Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T01:53:45.010Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Some traditional livestock selection criteria as practiced by several indigenous communities of Southern Ethiopia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2014

Sandip Banerjee ,
Mohammed Beyan  and
Hiwot Bekele
Sandip Banerjee*
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, HawassaEthiopia
Mohammed Beyan
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, HawassaEthiopia
Hiwot Bekele
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, HawassaEthiopia
*
Correspondence to: S. Banerjee, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 05, Hawassa, SNNPRS, Ethiopia. email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Get access

Summary

Livestock husbandry plays an important role in the rural economy of the country in a tangible or intangible way. The livestock are selected for their functional efficiency and also for their adaptability to the particular agro climate. The study was conducted at two selected woredas (districts) of Southern Ethiopia and was based on individual interviews; focus group discussion and questioner survey. The results indicated that livestock are selected based on some traditional methods by the elders of the society. The respondents indicated that they maintained informal pedigree for cattle and horses based on their dam line, while phenotype of an animal viz. presence or absence of hair whorl, udder and teat length, length of the legs, body length played an important role in selecting the bovines. Tail type, presence of wattles, leg length and coat colour were considered while selecting the small ruminants. Chickens with single comb are preferred over the other types. Coat colour played an important role in selection for functional efficiency of cattle. The study indicated that most of these selection attributes had correlation with the production and reproduction efficiency of the livestock as was explained by several authors. It is suggested that further studies should be carried out to validate the selection methods and incorporate them in region-wise livestock selection strategies.

Résumé

L'élevage joue un rôle important dans l'économie rurale du pays de façon tangible ou intangible. Le bétail sont sélectionnés pour leur efficacité fonctionnelle et aussi pour leur capacité d'adaptation au climat agro particulier. L'étude a été menée dans deux woredas sélectionnés du sud de l'Ethiopie et a été basée sur des entretiens individuels, groupes de discussion sondage de discussion et poser des questions. Les résultats indiquent que le bétail sont sélectionnés sur la base des méthodes traditionnelles par les anciens de la société. Les répondants ont indiqué qu'ils maintenaient pedigree informel pour les bovins et les chevaux en fonction de leur lignée maternelle, alors que le phénotype d'un savoir sur les animaux. La présence ou l'absence de spirale de cheveux, la mamelle et les trayons longueur, la longueur des jambes, la longueur du corps ont joué un rôle important dans la sélection des bovins. Type de queue, la présence de barbillons, la longueur des jambes et la couleur du pelage ont été considérés lors de la sélection des petits ruminants. Poulets avec un peigne simples sont préférés aux autres types. Robe a joué un rôle important dans le choix de l'efficacité fonctionnelle du bétail. L'étude a indiqué que la plupart de ces attributs de sélection avait corrélation avec la production et l'efficacité de reproduction du bétail comme cela a été expliqué par plusieurs auteurs. il est suggéré que d'autres études doivent être menées afin de valider les méthodes de sélection et de les intégrer dans les stratégies de sélection du bétail sages de la région.

Resumen

La ganadería desempeña un papel importante en la economía rural del país ya sea de forma tangible o intangible. El ganado es seleccionado en base a su eficiencia funcional y también de acuerdo con su capacidad de adaptación a unas condiciones agroclimáticas particulares. Este estudio fue llevado a cabo en dos woredas del Sur de Etiopía y para su realización se emplearon entrevistas individuales, grupos focales de discusión y una encuesta. Los resultados indicaron que el ganado es seleccionado por los ancianos del lugar en base a métodos tradicionales. Las personas encuestadas señalaron que controlan, de manera informal, la genealogía del ganado bovino y de los caballos, siguiendo la línea materna. Rasgos fenotípicos del animal como, por ejemplo, la presencia o ausencia de remolinos de pelo, el tamaño de la ubre y la longitud de los pezones, la longitud de las patas y la longitud del cuerpo son criterios importantes para la selección del ganado bovino. El tipo de cola, la presencia de mamellas, la longitud de las patas y el color de la capa son aspectos que se tienen en cuenta para la selección de los pequeños rumiantes. En cuanto a las gallinas, se prefieren aquéllas con cresta sencilla. El color de la capa juega un papel destacado cuando la selección va encaminada a mejorar la eficiencia funcional del ganado bovino. El estudio mostró que la mayoría de estos atributos de selección estaban correlacionados con la eficiencia productiva y reproductiva del ganado, tal y como ya había sido observado por varios autores. Se sugiere que los próximos estudios deberían ir dirigidos a validar los métodos de selección para, a continuación, incorporarlos en las estrategias de selección de ganado de la región.

