Study of Productive and Reproductive Performances and Farmers’ Traits Preferences for Breeding of Small Ruminants in Ada Barga and Ejere Districts of West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

The productive and reproductive performances of small ruminants and producers’ traits preferences were studied in the three agro- ecologies (AEZs) of Ada Barga and Ejere districts, West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. The two districts were stratified into highland (HL), midland (ML) and lowland (LL) agro ecologies. A total of 180 households comprising of 69 from HL, 74 from ML and 37 from LL were purposively selected for this study. Detailed structured questionnaires, respondent interviews and farmers’ group discussions (FGD) were employed to capture relevant information. The overall age at first lambing (AFL) / age at first kidding (AFK), weaning age, age at sexual maturity of male (ASMM), reproductive life span of both sheep and goat were significantly affected by AEZs. The overall mean of slaughter age and ASMM was 6.43, 8.91 in sheep and 6.27, 8.39 in goat, respectively. High intensive kidding and lambing months was April to June.

Keywords: Small ruminants, Producers’ trait preference, production, reproduction, agro-ecologies, Ethiopia.