Assessment of the Production System, Major Constraints and Opportunities of Sheep Production in Doyogena Woreda, Kembata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify the production system, major challenges and opportunities of sheep production in Doyogena woreda, Kembata Tambaro Zone. Both primary data through structured questionnaire and secondary data from different relevant offices, published and unpublished sources were gathered using 120 statistically selected respondents. To enrich the primary data, field observations and group discussions were also made. The result of the study indicated that 83.3% of the respondents kept their sheep under extensive system followed  16.7% who practice semi-intensive system of management. The main reason for keeping sheep by majority of the farmers (80.8%) is as a source of money to supplement family income. As indicated by the respondents, the average flock size of the study was 4 heads. Multiple birth(twining ) is very common in the flock. Natural pasture was the main feed resource during the rainy season whereas natural pasture, crop residue and improved forage are the dry season feeds. Keeping sheep in the main house with family is very common in the study area (100%) with no separate housing system. Short of capital, land scarcity, feed shortage and untimely credit access were the major constraints that hinder sheep productivity in the study area. The available opportunities of sheep production in the study area were feasible weather condition followed by availability of adapting local sheep breed, market access and government intervention according to their order of importance.

Keywords: Challenges, Doyogena woreda, Opportunities, Priority index and Sheep  production