Participatory Identification of Breeding Objectives and Selection Criteria for Begaria Cattle Breed

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to identify the breeding objectives of Begaria cattle keepers. A semi-structured questionnaire, live animal ranking, and focus group discussions were employed to identify the breeding objectives of the farmers. The study was conducted on a total of 75 conveniently sampled households. Among the total cattle population of the sampled households, 506 heads of cattle (252 male and 254 female animals) were ranked as first best, second best, third best, and/or the worst animals. Owners were asked to choose the first best, second best, third best, and worst animals from their herd for both sexes. Reasons for ranking, important morphometric measurements, and (re)production performance of the ranked animal were taken. The R Commander package version 2.6-0 was used to analyze qualitative data and analysis of variance in R software was used to analyze quantitative data. Reasons for ranking of cows in the study area were milk yield (39.14%), calving interval (15.14), temperament (12), and body size (10.86), whereas for bulls, reasons were body size (30.39%), growth (30.66), body condition score (16.85), and color (15.19). Survival rate (Sur), calving interval (CI), milk yield (MY), and lactation milk yield (LMY) for the cows and body condition score (BCS), weaning age (WA), yearling weight (YW), and weaning weight (WW) for the bulls were significantly different (p < 0.05) mainly between the first- and last-ranked animals. Farmers were willing to pay up to Ethiopian birr (ETB) 11,500, 10,700, 10,400, and 9500 on average for first-, second-, and third-ranked breeding females and up to ETB 6300, 5800, 5200, and 4500 for breeding males. Lactation milk yield, calving interval, mothering ability, growth rate, and age at first calving were determined as breeding objective traits of the community. with suggested selection criteria of lactation milk yield, calving interval, survival rate, yearling weight, and age at first calving, respectively.

Production systems and breeding practices of Begaria cattle breed as input for a community-based breeding program

“…The bulls are also raised for breeding in the study areas which too indicates that there is importance of cattle in the study areas. Therefore community-based breeding should be aimed toward the selection of bulls for meat quality traits as it is expected that these traits have been traditionally selected over the years [ 23 , 24 ].…”

“…Begaria cattle breed has been raised in the area since time immemorial [ 23 ]. The total population of Begaria cattle breed can be estimated at around 17, 450 heads which were distributed across nine adjacent kebeles of the district (source: District agricultural office).…”

“…Begaria cattle breed ( Fig. 1 ) belongs to the Bos indicus species and is one among 28 registered indigenous cattle breeds of Ethiopia, adapted to climate stressful conditions of the warmer area of the Benishangul Gumuz region [ 23 ]. The breed has special preference by the community for its thick milk, fast growth of birth, short calving interval, and adaptation to feed and water shortage [ 23 ].…”

“…1 ) belongs to the Bos indicus species and is one among 28 registered indigenous cattle breeds of Ethiopia, adapted to climate stressful conditions of the warmer area of the Benishangul Gumuz region [ 23 ]. The breed has special preference by the community for its thick milk, fast growth of birth, short calving interval, and adaptation to feed and water shortage [ 23 ]. However, the expensiveness of the breed and low cost of neighbouring cattle, illegal live animal trade, inbreeding, and changes in the production system are the most important threats to the genetic diversity of the breed [ 23 , 24 ].…”

“…The breed has special preference by the community for its thick milk, fast growth of birth, short calving interval, and adaptation to feed and water shortage [ 23 ]. However, the expensiveness of the breed and low cost of neighbouring cattle, illegal live animal trade, inbreeding, and changes in the production system are the most important threats to the genetic diversity of the breed [ 23 , 24 ]. Therefore, sustainable use of this breed is unlikely unless non-genetic factors influencing cattle production, such as farmer breeding practices and production challenges are addressed.…”