The study was conducted to evaluate the breeding practices, milk yield and reproductive
performance of Simada cattle in Tach Gaynit district. Two types of data viz. monitoring and survey was used.
Primary data was collected from 180 respondents from six kebeles using a structured questionnaire and 120
Simada phenotype cows were monitored and followed for six months (October to March), 2014. The data was
analyzed using the general linear model procedures of SAS (version 9.2). In the district the major cattle breeds
kept by the farmers was local zebu cattle (Simada breed). In the study area, these breed were the main dairy
cows for milk source. Milking was done twice a day with hand milking. From the total 35% of the respondents
reported that they wash their hands and milk utensil before milking, as a hygienic practice. The overall
average mean of NSC, AFS (months), AFC (months), CI (months), GL (months), and LL (days) were 1.13±0.03,
40.74±0.33, 49.77±0.33, 26.04±0.01, 281.12±0.33 and 203.54±1.40, respectively. Daily milk yield of Simada
breed cow in the study area at the early, mid and late lactation was 2.07, 1.74 and 0.80 liters, respectively,
with an overall milk yield of 1.54 liter. Stage of lactation and parity had shown a significant (p<0.001) effect on
average daily milk yield. Milking time also significantly affected milk yield that morning time milk was higher
than that of evening. Cattle production in the study area is mainly an integral part of mixed crop-livestock
production system where they are kept for multiple functions. Consequently, training and awareness creation
on milk handling and improving the reproductive performances of the breed had better be addressed.