, low quality of feed and other unfavorable environmental conditions (Alberro and Haile-Mariam 1982). Fogera cattle breed are generally large, being tall with long legs. A massive body with solid strong bones is one of the breed’s main features (DAGRIS 2007). Alberro and Haile-Mariam (1982), classified Fogera cattle breed as an intermediate Zebu-Sanga type, which is developed out of interbreeding of Abyssinian Zebu from central highlands and the adjacent Sanga (Danakil, Raya-Azebo).

Data source

 

The data for this study were sourced from farm records of Andassa livestock research center that has collected by cattle registration card and performance record format, which covers from 1992 to 2013. All the available data which were compiled by individual card and case book of the center were filtered, and crosschecked for its consistency and informativeness. Those data targeted to reproductive performance and pre-weaning growth were further extracted and filtered for analysis.

 

Data management and statistical analysis 

 

The performance data were collected from the case books for milked cattle. Records with unknown sire and dam were removed. Parity was classified as 1, 2, 3, 4 and ≥5 and because of small number of observations; parities above six were included and considered as ≥5. The fixed effect of calving/birth season was classified as wet (June – September) and dry (October – May) (Gebeyehu 2005; Addisu et al 2010b). Data’s recorded above five year for age at first calving (AFC), above two year for calving interval (CI), above four inseminations for number of service per conception (NSC) were excluded from analysis (Hailemariam and Kassa 1994; Oyamaet al 2004; Wasike 2006; Getinet et al 2009; Almaz 2012). Based on number of observations, year was classified for seven categories for BW, WW and NSC; five categories for AFS, six categories for AFC and CI. With this, 1520 animals for birth weight, 1344 animals for weaning weight, 142 animals for AFS, 223 animals for AFC, 251 animals for CI and 620 animals for NSC were used for analysis.

 

General linear model procedures of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS 2002) were used to determine the effects of non-genetic factors such as birth year, season, sex, parity, mating type and dam source on the selected economic traits. The presence of any significant differences was checked by using TUKEY Kramer multiple comparison tests. The non-genetic factors used in these data comprised of year (1992 to 2013), season (dry and wet season), sex (male and female), parity (1, 2, 3, 4 and ≥5), dam source (farm born and purchased) for CI and NSC and type of mating (bull mating and AI) for NSC were included.

 

Model 1: For growth performance traits (BW and WW)

 

Y_ijklm = µ + A_i + S_j + X_k + P_l + e_ijklm

 

Where, Yijklm   = m^th record of i^th year,j^th season, k^th sex and l^th parity

             µ         = overall mean

             A_i          = effect of i^th year of birth

             S_j         = effect of j^th season of birth

             X_k          = effect of k^th sex

P_l        = effect of l^th parity of dam

e_ijklm     = random error associated with each observation

 

Model 2: For reproductive traits (AFS, AFC, CI and NSC)

 

Y_ijkl= µ + A_i + S_j+ P_k + D_l + T_m + e_ijklmn

 

Where, Y_ijklmn   =n^th record of i^th year, j^th season, k^th parity, l^th dam source and m^th type of mating

             µ         = overall mean

A_i         = effect of i^th year of birth

S_j          = effect of j^th season of birth

P_k         = effect of k^th parity of dam

D_l         = effect of l^th dam source (for CI and NSC)

T_m          = effect of l^th type of mating (for NSC)

             e_ijklmn    = random error associated with each observation

Result and Discussion

Pre-weaning growth

 

Birth weight

 

The overall mean birth weight of Fogera cattle breed calves was 21.4±0.09 kg (Table 1). The result was lower than the value of 23.1±0.27 kg reported by Asheber (1991) and 22.5±0.17 kg Addisu (1999) from previous works on the same breed. Other studies have reported comaparble estimates for the same breed (21.1±0.1 kg, Giday 2001; 21.2 kg, Alemseged and Chakravarty 2003; and 22kg, Addisu et al 2010). Additionally, the result is higher than the result of 21±0.03 kg (Almaz 2012) and lower than 21.5kg (MFBCMR 2013) at Metekel Fogera cattle conservation ranch. The variation between authors for the same breed might be due to site and structure of the data compilation, year difference (further having a variation in feed availability and related managerial differences), and differences in the way of data clearing.

