The study was aimed with on farm evaluation of breeding practices, productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows at Gimbi district, West Wollega Zone from four representative kebeles by selecting a total of 120 households who involved in dairy cows production. The data were collected by household survey, personal observation, focus group discussion and key informant interview like methods and seasons of breeding, productive and reproductive performance of both local and crossbred dairy cows. The result of the study revealed that about 89% of the household use natural mating as method of breeding and only 3% of the respondents utilize AI but they perceived as it had no worth. The results of the study also showed that the mean age at first service (AFS), age first calving (AFC) and calving interval (CI) of both local and crossbred cows were 45.13±0.38, 28.92±0.48; 54.5 ±0.33, 37.5± 3.137; 17.123±0.27 and 14.32±0.41, respectively. 1.18±0.52 and 5.83±0.28 litre were daily milk yield of local and crossbred dairy cows reported from the study area, respectively. The indigenous dairy cow has 7.15±0.13 lactation length whereas 8.87±0.18 was the lactation length of crossbred dairy cow. Comparing with the recommend standard, the dairy sector of the study area is characterized by a poor productive and reproductive potential of dairy cows. This calls for a planned technical and institutional intervention for improved support services for appropriate breeding programmes, improved cows and practicing good management system in the study area.
Keywords: Breeding Practice, Dairy Cow, Gimbi District, Productive, Reproductive