Bahir Dar University Institutional Repository

Production and Marketing of Milk and Milk Products: The Case of North Mecha District, North Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

2026-09-15T10:50:11Z

Production and Marketing of Milk and Milk Products: The Case of North Mecha District, North Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Degarege, Temesgen Smallholder dairy farmers in in Ethiopia including North Mecha District continue to encounter complicated socio-cultural and religious challenges related to milk production and milk marketing, as well as exposure to price volatility that significantly impacts the dairy sector. Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze value chain of cow milk and milk products at smallholder milk producers at North Mecha District, North Gojjam zone, Ethiopia. Data were collected using multistage sampling techniques. Sample size was determined using standard method and a total of 186 primary producers were interviewed in data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and econometric analysis. Preference ranking and cow milk production constraints were ranked by calculating index values. The result showed that farmers preferred cross-breed (70.97%) than indigenous (29.03%) breeding types for milking cows due to production of high quantity of milk from cross breed (Mean = 7.30 ± 3.34 lit/cow/day) than local breed type (Mean =1.88 ± 0.99 lit/cow/day). The primary producers sold fresh milk and milk products for the largest proportion for retailers (60%) and consumers (30%). Out of 186 respondents, 40.86% sold fresh milk, 48.39% sold butter, 18.28% sold fresh cottage cheese and 2% sold yogurt. Under the Heckman two stage model (probit model) indicated that farm land size, education level, age of the household head, distance to the market, membership in cooperatives, access to improved forage, and access to veterinary services are significantly determining households participation in to milk marketing up to <10% levels of significance. The OLS result also indicated that farm land size, livestock size, distance to the market, membership in cooperatives, access to improved forage, and access to veterinary services are significantly determining amount of milk supply to the market up to <10% levels of significance. On the basis of the findings of the study, it can be stated that there is a substantial opportunity to raise the cow milk productivity and marketing value chain the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that government agricultural office, NGOs and Livestock research centers and local administrative should provide supplementary fodder resources and critical follow up of veterinary services in the area

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

2026-09-15T10:39:03Z

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.

2026-09-15T10:33:06Z

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.

2026-09-15T10:27:22Z

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.