PERFORMANCE OF REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS OF TWO F2 CROSSBRED CATTLE POPULATIONS (N'DAMONT AND N'DAMOL) IN THE MARAHOUE REGION OF CENTRAL-WESTERN COTE D IVOIRE

This study aimed to evaluate and compare reproductive parameters of two F2 crossbred cattle populations: N Damont (Montbeliarde × N Dama) and N Damol (Holstein × N Dama) in the Centre-West of Cote d Ivoire. A total of 84 heifers (42 per breed) aged six months at selection were enrolled in the study over a 14-month period (June 2023 to August 2024). Animals were subjected to estrous synchronization and artificial insemination following a standard protocol, and monitored from conception through parturition. A technical record was maintained for each heifer to document all reproductive events. Results showed that N Damont heifers achieved a gestation rate of 85.71% (36/42) compared to 71.42% (30/42) in N'Damol heifers, a difference of 14.29 percentage points. This difference was not statistically significant based on the G-test analysis (p = 0.127; 95% CI: -3.2 to 31.8%). The abortion rate in N Damont heifers was 23.80% (5/21 pregnant animals) versus 9.52% (2/21 pregnant animals) in N Damol heifers. The prolificacy rate was similar between groups: 61.90% (13/21) in N Damont and 61.90% (13/21) in N Damol heifers. However, calf mortality differed between breeds: 15.38% (2/13 calves) in N Damont versus 7.69% (1/13 calves) in N Damol, representing a 7.69 percentage-point difference (p = 0.412; 95% CI: -8.4 to 23.8%). While N Damol crossbreds demonstrated modestly superior reproductive outcomes, particularly with respect to abortion and calf survival rates, these differences were not statistically significant in this sample. Both populations showed adequate reproductive performance under local management conditions.