Farmers’ Perception for Different Disseminated Breeding Ram and their Cross in Wolyita, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted at five Worda of Wolitta zone in SNNPRs. Participatory rural appraisal approach was used to assess and collect information on farmers’ perception on disseminated breeding, Bonga, Doygena, Dorper rams and their crossbred sheep. Data were described and analyzed using descriptive statistics procedures of Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Sheep were the dominant species of animals kept in the study areas and they were kept for immediate cash income to solve financial problems. The major constraints to sheep production in the high land and lowland study areas were disease and parasite (ranking index 0.41and 0.37) respectively. In lowland study area feed and grazing land shortage were reported as problems ranking index 0.29. Farmers reported that Dorper sheep have better growth performance; they grow fast under best management system. Compared to Doyogena and Bonga ram, Doygena sheep has better acceptance by the farmers for its resistance to disease and parasite, ability to mate more ewe, fast growth, and attractive coat color. Susceptibility to health problem and its coat color were considered as the drawbacks of Dorper sheep in the study area. Majority of farmers were in need of Bonga and Doygena rams to use them for crossbreeding with indigenous ewes. To improve the productivity of sheep in the study area, efforts towards improving the management level and the genetic potential of indigenous sheep should be combined. It is suggested that in, Sodo Zuria, Damot Sore and Boloso Sore Worda more opportunity were existed to introduce  Doygena  and Bonga breeding  ram while in Damot Fulasa farmer show more interest for Dorper crossbred ram.

Keywords: Wolyita, breeding ram, crossbred, and farmers’ preference.