Animal Production and Technology

Assessment and Monitoring of Dairy Cattle Husba Ndry Practices, Handling, Processing, and Marketing of Milk and Milk Products in Dejen District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Assessment and Monitoring of Dairy Cattle Husba Ndry Practices, Handling, Processing, and Marketing of Milk and Milk Products in Dejen District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Yekoye, Tarikua Dairy farming is a critical component of smallholder livelihoods in Ethiopia. To fully harness its potential, it is imperative to adopt improved management practices, enhance milk handling and processing methods, and develop efficient and accessible marketing systems. This study aimed to assess and monitor dairy cattle husbandry, milk handling, processing, and marketing practices in Dejen District, located in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. The study area was purposively selected due to its significant potential for milk production and utilization. A stratified sampling approach was employed, and a total of 186 dairy producers were randomly selected for the household survey. Additionally, 45 crossbred lactating cows—15 from each of the rural, peri-urban, and urban milk production systems—were purposively selected for a monitoring study conducted over eight months. Data were collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and supplemented with key informant interviews. The findings revealed that both local and crossbred dairy cattle were kept in rural and peri-urban systems, whereas urban production systems exclusively maintained crossbred cows. The primary feed resources included natural pasture, crop residues, non-conventional feeds, commercial concentrates, and improved forages. Feeding practices varied, with 41.4% of farmers combining stall feeding and grazing, 38.2% using stall feeding alone, and 20.4% relying solely on grazing. Regarding breeding practices, only 1.1% of producers used artificial insemination (AI) exclusively, 27.4% depended on natural mating, and the majority (71.5%) used both AI and natural service. Water for livestock was obtained from various sources, including wells, tap/piped water, rivers or streams, and ponds. Milk yield data showed that local cows produced an average of 1.81 ± 0.24 liters/day in peri-urban areas and 1.32 ± 0.39 liters/day in rural areas. For crossbred cows, average daily milk yields from the survey were 10.16 ± 2.18 liters (urban), 8.32 ± 2.05 liters (periurban), and 6.93 ± 1.63 liters (rural), while the monitoring study recorded slightly higher values: 12.24 ± 4.21 liters (urban), 10.05 ± 3.21 liters (peri-urban), and 8.00 ± 2.60 liters (rural), respectively. All dairy producers practiced hand milking. In terms of milking containers, all urban and peri-urban producers used plastic containers. In rural areas, 84.2% used plastic containers, while 15.8% used traditional gourds. Similarly, plastic containers were predominantly used for milk storage across all systems: 100% in urban, 98.6% in peri-urban, and 77.2% in rural areas, where the remainder used clay pots. All respondents reported processing milk into various products. In urban and peri-urban settings, 87.5% and 64.2% of milk were processed for household consumption, respectively, while in rural areas, 50.5% was processed primarily to extend shelf life. Milk churning was done using clay pots by 81.3% of urban, 92.8% of peri-urban, and all (100%) rural producers. Boiled milk was the most commonly consumed form (75.3%), followed by a combination of boiled and raw xiv milk (8.6%), and raw milk alone (0.5%). The marketing of raw milk and butter was widespread. Local dairy cooperatives, such as Gion and Yetnora, produced a variety of dairy products including butter, skim milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and whey. Yetnora cooperative also produced mozzarella and provolone cheeses. Key challenges identified included low milk prices (index values: 0.35 urban, 0.27 periurban) and high feed costs (0.28 urban, 0.21 peri-urban). In rural areas, the primary constraints were limited market access (0.21) and disease prevalence (0.19). Despite these challenges, the study also highlighted several opportunities for dairy development. In urban and peri-urban systems, the main opportunities were the presence of dairy cooperatives and market access (index values: 0.49 and 0.42), favorable environmental conditions (0.28 and 0.40), and access to veterinary services (0.23 and 0.18). In rural areas, favorable environmental conditions (0.72), access to dairy cooperatives and markets (0.24), and veterinary services (0.04) were noted as key enablers. In conclusion, Dejen District possesses strong potential to serve as a milk and dairy product supply hub for markets such as Addis Ababa and Debre Markos. However, this potential remains underutilized due to suboptimal husbandry practices, inadequate milk handling and processing methods, and underdeveloped marketing systems—especially in rural areas. It is therefore recommended to promote improved dairy husbandry practices, enhance milk handling and processing, and strengthen linkages between rural producers and consumers or dairy cooperatives to improve market access and overall productivity.

