Kefelegn Kebede

Traditional goat husbandry practice under pastoral systems in South Omo zone, southern Ethiopia

This study was carried out to describe goat production system under pastoralists’ management in three districts of South Omo zone, southern Ethiopia. The districts were Benatsemay, Hamer, and Dasenech. Questionnaires were developed and used to collect data regarding pastoralists’ management practices and production system of goats. A total of 180 households were interviewed to capture relevant information. Data collected through questionnaires were subjected to statistical analysis to generate descriptive statistics. Ranking was explained by calculating indexes. The primary purpose of raising goats was for social prestige in Benatsemay and Hamer but for milk production in Dasenech. Body size was the primary preference in Benatsemay and Hamer while milk yield was preferred most in Dasenech. Rangeland grazing was the major feed source in the study area in both dry and wet seasons. Pond and river were the common sources of water reported by farmers in the study districts but inadequate and poor quality. Disease prevalence was the top major constraint in goat husbandry in the three districts.

Description of production system and on-farm phenotypic characterization of Central Highland and Woyto-Guji goat breeds in Ethiopia

espanolEste estudio aborda la caracterizacion fenotipica de las razas caprinas Tierras Altas del Centro y Woyto-Guji de los distritos Meta-Robi y Konso de Etiopia. Los pueblos y las personas encuestadas fueron seleccionados siguiendo tecnicas de muestreo intencional y aleatorio. Para la aplicacion del cuestionario semiestructurado y para la caracterizacion fenotipica, se seleccionaron, respectivamente, un total de 240 hogares y 601 animales adultos. El tamano medio del rebano de cabras poseido por hogar fue significativamente (P 0.05). Las medias por minimos cuadrados para el peso corporal, la longitud del cuerpo, la altura a la cruz, la circunferencia toracica, la anchura del pecho, la longitud de la caida, la longitud de los cuernos, la longitud de las orejas y la anchura de la pelvis de las hembras de raza Tierras Altas del Centro fueron de 29.5 ± 0.2 kg, 62.2 ± 0.2, 67.5 ± 0.2, 72.9 ± 0.2, 13.4 ± 0.1, 19.7 ± 0.1, 12.8 ± 0.2, 14.6 ± 0.1 y 13.5 ± 0.1, respectivamente. Los valores correspondientes para las hembras de raza Woyto-Guji fueron de 24.8 ± 0.3 kg, 57.4 ± 0.2, 61.9 ± 0.2, 68.3 ± 0.2, 12.1 ± 0.1, 17.3 ± 0.1, 10 ± 0.2, 13 ± 0.1 y 13.4 ± 0.1 cm, respectivamente. Las variaciones observadas, entre las poblaciones muestreadas, en el sistema de produccion y en los rasgos morfologicos, junto con sus caracteres adaptativos, justificarian ciertamente la necesidad de disenar un programa de mejora para ambas razas. Palabras clave: raza caprina, rasgos cualitativos, rasgos cuantitativos EnglishThe study examines phenotypic characterization of Central Highland and Woyto-Guji goat breeds at Meta Robi and Konso districts of Ethiopia. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to select sample villages and respondent. For administration of semi-structured questionnaire and phenotypic characterization, a total of 240 households and 601 adult animals, respectively, were selected. The average goat flock size (31.25 ± 22.46) owned per household of Konso was significantly (P 0.05). The least-square means of body weight, body length, height at wither, chest girth, chest width, ramp length, horn length, ear length and pelvic width of Central Highland female goats were 29.5 ± 0.2 kg, 62.2 ± 0.2 cm, 67.5 ± 0.2 cm, 72.9 ± 0.2 cm, 13.4 ± 0.1 cm, 19.7 ± 0.1 cm, 12.8 ± 0.2 cm, 14.6 ± 0.1 cm and 13.5 ± 0.1 cm, respectively. The corresponding values for Woyto-Guji female goats were 24.8 ± 0.3 kg, 57.4 ± 0.2 cm, 61.9 ± 0.2 cm, 68.3 ± 0.2 cm, 12.1 ± 0.1 cm, 17.3 ± 0.1 cm, 10 ± 0.2 cm, 13 ± 0.1 cm and 13.4 ± 0.1 cm, respectively. The observed variations in production system and morphological traits among the sample populations coupled with their adaptive traits would indeed justify the need for designing breed improvement programme for both breeds. Keywords: Goat breed, qualitative traits, quantitative traits francaisCette etude est consacree a la caracterisation phenotypique des races caprines Terres Hautes Centrales et Woyto-Guji des districts Meta Robi et Konso en Ethiopie. Les villages et les personnes enquetees ont ete choisis en suivant des techniques d’echantillonnage intentionnel et aleatoire. Pour la mise en application du questionnaire semi-structure et pour la caracterisation phenotypique, un total de 240 menages et de 601 animaux adultes ont ete respectivement selectionnes. La taille moyenne du troupeau de chevres possede par menage a ete significativement (P 0.05). La moyenne des moindres carres pour le poids corporel, la longueur du corps, la hauteur au garrot, le perimetre thoracique, la largeur de la poitrine, la longueur de la pente, la longueur des cornes, la longueur des oreilles et la largeur du bassin des femelles de race Terres Hautes Centrales a ete respectivement de 29.5 ± 0.2 kg, 62.2 ± 0.2 cm, 67.5 ± 0.2 cm, 72.9 ± 0.2 cm, 13.4 ± 0.1 cm, 19.7 ± 0.1 cm, 12.8 ± 0.2 cm, 14.6 ± 0.1 cm et 13.5 ± 0.1 cm. Les valeurs correspondantes pour les femelles de race Woyto-Guji ont ete respectivement de 24.8 ± 0.3 kg, 57.4 ± 0.2 cm, 61.9 ± 0.2 cm, 68.3 ± 0.2 cm, 12.1 ± 0.1 cm, 17.3 ± 0.1 cm, 10 ± 0.2 cm, 13 ± 0.1 cm et 13.4 ± 0.1 cm. Les variations observees entre les populations etudiees dans le systeme de production et les caracteres morphologiques, avec leurs caracteres adaptatifs, justifieraient certainement la necessite de developper un programme d’amelioration pour les deux races. Mots-cles: race caprine, caracteres qualitatifs, caracteres quantitatifs

