Dairy cattle milk production, handling, processing, utilization and marketing system in Bench Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the general milk production system, handling practices, processing, utilization and marketing system of raw cow milk produced in Mizan Aman, Debub and Shey Bench Districts. A total of 270 respondents (thirty respondents from each study area) were selected using simple random sampling technique and interviewed by using a semi structured questionnaires. The results of current study showed that the respondents of Shey Bench and Debub Bench were entirely (100%) engaged in farming activities, predominately mixed production system. Similarly, majority (82.2%) of the respondents of Mizan Aman were also pre-dominantly involved in mixed crop livestock production while the remaining 17.8% were involved only in Peri-urban production system. Majority of the respondents in the three districts (91.1, 100 and 90% of Mizan Aman, Debub and Shey Bench) had dairy cows from 1 to 5, some had from 6 to 10 and 11 to 15. About 95.6, 94.4 and 78.9% of the respondents in Mizan Aman, Debub and Shey Bench use plastic buckets for milking. As reported by most of the respondents (95.6, 58.9 and 55.6% of Mizan Aman, Debub and Shey Bench districts, respectively), clay pot is used for storage of milk until the wanted amount is accumulated for processing. About 60.0, 26.7 and 20.0% of the respondents utilize raw milk or fresh milk in Mizan Aman, Debub and Shey Bench districts, respectively. Majority of the respondents (97.8, 92.2 and 70.0% in the Mizan Aman, Debub and Shey Bench districts) reported that scarcity of milk is the main problem of milk and milk products marketing in the study areas. The common milk production constraints and prioritized by the sampled farmers were shortage of feed and scarcity of land, diseases, accessibility to marketing place, limitation of market information and inadequate infrastructure. Therefore, it was concluded that the majority of the milk produced in the study areas were not processed, marketed and mainly utilized by household family for home consumption. These suggest the need for enriched dairy cattle production scheme in the study areas.

Assessment of Dairy Production System, Handling, Processing and Utilization Practices in South Ari and Malle District of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

“…Similar to this study Getabalew et al [45] noticed that in Ethiopia, fresh milk, butter, fermented whole milk (ergo), cottage cheese and buttermilk are sold through both formal and informal marketing channels. Regarding cheese marketing the current finding agreed with Tesfaye [46] who stated that household was not selling traditional cottage cheese (Ayib) in all the surveyed areas of Metema district rather it was consumed by the family members and given to calves and pet animals together with the whey (Aguat). The study revealed that, 96% and 100% of the household experienced selling of butter in South Ari and Malle district, respectively.…”

Dairy Production System, Constraints and Opportunities in Ethiopia

“…Bereda et al (2014) also reported that land shortage, feed shortage, water shortage and poor artificial insemination efficiency (AI) service as the most important dairy production constraints. Similarly, feed shortage and land scarcity, diseases, poor access to market place, restricted market information, lack of improved breed, inadequate artificial insemination (AI) and infrastructure were reported as the primary constraints of dairy cattle production by Gemechu and Amene (2017). The major production problems listed by Misganaw et al (2017) includes absence of milk processing plants and equipment's, lack of skills, inadequate manufacture space, changeable marketing scheme, shortage of water, poor genetic potential of dairy cows for milk production.…”

“…were high demand for milk and its products consumption, enormous humanoid population with long lasting custom of utilization of milk and its products, fast rate of migration from rural to urban areas and revenue growing, accessibility of skilled manpower, the existence of research center organizations and technologies, existence of service providers such as veterinary health and artificial insemination (AI) centers, and employment creation. On the other hand, development of infrastructural sector, such road access or road construction to connect towns with kebeles, water supply, electrification, communication activities would favor modern dairying (Gemechu and Amene, 2017).…”