 

The current result is lower than birth weight of 25.2kg (Mekonnen 1987), 26.6kg (Yohannes et al 2001), 23.7 (Amsalu 2003), and 23.3±0.36kg (Aynalem et al 2010) for Ethiopian Boran. This might be due to the difference of the nature of the breeds in which Boran had been reported to be adapted for meat type and considerable attention given for Boran breed conservation and improvement in the past. Similarly the result is lower than birth weight of Ogaden breed of 21.5±0.29kg (Getinet et al 2009), Mahibere-Slassie composite cattle breed 24.5±2.9 (Zewdu et al 2004). The result is higher than birth weight of Horro breed which was reported as 17.2±2.25kg (Demissu et al 2013).

 

The least squares mean analysis indicated that there was significant difference (p<0.001) between sex; male calves were heavier  by 0.92kg than female calves; which might be due to the physiological difference between male and females calves. This difference was inline with the results reported by various scholars (Addisu 1999; Asheber 1992; Gidey 2001; Melaku et al 2011a and Almaz 2012) for Fogera cattle breed. In addition, season of birth had shown significant difference and calves born during dry season had 0.71kg over those of wet season. This increment was due to that dams giving birth during dry season had better nutrition from the wet season grazing land for fetus development. This result was in line with reports from previous studies on the same breed (Asheber, 1992; Addisu, 1999; Giday, 2001; Melakuet al 2011a; Almaz 2012). Other reports had also shown significant effect of season on birth weight (Habtamu et al 2010; Aynalem et al 2010 and Demissu et al 2013). Non-significance effect of season on birth weight was reported by Mekonnen (1987) for Boran; Getinet et al (2009) for Ogaden and Addisu et al (2010) for Fogera cattle breed.

 

Parity of the dam had shown non-significant (p>0.05) effect on the birth weight of Fogera cattle breed at Andassa livestock research center. Similar results were reported by Addisu et al (2010) and Melaku et al (2011a) for the same breed. A significant effect of parity of dam on BW was reported by Asheber (1992), Giday (2001), Addisu and Hegde (2003), and Almaz (2012) for Fogera cattle breed and Getinet et al (2009) for Ogaden breed, and Demissu et al (2013) for Horro breed. Year of birth had shown a significant effect on birth weight of calves (p<0.001). Similar results were reported by different authors (Giday 2001; Amsalu 2003; Getinet et al 2009; Melaku et al 2011a; Almaz 2012; and Demissu et al 2013). 

 

Weaning weight

 

The overall mean of weaning weight at eight months (mean weaning age of calves at ALRC) of Fogera calves was 102.2±0.77kg (Table 1). This result is higher than the report of 99.9±3.92kg (Asheber 1992), 100.9±0.8kg (Giday 2001) and 97kg (Alemseged  and Chakravarty 2003) for Fogera cattle breed calves at ALRC and 88.6±0.33kg (Almaz 2012) at Metekel ranch and lower than the report of 114±1.9kg (Addisu 1999) and 122.8kg (MFBCMR 2013) for Fogera cattle breed. The higher value of this study might be attributed to the special care and management of the calves for making them as a replacement nucleus herd, improvement of the herd breeding system after the reintroduction of expected pure Fogera cattle breeds from their home track since 2008 due to the inbreeding observed till 2006 (Getinet 2006).

 

The result of the present study is also higher than the reports of Amsalu 2003 (94.2±3.9kg), Yohannes et al 2001 (79.4± 2.7kg), Aynalem et al 2010 (79.0±1.51kg) for Ethiopian Boran breed, Zewdu et al 2004 (102±6.89kg) for Mahibere-Slassie composite cattle breed and Getinet et al 2009 (91.7±1.67kg) for Ogaden breed at six months of age; this difference might be due to the weaning age and production objective difference of the breeds.

