Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T07:25:06.809Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Traditional breeding practices and trait preferences of cattle farmers in Gamo Goffa Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2014

C. Chebo ,
W. Ayalew  and
Z. Wuletaw
C. Chebo
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Chencha Chebo, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia
W. Ayalew*
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), P O Box 4415, Lae, MP 411, Papua New Guinea
Z. Wuletaw
Affiliation:
Sustainable Land Management Regional Program Manager, GIZ, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
*
Correspondence to: W. Ayalew, Workneh Ayalew, NARI, P O Box 4415, Lae, MP 411, Papua New Guinea. email: [email protected]
Get access

Summary

The study was conducted in Gamo Goffa Zone of Southern Ethiopia to characterize traditional cattle breeding practices and cattle trait preferences of the Gamo Highland and Gamo Lowland cattle types. Data collected through group discussions and individual interviews were synthesized and summarized using descriptive statistics. Indigenous cattle in the study area provide multiple functions, are well adapted to their production environments, and managed under traditional and subsistent modes of production. Farmers' cattle trait preferences slightly differ across highland and lowland sites. Whereas lowland farmers prefer carcass yield and traction capacity, cattle farmers in highland areas give more weight to adaptation, milk production and manure contributions. Common breeding system in all sites was pure breeding, although very few farmers residing in mid and highland areas exercise crossbreeding with introduced Holstein Friesian bulls for dairy improvement. The main reported selection criteria of farmers for breeding their animals were body size and conformation, milk production, fertility and breeding history of animals. Cattle breeding and management practices of the study area are traditional and low input.

Résumé

El estudio fue llevado a cabo en la región de Gamo-Gofa del Sur de Etiopía con el fin de caracterizar las prácticas tradicionales de selección y los rasgos preferidos en las variedades bovinas Gamo de las Tierras Altas y Gamo de las Tierras Bajas. Se sintetizó y resumió la información, obtenida mediante debates de grupo y entrevistas individuales, con estadísticos descriptivos. El ganado bovino autóctono del área de estudio desempeña múltiples funciones, está bien adaptado a sus entornos de producción y es manejado según modelos de producción tradicionales y de subsistencia. Los rasgos preferidos en los animales por los ganaderos difirieron ligeramente entre la zona de las Tierras Altas y la de las Tierras Bajas. Mientras que los ganaderos de las Tierras Bajas prefieren el rendimiento a la canal y la capacidad de tracción, los ganaderos de las Tierras Altas dan mayor peso a la adaptación, la producción lechera y el aporte de estiércol. En todas las zonas, lo más habitual fue la cría en pureza, habiendo también unos pocos ganaderos afincados en áreas de altitud media y alta que cruzan el ganado con toros Frisones Holstein para mejorar el rendimiento lechero. Los principales criterios de selección identificados fueron el tamaño corporal y la conformación, la producción lechera, la fertilidad y la ascendencia de los animales. La selección del ganado y las técnicas de manejo siguieron un modelo tradicional y de bajos insumos en el área de estudio.

Resumen

L'étude a été menée dans la région du Gamu-Gofa dans le Sud de l'Éthiopie pour caractériser les méthodes de sélection et les caractères préférés chez les variétés bovines Gamu des Hautes Terres et Gamu des Terres Basses. Les données obtenues au moyen de groupes de discussion et d'interviews individuels ont été synthétisées et résumées avec des statistiques descriptives. Les bovins autochtones de la région d'étude remplissent de nombreuses fonctions, sont bien adaptés aux systèmes de production et sont élevés selon des modes de production traditionnels et de subsistance. Les caractères préférés par les éleveurs n'ont pas été tout à fait les mêmes dans les Hautes Terres et les Terres Basses. Alors que les éleveurs des Terres Basses préfèrent le rendement de la carcasse et la capacité de trait, les éleveurs des Hautes Terres donnent plus d'importance à l'adaptation, la production laitière et l'apport de fumier. Dans toutes les zones, l'élevage en race pure a été le système le plus commun. Pourtant, quelques éleveurs résidant dans des zones à altitude moyenne et élevée font du croisement avec des taureaux Holstein pour améliorer le rendement laitier. Les principaux critères de sélection identifiés ont été la taille corporelle et la conformation, la production laitière, la fertilité et l'ascendance des animaux. La sélection des bovins et les pratiques d'élevage dans la région d'étude ont été traditionnelles et à faible intensité d'intrants.

