Dairy Cattle Production at Small Holder Level in Sidama Zone Selected Districts, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to study dairy management, production and reproduction performance in Sidama Zone Aroresa Woreda distinct, southern Ethiopia. Multistage and random sampling method was used; 45 households were selected from each agro-ecology (lowland, midland and highland) thus a total of 135 households were selected for the study. The primary data were collected through pre-testing, semi-structural questionnaires and field observation. The obtained data were analyzed or summarized by using descriptive statistics.

The study showed mixed farming system was main dairy production system; different cereal crops were predominantly produced and crop farming is mainly practiced by using oxen.  Relatively, natural pasture (66.7%) and crop- residues (22.2%) as major feed were mostly used in lowland than mid land and highland while enset was used by some farmers. Most of the respondents used river as water source for their cattle (72.6%) followed by pond (21.5%) and rain water (5.9%). Majority of farmers housed their cattle with family house (48.1%) followed by in separate house (no shelter with fence) (45.9) and simply in shelter of trees or leaves (5.9%). Age at first mating period was found shorter in lowland areas (3year) than midland(3.5 year) and highland(4 year) and the average calving interval (in year) was also longer in highland (3 year) than lowland and midland (2.5 year). All of the respondents were milking their cattle, two times per day in morning and evening. In average, 1.5 liter milk per day was obtained from each dairy cows however, each households could obtain 1.6 liter milk per day. In year, the average lactation length was found 2.

Keywords:  Agro- ecology, Dairy, Districts, Ethiopia, Southern