The study was undertaken in bale zone to assess farmer's selective breeding objectives, trait preferences, selection criteria and breeding system October 2012 to November 2013. A purposive and multistage sampling technique was applied for selection of 3 district and 9 kebeles. Then 360 households were selected by using simple random sampling techniques after the list of pastoralist having goats was identified. Statistical analysis system version 9.1 was used for analysis of data. Indices, effective population size and rate of inbreeding were calculated on average each respondent holds about 14 goats. Milk production is the main reason of goat keeping in the study area. Appearance is the first rank as selection criteria for male and female in all studies area. About 47.8% of the respondents have their own buck. The main use of breeding buck in the study area was for mating purpose (76.2%). Mean estimate of effective population size and mean rate of inbreeding was 2.43 and 0.21, respectively when a household flock is herded alone and under random mating. Therefore, any breed improvement strategies that are intended to be implemented in the study area and else-where should consider the traditional breeding practices and breeding objectives of the community.

This study was aimed to generate organized information on physical characteristics and prediction of live weight using linear body measurements of indigenous sheep types in five districts of Bale zone (Agarfa, Dinsh, Goba, Sawena and Dawe Kechan). The study was based on field measurements. Multistage purposive sampling was used for selection of districts. Three kebeles from each districts were sampled using simple random sampling techniques. About 600 matured sheep (540 female and 60 male) sheep were sampled for body measurements and qualitative character based on four age category (1 PPI, 2 PPI, 3 PPI and 4 PPI). Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical analysis system. On the identified dimensions, the sheep population in highland district were found within the same region of space and were clustered with long tailed, no toggle, black and red coat color, no wattle, lateral ear form and forward and upright horn orientation while sheep in Sawena and Dawe kechan were characterized as patch coat color pattern with black and white color, polled horn, dropped ear form, fat rumped tail type, concave head profile and absence of toggle and presence of wattle. The highest correlation between chest girth and body weight both for male and female sheep indicate that chest girth is the best variable for predicting live weight than other measurements. The overall mean of body weight, body length, heart girth, wither height, pelvic width, ear length, rump height, rump length, rump width and head length were 26 Kg, 48.75 cm, 71.4 cm, 62.1 cm, 16.32 cm, 11.1 cm, 63.66 cm, 14.04 cm,16.86 cm and 9.11 cm, respectively. The best predicted body weight (BW) Model for female sheep is -13.53+0.40HG+0.25BL-0.17HL and Model for male sheep (BW) is -13.66+0.41HG+0.39SC+0.27RL-0.11PW. The present phenotypic characterization reveals that, the existence of diversity of sheep genetic resource across different agro-ecologies. Arsi bale sheep breed is distributed in highland districts and black head Somali sheep is distributed in lowlands of bale zone.

The aim of this study was to assess Physico-chemical properties of honey from different beehives and honey sources in selected District of Bale Zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. A total 18 honey samples were collected from different hive types and honey sources for analysis of physico-chemical properties (color, moisture content, electric conductivity, pH, acidity, ash (mineral), HMF, reducing sugars (glucose and fructose), and sucrose content). Statistical analysis was used to analyse the data collected from laboratory parts. Data related to honey quality were analyzed using General linear model of SAS software (SAS, 2008). Whenever a statically significant difference (p<0.05) is observed, least significant difference (LSD) test was used to separate the means difference. Most of the laboratory results for common parameters were found in the range of the national and international standard limits. The result of physico-chemical properties showed that there was a significance difference (p<0.05) between hive types except for sucrose (g/100mg) (p>0.05). The overall mean of honey sampled from different hive types showed color (optical density) (10.86 mmpfund), moisture content (20.34%), ash (0.29%), electric conductivity (0.65 ms/cm), free acidity (57.66 meq/gm), pH (4.2), hydroxy methyl furfural (9.45 mg/kg), apparent reducing sugar (73.12g/100mg), sucrose content (0.1g/100mg) while the mean values for honey sampled from different honey sources were as follows: color (optical density) (10.65 mmpfund), moisture content (19.41%), ash (0.23%), electric conductivity (0.53 ms/cm), free acidity (45.33 meq/gm), pH (3.93), hydroxy methyl furfural (16.38 mg/kg), apparent reducing sugar (67.49 g/100mg) and sucrose content (0.5 g/100mg). Hive type and honey source had direct effects on physicochemical quality of honey. The findings show that there is a high need for techniques and technology intervention, so as to derive benefit from the large number of beekeepers in Bale zone and in the country in general both in terms of honey quality and quantity.