Assessment of Dairy Production and Management Practice under Small Holder Farmer in Adigrat Town

Abstract

The study was conducted in Adigrat town and aimed at assessing the dairy cattle production, management practices and constraints associated to milk production under smallholder. The data was collected by questionnaire from three purposively selected Kebeles (02, 04, and 05) and 30 respondents that are 10 selected householders from each Kebeles. The major feed resources in the study area were hay, crop residues and by-products of the local beverages Atella (lees) and industrial by products such as wheat bran and noug seed cake. The major constraints to milk production in the study area were feed shortage, disease prevalence and low milk yield. Disease is one of the major problems associated with dairy production or milk production system that causes mortality and reduced milk production. Also, in the study area the following management practices are assessed feeds and feeding, breeding using Artificial insemination (56.67%) and natural services (43.33%), housing system, healthcare and other manure handling. In addition, in the area hand milking is the sole milking method practiced in all the study area. Frequency of milking across the dairy production systems of the area was twice daily.

Keywords: dairy cattle, management, indigenous, production, smallholder