Production and Reproduction Performances of Livestock and their Implications on Livestock Water Productivity in Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems in the Highlands of Blue Nile basin: A case study from Fogera, Diga and Jeldu districts (Ethiopia)

Abstract

Study about livestock production and reproduction performances and their implications on Livestock Water Productivity (LWP) in the rain-fed crop-livestock systems were conducted in the Blue Nile Basin (BNB). Seven farming systems (Rice-Pulse & Teff-Millet from Fogera), (Barley-Potato, Teff-Wheat & Sorghum farming systems from Jeldu) & (Teff-Millet & Sorghum farming systems from Diga districts) were selected & a total of 220 sample Household (HH) heads were involved. Lower milk yield & shorter lactation lengths, higher age at mating & calving, longer parturition intervals for female animals & higher age at first effective mating for breeding purposes by the bulls, jack & stallion were observed. Variability in performance within species observed between & among farming systems in this study are major indicators of potential to improve productivity & thereby LWP. Higher mortality & low off-take rates for different livestock species were observed. Mortality & morbidity affects LWP in two major ways: it reduces the efficiencies of the services & productivity of livestock. Secondly when animal dies water invested in feed for the animal will be lost. This is important in view of the increasingly scarce agricultural water. Values of LWP across the study systems were lower & the differences among systems were not as such apparent. More interesting is a huge gap between the minimum (0.001) & maximum values (0.627 USDm^-3) of LWP. In view of this it can be concluded that there is huge potential to improve LWP in mixed crop livestock systems of the BNB. Although understanding the determinants of these variability are important future research policy options that increase farmers access to key livelihood resources is important. Future crop livestock integration must consider not only a short term economic return but long term environmental sustainability. Improving the production and reproduction potentials of local breeds through the different livestock management practices & reducing feed scarcity through food-feed integration adjoined with improved livestock & feed management, better veterinary access & improved extension service could be possible suggestions to lift up the current low livestock productivity and Livestock Water Productivity.

Keywords: Livestock, Livestock water productivity (LWP), Reproduction, Production, Blue Nile Basin (BNB), Farming systems