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Different breeding strategies targeting two indigenous cattle breeds of Ethiopia (Borana and Horro) were evaluated with the objective of developing appropriate breeding programs that would maximize production and productivity of the breeds maintained on pastures using a deterministic approach. Borana was evaluated for beef, milk and both for beef and milk (dual purpose) while Horro was evaluated for milk and dual purposes. Two units, breeding unit and production unit, consisting of six selection groups were defined for both breeds. Selection criteria used were yearling weight, milk yield, age at first calving, calving interval and calf survival to yearling for dual purpose program and milk yield, age at first calving, calving interval and calf survival to yearling for milk production program. In addition, yearling weight, age at first calving, calving interval and calf survival to yearling were used to improve beef production in Borana breed. Three different levels of breeding bull selection proportions (5%, 10%, and 15%) were used. For all goal traits investigated, more genetic gains were obtained from bull selection groups than the cow selection groups. The bull selection groups also had the shortest generation interval compared to the cow groups (4.07 vs. 6.42 years). From the estimated annual genetic gains for the individual goal traits, all traits had favorable genetic gains except age at first calving. Genetic gains per year were highest for milk yield followed by live weight. Genetic gains were near zero for the other traits. Nearly comparable annual genetic gains were estimated for both Borana and Horro cattle breeds assumed for milk improvement program under different selection proportions. Estimated genetic improvements of about 291.96, 268.63 and 252.73 l of milk were simulated for Borana in 5%, 10% and 15% breeding bull selection proportion. The corresponding improvements for Horro were 291.55, 268.31 and 252.43 l. However, gains were higher in Borana when the two cattle breeds are assumed for dual purpose program (85.92–98.64 for Borana Vs 78.14–90.26 for Horro). Estimated genetic improvements for live weight ranged from 38.96 to 45.11 kg for Borana and 34.17–39.46 kg for Horro when both cattle breeds investigated for dual purpose program. In the current study information is lacking on economic values for each goal trait. Thus, further works are warranted. Except for age at first calving, the genetic gain per year in yearling weight, milk yield, calving interval and survival to yearling obtained from the different options are satisfactory and can result in reasonable genetic improvements of these cattle breeds.

Despite the efforts made to promote dairy marketing cooperatives, smallholder dairy producers in rural Ethiopia, prefer informal markets to sell their dairy products. The factors determining their preference towards formal markets such as membership into cooperatives is not well identified. In this paper, we analyze the key factors affecting smallholder dairy producers’ membership into dairy marketing cooperatives in Ethiopia using cross-sectional survey data from 73 cooperative members and 149 non-members, and probit regression models. We found positive effects of age, sex and education of household head and frequency of extension services; and negative effects of distance to the cooperative milk collection centers on dairy producers’ preference for membership into dairy marketing cooperatives. The findings imply the need for awareness initiatives – strengthening extension services, trainings and demonstrations; enhancing access to technology; and infrastructure development. Particularly, affirmative action in the form of targeted intervention is needed to enhance female headed households’ membership into dairy marketing cooperatives and to help them benefit from collective actions.

This paper presents implementation process of community-based sheep breeding schemes selected by different communities among alternatives simulated following breeding objective traits identified through participatory approaches in Ethiopia. Four study areas: Afar (pastoral), Bonga and Horro (crop-livestock), and Menz (sheep-barley) were considered. Three measureable traits that were most preferred by the respective communities were selected as objective traits and used for simulation of alternative breeding schemes. The alternative schemes were presented to communities and jointly discussed upon with scientists focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of the different scenarios. Equipped, with this information, the project members finally made a decision as to which scheme(s) they liked and therefore want to implement. Prior to implementation, baseline information was collected for benchmarking and evaluation of the changes that will be realized from the improvement intervention. A total of 1364 in Afar, 1074 in Bonga, 2248 in Horro and 2411 in Menz sheep were ear-tagged. Recording formats were developed and enumerators were employed for communities to assist households in the measurements and recording. Monitoring of the breeding activities was done fortnightly by research team. Two stages of selection were applied to select breeding rams: initial screening at 6- and final selection at 12 months of age. A committee composed of 5 members from each community was actively involved in the selection process. A total of 14, 21, 36, and 50 rams have been selected and distributed for use in Afar, Bonga, Horro and Menz, respectively in two rounds of selection., Journal of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2017)

The productive and reproductive performances of small ruminants and producers’ traits preferences were studied in three agro- ecologies (AEZs) of Ada Barga and Ejere districts, West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. The two districts were stratified into highland (HL), midland (ML) and lowland (LL) agro ecologies. A total of 180 households of which 69 from HL, 74 from ML and 37 from LL were purposively selected for this study. Detailed structured questionnaires, respondent interviews and farmers’ group discussions (FGD) were employed to capture relevant information. The overall age at first lambing (AFL) / age at first kidding (AFK), weaning age, age at sexual maturity of male (ASMM), reproductive life span of both sheep and goat were significantly affected by AEZs. The overall mean of slaughter age and ASMM was 6.43, 8.91 in sheep and 6.27, 8.39 in goat, respectively. High intensive kidding and lambing months was April to June.

Gemeda Duguma Jaleta Wien, Univ. für Bodenkultur, Diss., 2010 OeBB