Keywords

livestock selectionSouthern Ethiopiatraditional methodssélection du bétailméthodes traditionnellesSud d'Éthiopieselección del ganadométodos tradicionalesSur de Etiopía
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 54 , June 2014 , pp. 153 - 162
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

Adedeji, T.A., Ozoje, M.O., Ojedapo, L.O., Fasoyin, O.A., & Ogundipe, R.I. 2012. Indirect selection amongst small scale holders of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats based on coat pigmentation and wattle types in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Iran. J. Appl. Anim. Sci., 2(1): 21–25.Google Scholar
Agere, M. 2008. Assessment of feed resources, feeding system and milk production in Horro district, western Oromia, Ethiopia. Presented to the School of Graduate Studies of Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia (M.Sc. Thesis).Google Scholar
Alphonsus, C., Akpa, G.N., Oni, O.O., Rekwot, P.I., Barje, P.P. & Yashim, S.M. 2010. Relationship of linear conformation traits with bodyweight, body condition score and milk yield in Friesian × Bunaji cows. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 97–100.Google Scholar
Aujla, K.M., Jasra, A.W. & Munir, M. 1998. Socioeconomic profile of camel herders in South-western mountainous areas of Pakistan. In Proc. Third Annual Meeting Animal Products under Arid Conditions, vol 2, pp. 154–174.Google Scholar
Azage, T., Belete, A., Fekadu, B. & Berhanu, E. 2010. Cattle milk and meat production and marketing systems and opportunities for market orientation in Fogera woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian Farmers Project, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Working Paper No.19.Google Scholar
Banerjee, S. 2012. Morphological characterization of indigenous chickens of Sikkim and West Bengal, India. Anim. Genet. Res., 51: 57–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bavikatte, K. & Jonas, H. 2009. Bio-cultural community protocols: a community approach to ensuring the integrity of environmental law and policy. Natural Justice, United Nations Environment Programme (available at http://www.unep.org/communityprotocols/PDF/communityprotocols.pdf).Google Scholar
Berry, I.L. & Shanklin, M.D. 1961. Physical factors affecting thermal insulation of livestock hair coats. Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Research Bulletin. 802.Google Scholar
Berry, D.P., Harris, B.L. & Winkelman, A.M. 2005. Phenotypic associations between traits other than production and longevity in New Zealand dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci., 88: 2962–2974.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bharadwaj, A., Sastry, N.S.R. & Yadav, M.S. 2011. Lactation and mammary system influences on milking behaviour of buffaloes–a note. Indian J. Anim. Prod. Manage., 3: 129–133.Google Scholar
Bonsma, J.C. 1980. Livestock production: a global approach. Cape Town, South Africa, Tafelberg Publishers.Google Scholar
Broucek, J., Peter Kisac, S., Tefan, M., Anton, H., Michal, U. & Vladimir, T. 2007. Hair whorls of holstein friesian heifers and affects on growth and behaviour. Arch. Tierz. Dummerstorf, 50(4): 374–380.Google Scholar
Bruce, E.E. 2012. Bull, In Male Theriogenology (available at http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/eiltslotus/theriogenology-5361/bull.htm), assessed on 3rd September 2013.Google Scholar
Casu, S., Boyazoglu, J.G. & Lauvergne, J.J. 1970. The inheritance of wattles in the Sardinian breed of sheep. Annals. Genet. Sel. Anim., 2: 249–261. Contribution to animal production and management. Review and. Scientific Tech. Off. int.Google Scholar
