Enteric methane emission factors of smallholder dairy farming systems across intensification gradients in the central highlands of Ethiopia

Table 3 Herd structure, breed/genotype composition, mean live weight, (kg ± SD), and animal performances for the three farming systems in Selale milkshed

Farming system	Urban		Peri-urban		Rural
Breed & genotype	Pure/high-grade		High-grade		Local zebu
Breed & genotype	Mean ± SD	Observation	Mean ± SD	Observation	Mean ± SD	Observation
Adult dairy cows	429.2 ± 43.7^a	508	423.3 ± 42.0^a	545	294.2 ± 34.5^b	159
Adult male	435.3 ± 47.3	10	425.3 ± 57.2	32	351.1 ± 28.3	84
Growing female	271.4 ± 44.0	270	265.7 ± 39.9	352	198.3 ± 42.9	56
Growing male	288.1 ± 55.9	25	280.1 ± 45.9	33	234.6 ± 17.5	34
Calf (≤ 12 m) male and female	141.2 ± 25.0	144	134.4 ± 25.9	144	113.4 ± 14.4	76
Calf (≤ 6 m) male and female	75.1 ± 11.2	241	72.6 ± 12.0	220	57.5 ± 7.3	130
Breeding bull	NA		NA		346.3 ± 38.5	54
Fattening	NA		NA		375.7 ± 35.5	54
Herd performance
MY L/day	10.4 ± 0.9^a		9.0 ± 1.1^b		1.8 ± 0.2^c
ECM (MJ/KG)	3.0 ± 0.6^a		3.0 ± 0.6^a		3.7 ± 0.5^b
Working hrs/day			7.80 ± 1.0		7.99 ± 0.8

Adult cows (≥ 3 years); Adult male (≥ 3); growing female (1–3 years); growing male (1–3 years); Calve (≤ 1); calve (≤ 6 m). Means with different superscript letters in the same row indicate significant differences at p < 0.05, if not it indicate non-significant
ECM energy content of milk, ADWG average daily weight gain, MY milk yield per day, NA not applicable, Working hrs Working hours per day for draught oxen, SD Standerd deviation

ISSN: 1750-0680