 

Sex of the calf had shown a significant (p<0.001) effect on the weaning weight of Fogera calves. Female calves had better weaning weight than male calves, which might be due to the special care of female calves to make them as a replacement nucleus herd. The present study is in line with Almaz (2012), Mekonnen (1987), and Getinet et al (2009) for Fogera, Boran and Ogaden breed, respectively. A non-significant effect of sex on weaning weight of Fogera calves was reported by Asheber (1992), Adissu (1999), Giday (2001), and Melaku et al (2011).

 

Season of birth had a significant (p<0.001) effect on weaning weight of Fogera calves. Calves born during wet season had additional weight over calves born during dry season. This might be due to the availability of optional feed resource during wet season, which are palatable and digestible for the calves. Additionally, the dams of calve had also got better feed during wet season to nourish milk for their calves in turn allowing calves to get additional weight. Similarly, Asheber (1992), Addisu (1999), Melaku et al (2011a), Almaz (2012), and Belay (2014) reported significant effect of season on weaning weight of calves for Fogera cattle breed and Mekonnen (1987) for Boran breed.

 

Parity had shown a non-significant effect on weaning weight of calves. But from the LSM in Table 1, there is observable increment in weaning weight from parity one to five, which might be related with the advancement of reproductive physiology of the cows across parity. In contrary, a significant effect of parity on weaning weight of Fogera cattle was reported by Asheber (1992), Addisu (1999), Giday (2001), Getinetet al (2009) and Almaz (2012). Year of birth had shown highly significant (p<0.001) influence on weaning weight of Fogera cattle breed calves. Similarly, the present study is in line with the result obtained for the same breed of cattle (Asheber 1992; Addisu 1999; Giday 2001; Melaku et al 2011a and Almaz 2012). Additionally, similar results of significant effect of year on weaning weight were reported for other Ethiopian breeds of cattle (Mekonnen 1987; Getinet et al 2009).

 The trend of birth weight and weaning weight of Fogera cattle breed at the research center had shown a considerable decrement across the advancement of year (Table 1). The decreasing trend might be due to deterioration of the production environments (feed quality and seasonality; and disease prevalence), lack of care and facility improvement for the center, unavailability of continuous concentrate feed supply for dams and poor recording system. Additionally, the shift of the ranch to the research center without any facility and feeding strategy, increasing the cattle population trend and invasion of the grazing land by unpalatable weeds, and absence of strategic selection mechanism favors for the declining trend. On top of this, the occurrence of inbreeding in the nucleus herd during 2006 (Getinet, 2006) contributed to the declining trend of birth and weaning weight of Fogera calves at the research center.

 

Reproductive performance

 

Age at first service

 

The overall mean of age at first service was 38.9±0.72 months (Table 2) with CV of 11.8%. The present result was lower than the report of 44.8 months (Gidey 2001) and 45.4±1.2 months (Gebeyehu et al 2005) for Fogera cattle breed and 43.5±11.19month (on-station) and 43.3±12.62months (on-farm) for Horro breed (Demissu et al 2013), 40.2±6.06 months (Tewodross 2008), and 42.24 months (Adebabay 2009). The result is higher than the report of 37.5±0.9 months (Habib 2011), 29.6 months (Shiferaw et al 2003), 34.4±2.28 months for Ogaden breed (Getinet et al 2009), 33.3±0.83 (Yosef 2006), 28.7±0.7 months for Ethiopian Boran breed (Aynalem 2006), 24.9±3.8 (Dinka 2012), 24.3±8.01 (Belay et al 2012). In comparison with the previous works done on the same breed, the present study had shown a considerable improvement that might be due to the selection of replacement heifers from weaned female calves based on their weight gain and health status and special care for them to make a replacement herd of the nucleus breeding herd of the center.

 

Season had shown a significant (p<0.05) effect on AFS. On the contrary a non-significant influence of season on AFS was reported by Gebeyehu et al (2005) and Belay (2014) for Fogera cattle breed and Yosef (2006) and Aynalem (2006) for Ethiopian Boran breed. Birth year had shown a significant (p<0.001) effect on AFS. Similar results for significant effect of year on age at first service were reported by Yosef (2006), Aynalem (2006), and Belay (2014).