Ebozoje, M.O. & Ikeobi, C.O.N. 1998. Colour variation and reproduction in the West African Dwarf goats (WAD). Small Rumin. Res., 27: 125–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Endashaw, T., Tadelle, D., Aynalem, H., Wudyalew, M. & Okeyo, M. 2012. Husbandry and breeding practices of cattle in Mursi and Bodi pastoral communities in Southwest Ethiopia. Afr. J. Agric. Res., 7(45): 5986–5994.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Estifanos, T. 2010. Sheep production system and on farm evaluation of dry season Ethiopia. Hawassa university. p.104 (M.Sc. Thesis).Google Scholar
FABRE 2006. Sustainable farm animal breeding and reproduction A vision for 2025. FABRE technology platform. February 2006. 30 p. (available at http://www.fabretp.org).Google Scholar
Fekadu, B. 1994. Present situation and future aspect of milk production, milk handling and processing of dairy products in southern Ethiopia. Farm made milk products in southern Ethiopia: 1. Chemical and microbial quality. Department of Food Science, Agricultural University of Norway. (Ph.D. Thesis).Google Scholar
Fekadu, F. 2010. Ethiopian medicinal plants in veterinary healthcare. A mini-review. Ethiopian e-J. Res. Innov. Foresight, 2(1) 48–58.Google Scholar
Finch, V.A. 1986. Body temperature in beef cattle: its control and relevance to production in the tropics. J. Anim. Sci., 62: 531–542.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finch, V.A. & Western, D. 1977. Cattle colours in pastoral herds: natural selection or social preference. Ecology, 58: 1384.Google Scholar
Finch, V.A., Bennett, I.L., & Holmes, C.R. 1984. Coat colour in cattle: effect on thermal balance, behaviour and growth, and relationship with coat type. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.), 102: 141–147.Google Scholar
Foster, L.A., Fourie, P.J. & Neser, F.W.C. 2009. Effect of heat stress on six beef breeds in the Zastron district: the significance of breed, coat colour and coat type. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci., 39: 224.Google Scholar
Ghosh, P.K. & Sahoo, B. 2011. Indigenous traditional knowledge. Orissa Review. 65–70 (available at http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/Jan/engpdf/66-71.pdf).Google Scholar
Hafez, E.S.E. (Ed.) 1968. Adaptation of domestic animals, Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger.Google Scholar
Hamid, M.A., Husain, S.M.I., Khan, M.K.I., Islam, M.N. & Biswas, M.A. 2000. Skin thickness in relation to milk production in crossbred cows. Pak. J. Biol Sci., 3(9): 1525–1529.Google Scholar
Hammond, J. Jr., Ian, L.M. & Terence, J.R. 1971. Hammond's farm animals. U.K., Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
Hansen, P.J. 1990. Effects of coat colour on physiological responses to solar radiation in Holsteins. Vet. Rec., 127: 333.Google ScholarPubMed
Hiwot, B. 2013. Assessment of indigenous knowledge in livestock rearing practices at Arbrgona and Lokabaya woreda of Sidama Zone of Southern Ethiopia. Submitted to School of Graduate Studies, Hawassa University, Ethiopia (M.Sc. thesis).Google Scholar
Hutchinson, J.C.D. & Brown, G.B. 1969. Penetrance of cattle coats by radiation'. J. Appl. Physiol., 26: 454–464.Google Scholar
Iqubal, M.A. 2013. Livestock husbandry – a sustainable livelihood in Ethiopia. Int. J. Econ. Manage. Soc. Sci., 2(8): 603–607.Google Scholar
Jena, M. 2007. Community Health Knowledge Register. Tradit., 5: 6–10.Google Scholar
Kakar, A.R. 2009. Assessing the potential of the indigenous livestock breeds of Baluchistan. A Drynet Science and Technology Expertise. 59 p. (available at http://www.comap.ca/kmland/display.php?ID=144&DISPOP=VRCPR) assessed on 3rd Sep 2013.Google Scholar
Karma, N., Penjor, D.P., Gurung, R., Arasta, P. & Moran, C. 2005. Genetic structure of the indigenous chickens of Bhutan. SAAR J. Agric., 3: 69–89.Google Scholar