Morphological characterization of indigenous goats in Western Ethiopia: implication for community-based breeding programmes

espanolEn la zona Horro Guduru Wollega de Etiopia se llevo a cabo un estudio exploratorio de campo para la caracterizacion fenotipica de las cabras autoctonas. Se consideraron ocho caracteres cualitativos y quince cuantitativos en 612 cabras. Todos los datos fueron analizados con el programa SAS 9.2 (version 2008). El color de capa dominante en el distrito de Guduru fue el negro (35,29 por ciento), mientas que en el distrito de Amuru los colores de capa dominantes fueron el blanco y el marron, con el marron predominando sobre el blanco (18,63 por ciento) o simplemente color marron (17,65 por ciento). En el distrito de Horro, los colores de capa dominantes fueron el gris (21,57 por ciento) y el negro y blanco, con el negro predominando (15,69 por ciento). Las medidas morfometricas (peso corporal, circunferencia toracica y longitud corporal) fueron significativamente (P Palabras clave: peso corporal, caracterizacion, cabras autoctonas, medida corporal lineal EnglishAn exploratory field survey was conducted in Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Ethiopia, to phenotypically characterize indigenous goats. Eight qualitative and fifteen quantitative traits from 612 goats were considered. All data were analysed using SAS 9.2, version 2008. The dominant coat colour types in Guduru district were black (35.29 percent), whereas in Amuru district, the dominant coat colour types were white and brown with brown dominant (18.63 percent) and brown (17.65 percent). In Horro district, the dominant coat colour types were grey (21.57 percent) and black and white with black dominant (15.69 percent). Morphometric measurements (body weight (BW), heart girth and body length) indicated that the Amuru and Horro goats were significantly (P Keywords: Body weight, characterization, indigenous goats, linear body measurement francaisDans la zone Horro Guduru Wollega de l’Ethiopie, une etude d’exploration a ete menee sur le terrain pour caracteriser phenotypiquement les chevres autochtones. Huit caracteres qualitatifs et quinze caracteres quantitatifs ont ete consideres sur 612 chevres. Toutes les donnees ont ete analysees avec le logiciel SAS 9.2 (version 2008). La couleur de robe dominante dans le district de Guduru a ete le noir (35,29 pour cent), alors que dans le district d’Amuru les couleurs de robe dominantes ont ete le blanc et le marron, avec le marron etant predominant (18,63 pour cent), voire la seule couleur (17,65 pour cent). Dans le district de Horro, les couleurs de robe dominantes ont ete le gris (21,57 pour cent) et le noir et blanc, avec le noir etant predominant (15,69 pour cent). Pour ce qui est des mesures morphometriques (poids corporel, perimetre thoracique et longueur du corps), les chevres des districts d’Amuru et Horro ont presente des valeurs significativement (P Mots-cles: poids corporel, caracterisation, chevres autochtones, mesure corporelle lineaire