CHARACTERIZATION OF SMALLHOLDER DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTION AND FEEDING SYSTEMS IN DERASHE DISTRICT OF SEGEN AREA PEOPLES ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

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<0.05). The statistical correlation between altitude and the respondents family size was significant (P<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<0.05). Income status of the households in the study district was ranging from high (51%), medium (26.2 %) and low (22.8%) (P<0.05). The major farming systems in the study areas were livestock production (21.5%) and mixed crop-livestock production systems (78.5%)(P<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<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<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.