Karthikayan, S.M.K. & Gajendran, K. 2005. Traditional technologies in the improvement of breeds of livestock in Tamil Nadu. Indian J Tradit. knowl., 4(3): 303–306.Google Scholar
Kassahun, H. 2013. Evaluating poultry production system and egg quality parameters of village chickens at Hawassa zuria woreda of southern Ethiopia. Hawassa University, Ethiopia. (M.Sc. Thesis).Google Scholar
Kedija, H. 2007. Characterization of milk production system and opportunity for market orientation: a case study of Mieso district, Oromia region, Ethiopia. Haramaya University. (M.Sc. Thesis).Google Scholar
Kshatriya, P.S., Trivedi, M.M. & Dhami, A.J. 2009. Association of udder biometry and skin thickness with milk yield in Kankrej and Crossbred cows. Indian J. Field Vet., 5(1): 11–13.Google Scholar
Kuczaj, M., 2003. Analysis of changes in udder size of high yielding cows in subsequent lactations with regard to mastitis. Electron. J. Pol. Agric., 6(1), #02. (available at http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume6/issue1/animal/art-02.html).Google Scholar
Kunene, N.W. & Fossey, A. 2006. A survey on livestock production in some traditional areas of Northern Kwazulu Natal in South Africa. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 18, Article #113. Retrieved September 3, 2013, (available at http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd18/8/kune18113.htm).Google Scholar
Makokha, S.N., Karugiab, J., Staalc, S., & Kosura, O. 2006. Valuation of cow attributes by conjoint analysis: a case study in Western Kenya. Contributed paper prepared for presentation at the International Association of Agricultural Economists Conference, August 12–18, Gold Coast, Australia (available at http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/25752/1/cp060765.pdf); accessed on, September 5 2013.Google Scholar
Mathias, E., Ilse, K.-R. & Jacob, W. 2005. Pastoralists, local breeds and the fight for livestock keepers' rights. Prepared for the PENHA 15th Anniversary Conference “Pastoralism in the Horn of Africa: Surviving against all odds” on Thursday, 29 September 2005. London.Google Scholar
Mbuku, S.M., Isaac, S.K. & Alexander, K.K. 2006. Identification systems and selection criteria of pastoral goat keepers in northern Kenya – implications for a breeding programme. Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development. University of Bonn, October 11–13: 2006.Google Scholar
Mesfin, T. & Obsa, T. 1994. Ethiopian traditional veterinary practices and their possible contribution to animal production and management. Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz., 13(2): 417–424.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mishra, D. & Patro, L. 2010. Ethno veterinary practices among the rural people of Ganjam district Orissa (India) : a case study on some common veterinary ailments. Bioscan., (3): 739–746.Google Scholar
Mohanty, R.B. 2004. Traditional wisdom on livestock selection and management in folk proverbs of Orissa. Indian J. Tradit. Knowl., 3(1): 92–95.Google Scholar
Morse, D., DeLorenzo, M.A., Wilcox, C.J., Collier, R.J., Natzke, R.P. & Bray, D.R. 1988. Climatic effects on occurrence of clinical mastitis. J. Dairy Sci., 71: 848–853.Google Scholar
Ndumu, D.B., Baumung, R., Hanotte, O., Wurzinger, M., Okeyo, A.M., Jianlin, H., Kibogo, H. & Sölkner, J. 2008. Genetic and morphological characterisation of the ankole longhorn cattle in the African great lakes region.Genet. Select. Evol., 40: 467–490.Google Scholar
Odubote, I.K. 1994b. Influence of qualitative traits on the performance of West African Dwarf goats. Nigerian J. Anim, Prod., 21: 25–28.Google Scholar
Olson, T.A., Lucena, C. & Chase Junior, C.C. 2003. Evidence of a major gene influencing hair length and heat tolerance in Bos taurus cattle. J.Anim. Sci., 81: 80–90.Google Scholar