Phenotypic and Genetic Parameters for Production Traits of Abergelle Goats in Community-Based Breeding Program Scale Up Villages in Case of Alquzu and Addis Mender

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Phenotypic and Genetic Parameters for Production Traits of Abergelle Goats in Community-Based Breeding Program Scale Up Villages in Case of Alquzu and Addis Mender Walle, Yeshiwas Abergelle goats are indigenous to northern Ethiopia, and dual purpose animal. Community-based breeding programs enhance its productivity and resilience, supporting farmers and sustainable agriculture. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters for growth and milk production traits of Abergelle goats in community-based breeding program (CBBP) scale up villages. The data used in this study include six years (2018 to 2023) data collected for Abergelle goats community based breeding program scaling up villages in Alquzu and Addis mender. Data have been collected on growth and milk production traits, from the established village of goat community based breeding program area. The traits studied, birth weight (BWT), weight at three months (TMWT), weight at six months (SMWT), weight at nine months (NMWT), weight at one year (YWT), average daily weight gain from birth to three months age (ADG1), average daily weight gain from three month age to six months age (ADG2), average daily weight gain from six months to nine months (ADG3), and from nine months to one year (ADG4), and for milk production traits average daily milk yield (ADMY), milk yield in 84 days (MY84days) along with different lactation length. Direct heritability for growth and milk traits was computed using wombat software. Multivariate mixed animal model was applied to estimate genetic parameters. Multivariate analysis was utilized to estimate correlations between traits. The overall least square mean of body weights ± standard errors (LSM±SE) for BWT, TMWT, SMWT, NMWT, and YWT were 2.25±0.04, 7.5±0.03, 8.8±0.040, 12.1±0.067, and 15.3±0.092 kg, respectively. The overall LSM±SE of ADG1, ADG2, ADG3, and ADG4 were 58.2±2.27, 37.8±2.04, 19.2±0.7, and 10.5±0.12g per day, respectively. The mean values for ADMY, LL, and MY 84 days were 302.6±6.68 g, 9.4±0.23 weeks and 28.003±47.45 kg, respectively. The direct heritability estimates for BWT, TMWT, SMWT, NMWT, and YWT were 0.34 ± 0.070, 0.45 ± 0.062, 0.40 ± 0.040, 0.42 ± 0.07and 0.41 ± 0.14 respectively. Direct heritability for growth traits moderate to high, selection can improve the growth traits. The phenotypic correlation between birth weight and the traits TMWT, SMWT, NMWT, and YWT was found to be low. However, there was a high genetic correlation between TMWT and the other traits—SMWT, NMWT, and YWT—with values ranging from 0.71 to 0.87. The correlations between TMWT-SMWT, SMWT-NMWT, and NMWT-YWT were high and positive, indicating a strong genetic association. The genetic correlation of birth weight was lower but higher correlations were found among the other growth traits (SMWT, NMWT, and YWT), indicating one of these traits increases; the others tend to increase as well. Therefore, birth weight as growth trait had no strong relation with later stages of growth traits in this study for Abergelle goat in scale up community based breeding programs. The direct heritability estimates for ADMY, LMY, and LL of Abergelle goats were 0.08±0.005, 0.16±0.034 and 0.04±0.034.The repeatability estimates for DMY, LMY and LL were 0.50, 0.22 and 0.06. Both, heritability and repeatability estimates for milk production traits indicate the presence of moderate variation within the studied goat population and thus selection could be used as the best tool of genetic improvement of Abergelle goat for milk production

