Breeding practices in indigenous dairy cattle breeds in Northern Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract This study was aimed at understanding of the general indigenous dairy cattle breeding activities of the community and major conformational traits particularly used by smallholder farmers in selecting better indigenous dairy cows. The study was conducted in Fogera, Dembia and Wogera districts of northern Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Interviews using pre-tested structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to generate the data. SPSS was employed to analyze the data. The most common mating system in all sites was natural controlled mating, but free mating and AI also exist in small frequencies. The first breeding objective of the community was obtaining better milk yield. The farmers’ trait preferences was mostly includes higher milk off-take, faster growth rate, adaptability to local feed conditions and diseases, and breeding ability, traction and butter fat yield of the cattle. In doing so, Fogera cattle breed was preferred by most of the participants of the study, due to better expression of the dairy traits. Among the selection criteria of farmers for indigenous dairy cows, navel size, udder and teat size, and pelvic width were commonly stated and hold the first three ranks of selection in all districts. Key words: conformation traits, dairy breeds, selection criteria Introduction