Status and challenges of smallholder dairy cattle production in the highlands of Bale, Southeast Ethiopia
Journal Title: Agricultural Advances - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 12
Abstract
A diagnostic survey was conducted in the highlands of Bale, Southeast Ethiopia with the objectives to assess the status and challenges of smallholder dairy cattle production. The study area was stratified into two based on the rainfall patters, human and livestock population. For the study the total of 120 households were randomly selected and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Dairy cattle management system was predominantly traditional. Livestock breeds were almost indigenous local zebu type. About 31.7% of the interviewed households had only a single lactating cow whereas 20% of them did not have lactating cows. Mating was free and commonly seasonal in the area. Almost all classes of dairy cattle were herded together with other livestock species on communal grazing lands. Stall-feeding was, however, practiced in certain cases. Native pasture, crop residues and grazing of aftermath and fallow land are the dominant feed resources available for dairy cattle. Reproductive and productive performances are poor, and mean age at first calving, parturition interval and average calf born per lifetime of local breeds are discussed in the text. Traditional management system coupled with poor nutrition resulted in low milk production in the study area.Therefore, improvement should be made in the area of feed resources and feeding strategies, husbandry practices, health aspects, artificial insemination services and reproductive performance as well as marketing and market infrastructure to increase milk production and household income in the area.
Authors and Affiliations
A. Dawit*| Sinana Agricultural Research Center, Po Box 208, Bale Robe, Ethiopia., B. Solomon| Sinana Agricultural Research Center, Po Box 208, Bale Robe, Ethiopia.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP579
- DOI 10.14196/aa.v4i12.2074
- Views 502
- Downloads 19
Genetic improvement and utilization of indigenous cattle breeds for beef production in Zimbabwe: past, present and futur
Indigenous cattle breeds constitute an important reservoir of genetic material which developing nations have failed to give adequate recognition. Changes in economic situation, the changing consumer preference and ther...
Significance of parity, year-season and prolificacy in influencing goat milk production traits
Milk production traits in goats are affected by different non genetic factors and the knowledge of these factors is essential for efficient management and for accurate estimation of breeding values. Adjusting for the k...
Isolation of fungi associated with dead-in-shell chick embryo in hatcheries
The present work was carried out to isolate and identify fungi species present in dead-in-shell chick embryo. A total of three thousand dead-in-shell embryonated chicken eggs pooled into 300 eggs (10 eggs per group) we...
Prospects for indigenous chickens genetic improvement and conservation in Zimbabwe
The multitude functions of indigenous chickens, which include the provision of high quality protein meat and eggs, cash through sales and socio-cultural roles, cannot be underestimated. Indigenous chickens is one of th...
Evaluation on reaction of early maturing maize lines and hybrids to fusarium ear rot
In order to investigate the amount of resistance in and early maturity lines and hybrids to ear rot fusarium disease, an experiment was caried out with 56 lines and 34 hybrids which were extracted from material corn an...