Characterization of goat production systems and trait preferences of goat keepers in Bench Maji zone, south western Ethiopia

Abstract

Studies to characterize goat production system and identify breeding practices and trait preferences of goat keepers were conducted in three districts (Sheko, Shey Bench and Meanit Shasha) of Bench Maji zone, southwestern Ethiopia. Semi-structured questionnaires and own-flock ranking experiments were employed for data collection. The results of the analyses revealed that the average goat flock size was 9.8±9.3. The flock structure constituted females (42.7%), intact males (19.0%), castrates (1.9%) and kids of both sex (36.5%). Goat production was rated highest for income and then as source of meat, with lowest rating as a means of saving. Most of respondents practiced selection for breeding does than bucks. Mating was predominantly uncontrolled. Twinning ability (I=0.29) for female and body size (I= 0.35) for male were the most highly rated traits at own flock ranking. The goat production system in Sheko and Shey Bench districts was characterized by mixed crop-livestock, while in Meanit Shasha, agro-pastoralism was dominant. Thus, the breeding objectives of the communities are to improve meat production and increase income through increased number of goat flocks.

Evaluation of production systems and husbandry practices of Ethiopian indigenous goats

“…The current result indicates that the goat flock size in the study area was small which might be resulted from farmers raise goats and other livestock species with crop production that enforce them not to keep large flock due to population growth and decreasing grazing/browsing land as a result of increasing ploughing land for crop production. The current finding agreed with that of Tegegn et al (2016), Tegegn, and Askale (2017) who reported small goat flock size in the mixed croplivestock production systems. Focus group discussion revealed that males were castrated at an early age for fattening to fetch better price and to reduce aggressiveness that makes management simpler.…”

“…Less number of respondents where performing castration at a veterinary clinic by using Burdizo castrator when compared with the report of Dhaba et al (2012) in which 91% of the respondents performed castration at veterinary clinics in Ilu Aba Bora zone. In agreement with the present results, goat castration has been reported in different parts of Ethiopia mainly to improve fattening and obtain more prices (Tegegn et al, 2016;Tegegn and Askale, 2017). Age of castration reported by majority of respondents in the current study was similar with the reports of Dhaba et al (2012) and Tsigabu (2015) from 6 months to 24 months.…”

“…Goat flock size and farming activities Farming activities in the study area are characterized by mixed crop and livestock system. Similar findings have been reported by Tegegn et al (2016) in Bench Maji zone; Yadeta (2016) in West Shoa of Oromia region; Abraham et al (2017a) in western Tigray; Beyene et al (2018) in Dawuro zone of Ethiopia. The relative higher goat flock size in Limu Seka indicates the importance of goat production and a strong opportunity for breeding activities in the district.…”

“…The overall mean goats flock size per household in the study area was higher than that of Dhaba et al (2012) and Beyene et al (2018) who reported 3.99 in Ilu Aba Bora and 5.69 flock sizes in Dawuro zones, respectively, that may be due to the varying management activities and available resources. However, the current finding is lower than the report of Alefe (2014) in Shebelle zone, Tsigabu (2015) in Nuer zone, Belete et al (2015) in Bale zone and Tegegn et al (2016) in Bench Maji zone of Ethiopia who reported 37.65, 16.9, 13.5 and 9.8 goat flock size per household, respectively. The current result indicates that the goat flock size in the study area was small which might be resulted from farmers raise goats and other livestock species with crop production that enforce them not to keep large flock due to population growth and decreasing grazing/browsing land as a result of increasing ploughing land for crop production.…”

Adaptation and Returns from Improved Indigenous Small Ruminants in Climatically Challenged Smallholder Systems of Kenya

“…Sheep and goats in East Africa comprise an estimated 68% of the ruminant livestock population [1]. They are key resources in smallholder mixed crop-livestock production systems, enabling diversification in land use and providing an additional source of income [2][3][4]. However, their outputs in smallholder systems are low and targeted improved productivity within existing breeds is limited [5,6].…”