Evaluation of Nutritional Value of Korch (Erythrina Abyssinica) and Its Utilization as Livestock Feed in Sekela District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Evaluation of Nutritional Value of Korch (Erythrina Abyssinica) and Its Utilization as Livestock Feed in Sekela District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Getachew, Taye This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional value of Korch (Erythrina abyssinica) and its utilization as a livestock feed in the Sekela district, Amhara region, Ethiopia. The experiment was done during the dry season (February to April 2024). Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire interviews, field observations, key informant conversations, and focus group discussions. The study area was divided into two agroecologies: the highlands and the midlands. A total of 357 respondents, 231 from the highlands and 126 from the midlands were chosen randomly and given one-on-one interviews. E. abyssinica samples were collected from two altitudes, and the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility were assessed. Data were gathered and examined using statistical procedure for social sciences (SPSS) version 26 (SPSS, 2011). The results of the study showed that a mixed crop-livestock production system was the dominant farming system in both altitude regions. The mean total land holding was 3.81±0.069 ha per HH. The average livestock holding size per HH was 7.01±0.11TLU and was significant (p<0.01) varied across agroecologies. The major feed resources were crop residues, natural pasture, aftermath grazing, atela, and hay. The major constraints related to livestock production were feed shortage, diseases, poor genetic potential, shortage of veterinary service, and water shortage. The feed utilization practice of E. abyssinica in the area was cut and carrying system. Many farmers appreciate the benefits of E. abyssinica for improving animal performance. According to farmers' perceptions in the study area, E. abyssinica can improve the growth rate and productivity of ruminant animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle. And also, their perception indicates that E. abyssinica can partly fill the deficient nutrients available in low-quality feeds during the dry season. Generally, E. abyssinica is very important for ruminant animal production and productivity if farmers provide timely and properly The DM and CP content is 93.38% and 22.06% respectively and there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among agroecologies. IVDMD (57.09%) and estimated biomass yields (2.85±0.038Kg) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the highland. Its ME (8.32 MJ/kg) was not significantly different (p>0.05) among agroecologies. In general, due to its high crude protein contents, better digestibility, and low fiber content E. abyssinica is able to be a dry season supplemental feed to increase ruminant performance and to maximize the utilization of low-quality feed resources when feed is in short supply.

Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken and Their Husbandary Practices in West Gojjam, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken and Their Husbandary Practices in West Gojjam, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Lakachew, Balemlay This study was conducted to characterize indigenous chicken ecotypes phenotypically and their husbandry practices in Sekela, Burie and Jabitehnan districts of, West Gojjam zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia. A total of 352 households were participated in the interviews, and for the phenotypic characterization 535 (417 female and 118 male from all districts) chickens were taken to describe qualitative and quantitative traits following standard chicken descriptors. Qualitative traits for phenotypic characterization and qualitative data of the survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics of SPSS 27. Quantitative data for the phenotypic characterization were analyzed using SAS 9.4. Livestock production in general and chicken production in particular, is an integral part of the socioeconomic well-being of people living in low income countries such as Ethiopia. Normal feather morphology, normal feather distribution and absence of shank feather were the main characteristic of local chicken populations in the study areas. Red, greyish and reddish brown were the most frequently observed plumage colour types in almost all study areas, with the overall values of 38.3%, 29.1%, and 15.3%, respectively. The overall mean body weight for mature cocks and hen were 2.11kg and 1.46kg respectively. The average flock size of indigenous chickens were 7.32±2.57(chicks 4.07±2.99, pullets 1.92±1.50, cockerel 1.47±1.02, cock 1.35±0.56, hen 2.75±1.04). Purpose of rearing indigenous chickens were for Source of income (index=0.36), home consumption (Egg & Meat) (index=0.35), and cultural and religious ceremonies (index=0.29) The major constraints of poultry production perceived by the community in their order of importance in ranking index were disease (0.28), predation (0.27), feed shortage (0.26) and lack of veterinary service (0.22). Poultry breeding policy should be designed based on selection and trait preference of farmers.