Ouma, E., Abdulai, A. & Drucker, A.G. 2006. Pastoralists preferences for cattle traits: letting them be heard. pastoralism and poverty reduction in East Africa: Nairobi, Kenya, A Policy Research.Google Scholar
Peters, K.J., Horst, P. & Kleinheisterkamp, H.H. 1982. The importance of coat colour and coat type as indicator of productive adaptability of beef cattle in a sub-tropical environment. Prod. under Arid Conditions., 2: 154–174.Google Scholar
Raziq, A. & Younas, M. 2007. Socioeconomic profile of camel in Suleiman mountainous region of Balochistan, Pakistan: in Recent trends in camelids research and future strategies for saving camels. In: Proc. International Camel Conference Rajasthan, India, February 16–17, pp. 123–128.Google Scholar
Raziq, A., Younas, M. & Kakar, M.A. 2008. Camel – a potential dairy animal in difficult region of Balochistan, Pakistan: in recent trends in camelids research and future review Ethiopian e-journal for research and innovation foresight. Health Issue, 2(1) 48.Google Scholar
Richard, S., Cabaret, J. & Cabourg, C. 1990. Genetic and environmental factors associated with nematode infection of dairy goats in north western France. Vet. Parasit., 36(3–4): 237–243.Google Scholar
Sanusi, A.O. 2008. Effects of coat colour genes on heat stress and tolerance to Haemonchus contortus among West African dwarf sheep. University of Agriculture, Abeo (M.Sc. Thesis).Google Scholar
Shiferaw, G. 2006. In-situ phenotypic characterization of Kereyu cattle type in Fentalle district of Oromia region, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis. Presented to the School of Graduate Studies of Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
Shigdaf, M. 2011. Performance evaluation of Washera, Farta and their crossbred sheep in the Western highland of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (MSc. Thesis).Google Scholar
Singh, G. & Kumar, J. 2012. Traditional knowledge on some less known wild edible plants used among Munda tribe of Jharkhand. Ecoscan., 6(3&4): 153–155.Google Scholar
Stewart, R.E. 1953. Absorption of solar radiation by the hair of cattle. Agric. Eng., 34: 235.Google Scholar
Tekleyohannes, B., Jamroen, T., Sayan, T., Girma, A., Asrat, T. & Somkiert, P. 2012. Purposes of keeping goats, breed preferences and selection criteria in pastoral and agro-pastoral districts of South Omo Zone. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 24, Article #213. Retrieved September 5, 2013, (available at http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/12/berh24213.htm).Google Scholar
Tilki, M., İnal, S., Colak, M. & Garıp, M. 2005. Relationships between milk yield and udder measurements in brown swiss cows. Türk Veterinerlik ve Hayvancilik Dergisi. 29: 75–81.Google Scholar
Winchester, A.M. 1977. Heredity: an introduction to genetics. New Delhi, India, Oxford & IBH.Google Scholar
Wurzinger, M., Ndumu, D., Baumung, R., Drucker, A., Okeyo, A.M., Semambo, D.K., Byamungu, N. & Sölkner, J. 2006. Comparison of production systems and selection criteria of Ankole cattle by breeders in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Trop. Anim. Health Prod., 38: 571–581.Google Scholar
Yakabu, A. 2011. Path analysis of conformation traits and milk yield of Bunaji cows in small holder herds in Nigeria. Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica., 44(3): 152–157.Google Scholar
Yamazaki, T.H., Takeda, A., Nishiura, & Togashi, K. 2009. Relationship between lactation curve and udder disease incidence in different lactation stages in first lactation holstein cows. Anim. Sci. J., 80: 636–643.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Young, S.K., McNaughton, L.R. & Spelman, R.J. 2007. Hair whorl patterns are related to age at puberty and milk-production traits in dairy cattle. Proc. N. Z. Soc. Anim. Prod., 67: 130–135.Google Scholar