Keywords

breeding practicescattlefarmers' trait preferencesSouthern Ethiopiabovinscaractères préférés par les éleveursméthodes de sélectionSud de l'Éthiopieganado bovinoprácticas de selecciónrasgos preferidos por los ganaderosSur de Etiopía
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 55 , December 2014 , pp. 19 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Belihu, K. 2002. Analyses of Dairy Cattle Breeding Practices in Selected Areas of Ethiopia. eingerichtet an der Landwirtschaft-Gärtenerischen Fakultät, der Humboldt-Universität zu, Berlin, 175 pp. (Ph.D. Dissertation)Google Scholar
Bittner, O., Bruch, M., Awugichew, G., Gnatouang, B., Grisar, L., Hoffler, H., Schreiber, C., and Volkmann, E. 2000. The role of livestock organizations in the conservation of domestic animal diversity in Ethiopia. Study project. Department of Tropical and Subtropical Animal Breeding, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. pp. 55–76.Google Scholar
Chebo, C. 2012. On-Farm Phenotypic Characterization of Cattle Populations and Their Breeding Practices in Gamo Goffa Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia, p. 148. (M.Sc. Thesis).Google Scholar
Chebo, C., Ayalew, W. and Wuletaw, Z. 2013. On-farm phenotypic characterization of indigenous cattle populations of Gamo Goffa Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Anim. Genet. Res. 52: 71–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CSA (Central Statistical Authority). 2008/09. Agricultural sample survey, report on livestock and livestock characteristics for the year 2008/09. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, CSA, pp. 188.Google Scholar
CSA (Central Statistical Authority). 2010/11. Agricultural sample survey, report on livestock and livestock characteristics for the year 2010/11. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. CSA, p. 190.Google Scholar
Delgado, C., Segrant, H., Steinfeld, S. and Courbois, C. 1999a. Livestock to 2020 the revolution in food, agriculture and the environment. Discussion paper, 28. FAO.Google Scholar
Delgado, C., Rosegrant, M., Steinfeld, H., Ehui, S. and Courbois, C. 1999b. Livestock to 2020: the next food revolution. IFPRI, FAO, ILRI. Food, Agriculture and the Environment Discussion Paper 28.Google Scholar
Duguma, G., Mirkena, T., Haile, A., Iñiguez, L., Mwai, O. A., Tobbo, M., Rischkowsky, B., Sölkner, J. and Wurzinger, M. 2010. Participatory approaches to investigate breeding objectives of livestock keepers. Livestock Res. Rural Dev. 22(64). Available on http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/4/dugu22064.htm, retrieved on 10 May 2011.Google Scholar
FAO. 2007. The State of the World?s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. edited by Rischkowsky, Barbara & Pilling, Dafydd. Section B: Structured breeding programmes. pp215–241. Rome. (available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/a1250e.pdf)Google Scholar
Getachew, F. 2006. On-farm Phenotypic Characterization of cattle Genetic Resources and Their Production systems in Awi, East and West Gojjam zones of Amhara Region. Alemaya University, Ethiopia, p. 153. (M.Sc. Thesis).Google Scholar
Haile, A., Tegegne, A., Ayalew, W., Noah, K., and Dessie, T. 2011. Breeding strategy to improve Ethiopian Boran cattle for meat FAO milk production. Working Paper (26) pp 56.Google Scholar
López-Villalobos, N. 1998. Effects of Crossbreeding and Selection on the Productivity and Profitability of the New Zealand Dairy Industry. Massey University, New Zealand, (Ph.D. Dissertations).Google Scholar
Mukasa-Mugerwa, E. 1989. A Review of Reproductive Performance of Female Bos indicus (zebu) Cattle. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa), ILCA Monograph 6. p. 134.Google Scholar
Ouma, E. 2005. Improved Cattle Breeds from ILRI-KARI Field Trials: Pastoralists' Perceptions. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), ILRI, Nairobi. p. 17.Google Scholar
Rege, J.E.O., Marshall, K., Notenbaert, A., Ojango, J. and Mwai, A.O. 2011. Pro-poor animal improvement and breeding—What can science do? Livestock Sci. 136(1): 15–28.Google Scholar
SAS (Statistical Analysis System Software). 2002. SAS Version 9.0, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.Google Scholar
Scarpa, R., Ruto, E.S.K., Kristjanson, P., Radeny, M., Drucker, A.G. and Rege, J.E.O. 0.2003. Valuing indigenous cattle breeds in Kenya: an empirical comparison of stated and revealed preference value estimates. Ecol. Econ. 45: 427–443.Google Scholar
Tadesse, D. 2005. On-farm Phenotypic Characterization of Cattle Genetic Resources and their Production Systems in South and North Wollo zones of Amhara region, North eastern Ethiopia. Alemaya University, DireDawa, Ethiopia, 125 pp. (M.Sc. Thesis)Google Scholar
Tassew, A. and Seifu, E. 2009. Smallholder dairy production system and emergence of dairy cooperatives in Bahir Dar Zuria and Mecha Woredas, Northwestern Ethiopia. World J. Dairy Food Sci. 4(2): 185–192, 2009.Google Scholar
Taye, T., Ayalew, W. and Hedge, B.P. 2007. On-farm characterization of Sheko breed of cattle in South western Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Anim. Prod. 7(1): 89–105.Google Scholar
Wuletaw, Z. 2004. Survey of Indigenous Cattle Genetic Resources, Husbandry Practices and Cattle Breeding Objectives in North Gondar. Alemaya University, Ethiopia, p. 128. (M.Sc. Thesis).Google Scholar
Wuletaw, Z., Ayalew, W. and Sölkner, J. 2006. Breeding scheme based on analysis of community breeding objectives for cattle in Northwestern Ethiopia. Ethiopian J. Anim. Prod. 6(2): 53–66.Google Scholar