CHARACTERIZATION OF  SMALLHOLDER DAIRY CATTLE  PRODUCTION AND FEEDING SYSTEMS IN DERASHE DISTRICT  OF SEGEN AREA PEOPLES ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
Creators: name: TEZERA BOGGLE BOLSSAYE
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2017

description: This study was carried out  in Derashe District of Segen Area Peoples Zone, Southern Ethiopia 
with the aim of assessing the socio-economic characteristics of the dairy producing households, 
the production and reproductive performance of crossbred and local cows, the feed resources 
availability and feeding systems,  and  to identify constraints and opportunities of dairy cattle 
production in the district.  Field observations, key  informant  discussion  and structured 
questionnaire  were applied to generate data.  The district was stratified in to three agro-
ecologies  namely  highland  (2301-2622 m.a.s.l),  mid-altitude  (1501-2300 m.a.s.l)  and  lowland 
(below1500  m.a.s.l)  with a total of 149 respondents. The numbers of respondents  were 
determined by using probability proportional to size-sampling technique. The results of the study 
indicated  that the  overall mean age of the  respondent  households was 40.93±0.679 years 
(P&lt;0.05).  The statistical correlation between altitude and the respondents family size was 
significant (P&lt;0.05) and grazing land size was highly significant (0.001). Both family size and 
grazing land of the respondents were positively correlated with altitude(r  = 0.209 and r = 
0.652),  respectively.  The  average family size  of the respondents  was 7.27±0.228,  which  was 
ranging  from 2-28  (P&lt;0.05).  Income status of the households in the study district was ranging 
from high (51%), medium (26.2 %) and low (22.8%) (P&lt;0.05). The major farming systems in the 
study areas were livestock production  (21.5%)  and mixed crop-livestock production systems 
(78.5%)(P&lt;0.05). The average land size in highland, mid-altitude and lowland areas was 1.38, 
0.27 and 1.67 ha,  respectively. The total population of livestock  in the study district was 
estimated to be 134,948.84 TLU;From these  cattle comprised 83.23%,  goat  6.19%,  donkey 
5.09%,  sheep 3.51%, poultry 1.19%, mules o.53%,  horse 0.18  and camel 0.002% of the total 
TLU of the livestock population in the district. The overall average cattle herd size in the study 
areas was 9.5 of local cows and crossbreds. However, the average cattle herd size of crossbred 
and local cows was 9.5  heads per household.  Age at first services, age at first calving, days 
open, calving intervals and number of service per conception  of HF in the mid-altitude were 
19.85±1.101months,28.519±1.354 months, 141.111±6.435 days, 22.815±0.912  months and 
1.781±0.102, respectively. Age at first services, age at first calving, days open, calving intervals 
and number of service per conception of Jersey crosses   were 24.09±0.513 months, 33.09±0.5 
month, 152.273±3.835 days, 24.455±0.312 months and 1.982±0.018,  respectively. Age at first 
service, age at first calving, days open, calving intervals and number of service per conception 
rate  of local cows  were 39.414±0.552 months, 48.483±0.558 months, 170.624±0.882 days, 
26.559±0.321 months and 2.009±0.005, respectively. The overall daily milk yield of HF crosses, 
Jersey crosses and local cows in the study areas was 8.344±0.576, 4.06±0.248, and 1.971±0.052 
liters, respectively(P&lt;0.05). The mean lactation length of HF crosses, Jersey crosses and local 
cows was 8.62±0.233, 7.51±0.552 and 7.40±0.076 months,  respectively (P&lt;0.05). The major 
feed resources of dairy cattle in the study areas were  natural  pasture  (79.2%),  crop residues 
(82.6%),  crop aftermath grazing,  standing hay  (52.3%), thinning of maize(71.8%)  and  non-
conventional feeds(75.2% cheka atella and  34.89% Areke atella).The overall dry matter 
produced in the district per annum was 1348.69  tons,from grazing land resources 97.75 tons, crop residues 827.21 tons, on-conventional feeds264.78tons,fodder trees and shrubs 1.29 tons, 
crop aftermath grazing 110 tons, concentrates 0.5 tons and forest land 30.54 tons.The overall 
feed balance in terms of DM yield per annum to a total TLU value of 1693.5. About 3861.85 tons 
of DM per annum is required for existing TLU units with the negative balance of 2513.16 
tons.The overall CP produced and required for the TLU was 477.18 and 617.72 CP tons 
respectively, with the negative balance of 140 tons. The overall metabolizable energy  (ME) 
produced and required for the TLU was 25,739.3 and 73683.72 tons MJ ME, respectively, with 
the negative balance of 47,944.42 tons MJ ME. The major feeding systems practiced in the study 
areas was free grazing, stall feeding,  and  tethering. The major challenges and problems for 
dairy cattle production were feed shortage, shortage of grazing land, poor marketing system of 
dairy products, lack of dairy cooperatives, poor of extension services, scarcity of water, shortage 
of AI services,  diseases/parasites and shortage of veterinary services.  The  opportunities  for 
improving dairying are  suitable  climatic condition, cereal crop production, road access, AI 
services and  increased demand of dairy products by  increasing human population. Generally, 
dairy cattle production  in the study district was subsistence type of  production, except mid-
altitude dairy producers the highland and lowland farmers did not focus on dairy production. 
The local zebu, Boran and unknown breed types are dominant cattle population in highland and 
lowland areas of the district which was associated with low productivity. In order to alleviate 
this problems create awareness of farmers to  use AI services in order to  improve dairy  cows. 
Feed shortage problems could be also alleviated by forage development, collection and storage 
of crop residues under shed, conservation of forage particularly hay and silage making and 
facilitating feed marketing systems in local market areas.