 

Age at first calving

 

The overall least square mean of age at first calving was 51.8±0.72 months (Table 2). The present result is higher than the reports of Addisu 1999 (47.6 months) for on-station (ALRC) and Addisu et al 2007 (49.3 months) for on-farm Fogera cattle breed, and 39 month (MFBCMR 2013) for Fogera cattle breed at Metekel ranch. It is comparable with 50.8±0.36 (Melaku et al 2011b); and lower than 53.8 months (Asheber 1992), 54.6±0.4 months (Giday 2001), 52.4±0.17 months (Almaz 2012) and 52.3±1.77 months (Belay 2014) for Fogera cattle breed. However, the result is significantly higher than 38.8±6.9 months for Fogera cattle breed (Mekonnen and Goshu 1987), 30.3 month for Barka breed (Hailemariam and Mekonnen 1996), 32.8±0.9 month for Arsi breed (Enyew et al 1998), 38±2.24 months for Mahibere-Sellasie composite breed (Zewdu et al 2004), 43.8±4.2 months for local zebu (Million et al 2006), and 46.1 months for Metema highland zebu breeds (Tesfaye 2008). Higher values for age at first calving than the current study were reported for Highland zebu (53 months, Niraj et al 2014), (53.5±9.98 months, Tewodross 2008), (57.1 months, Yitay et al 2009), and (57.6 months, Yifat et al 2012).The wide variation for AFC between different indigenous breed of Ethiopia might be due to the breed difference (genotype effect), management variation and adaptation variations of the breeds at their production environment.

 

Season of birth had no significant (p>0.05) effect on age at first calving of Fogera cattle breed heifers. It might be due to the breeding season of the research center had naturally synchronized to a specific seasons in relation to feed availability (mainly three months during September to December). Similarly, a non-significant effect of season on age at first calving were reported by Addisu and Hegde (2003), Aynalem et al (2009), Getinet et al (2009), Habtamu et al (2010), Melaku et al (2011b), Almaz, (2012) and Belay (2014). However, Gebeyehu (1999) and Million et al (2006) report significant effect of season on age at first calving. Parity had a significant (p<0.05) effect on age at first calving of Fogera cattle breed and similar result was reported by Getinet (2009), however, a non-significant effect of parity had been reported by Almaz (2012).

 

Year of birth had a significant (p<0.01) effect on age at first calving. AFC had shown an improvement through the advance of year (Figure 2), which might be mainly due to the introduction of  cattle of Fogera phenotype after the occurrence of inbreeding in the existing herd and the design of strategic culling based on the performance traits (which was previously based on the color appearance alone). Significant effect of year on age at first calving was also reported by Gebeyehu (1999), Addisu and Hegde (2003), Melaku et al (2011b), Almaz (2012), Belay (2014) for Fogera cattle breed, Melaku (2003) and Mohammed (2004), Hailu and Tadele (2003), and Haileyesus (2006). However, Enyew et al (1998) and Million et al (2006) found non-significant effect of year on age at first calving.

 

Calving interval

 

The overall mean calving interval of Fogera cattle breed at ALRC was 19.5±0.32 months (Table 2), which is within the estimated calving interval for zebu cattle ranging from 12.2 to 26.6 months (Mukassa-Mugrewa 1989; Gebrekidan et al 2012). The present result is comparable with 19.37 months (Almaz 2012), 19.6 months (Melaku et al 2011b), 19.9 months (MFBCMR 2013), 20.1 months (Addisu et al 2007) and higher than 15.1±3.53 (Mekonnen and Gebeyehu 1987) and 18.7 months (Giday 2001) for Fogera cattle breed. The result was also comparable with 18.3±0.44 months (Azage et al 2009) for highland zebu cows in Metema district, 19.8 month (Derese 2008) and 21.24 months (Chencha et al 2012) for the indigenous cattle of West Shoa and Gamo Goffa zone, respectively. The current study was also higher than the respective report of 13.7 and 13.9 months for Arsi and Zebu breed (Enyew et al 1998), 13.9 months (Million et al 2006), 14.6 months for Boran breed (Aynalem et al 2009), and 13.5±0.23 months (Oumer et al 2013) for Indigenous breed at Jimma. The result is lower than 22 months for Horro breed (Demissu et al 2013), 22.3 months (Addis et al 2011), 23.1 months (Yitay et al 2009), 22.2 months (Gebrekidan et al 2012) and 22.2±7.73 months (Belay et al 2012).

 

The present result for CI is longer than the ideal value of one year interval which might be due to nutritional conditions that vary seasonally, and poor management (feeding, housing and health follow-ups). Seasonal availability and poor quality of feed, poor management, poor cycle control techniques, difficulties in estrous detection, silent heats and long DO were reported to be reasons for longer calving interval of Fogera cattle breed (Addisu and Prabhakar 2004; Melaku et al 2011b; Almaz 2012). In addition, occurrence of silent and night heats and short heat periods are common phenomena among zebu cows those attribute for the extended calving interval (De Vries 2006; Tewodros 2008; Melaku et al 2011b).

 

Source of dam shows significant (p<0.05) effect on calving interval in Fogera cattle breed, and dams born at the research center had shown short calving interval than purchased dams. This difference might be due to the considerable better management for the farm born dams. A non-significant effect of dam source on calving interval was reported by Getinet et al (2009) for Ogaden breed.

 

Parity of the cow had shown a significant (p<0.01) effect on calving interval; cows with higher parity had shown the shortest calving interval. This might be due to the improvement and physiological maturity of reproductive organs to conceive with a single insemination/mating. Similar result was reported by Gebeyehu (1999), Melaku et al (2011b), Almaz (2012), Addisu and Hegde (2003), Hailu and Tadele (2003), Demeke et al (2004), Ababu et al (2006), Million et al (2006), Yosef (2006), Aynalem et al (2009), Melaku et al (2011b), Niraj et al (2014) and Demissu et al (2013). Non-significant effect of parity on CI was reported by Belay (2014), Mekonnen and Goshu (1996).

 

Year of calving had a significant effect on Calving interval of Fogera cattle breed cow. Variation across year might be due to the attention given for the research for improvement of Fogera cattle breed and the improvements of management to the breeding cows. This significant effect of year on calving interval is in line with Addisu and Hegde (2003), Melaku et al (2011b), and Almaz (2012) for Fogera cattle breed and Enyew et al (1998), Mekonnen and Goshu (1996), Million et al (2006), Gebeyehu (1999), Getinet et al (2009). However, contradict result was reported by Mekonnen (1987) and Belay (2014).

 

The trend of calving interval across years (Figure 2) indicates a lowering trend through the advancement of year; this might be attributed to the improvements of management for breeding nucleus cow and the restructure of the herd after the onset of inbreeding in each herd of the center.

Number of service per consumption (NSC)

 

The overall mean NSC of the Fogera cattle breed at ALRC was 1.2±0.01 (Table 2). The result was lower than the report of 1.4±0.11 (Mekonnen and Goshu 1987), 1.5 (Giday 2001), 1.6±0.1 (Gebeyehu et al 2005), and 1.3±0.06 (Melaku et al 2011b) for Fogera cattle breed. The lowered result for NSC might be attributed to the efficiency of timely insemination at the onset of heat and the mating ability (libido) of the bulls used for natural mating. Comparable result of 1.1 for Barka breed was reported by Haile-Mariam and Mekonen (1996); significantly higher result of 1.5 was reported (Kefelegn et al 2013), 1.5±0.69 (Tewodros, 2008), 1.8 (Haile-Mariam and Kassamersha 1994), 2.0 for local breeds of North western Ethiopia (Yitay et al 2009), 2.1±1.1 for Horro breed (Demissu et al 2013), and 2.2 (Niraj et al 2014).