Dairy cattle production and marketing systems in three selected districts of wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia.

Abstract

The study assessed in three selected districts of Wolaita Zone Southern, Ethiopia during 2012/13.The objectives of the study were to assess dairy cattle production and product marketing and to identify the major constraints and opportunities for dairy cattle production in the study area. A stratified sampling method was employed to select representative districts from three Agra ecological zones. From each agro- ecology one district was selected purposively based on cattle production potential (.i.e. from highland Damot Sore, from midland Damot Woyde and from lowland Kindo Koisha). From each district, two peasant associations (PA) were selected purposively based on cattle potential. The overall family size of the study was 7.47±2.37 (Mean±SE) and not significant difference was observed among the studied districts. Furthermore, for 70% of dairy producers sale of the crop was the main sources of income even if the butter were predominantly marketable though out the year. The average landholdings of the sampled households were 1.21±0.05 (Mean±SE).of which pasture land was 0.32±0.02 (Mean±SE).The average cattle holding in the study area was 8.15±0.47 heads per household. But it varied significantly (P<0.001) among the study districts. From the total cattle herd structure, the average numbers of cows (3.03±0.12) was higher. Of which 2.64±0.12 was local breed cows, 0.15±0.03 Holstein cross and 0.19±0.04 was Jersey cross cows. In the study districts, artificial insemination was used to improve their local breed cattle. However, for most (38.97%) respondents distance to AI station is the main problem. For the majority (42.38%) of respondents’ source of cross breed cattle were from markets places. The total mean milk yield/cow/day of Holstein cross, Jersey cross and local breed cows were (5.7±0.21), (2.85±0.12) and (1.79±0.05) litters, respectively. The average lactation length of Holstein cross, Jersey cross and local bred cows were (9.63±0.34), (8.65±0.36) and (8.65±0.36) months, respectively. Average Mean age at first calving of local cow, Holstein cross and Jersey cross was (49.29±1.13), (39.55±1.34), and (35.8±1.43) months, respectively. On the other hand overall mean calving interval of local cow, Holstein cross and Jersey cross-bred cows were (18.48±0.5), (16.17±0.5) and (14.9±0.6) months, respectively. The average volume of milk produced/day/household in the studied districts was 4.05±0.32Littre.Out of total milk produced the largest (65.58%) volume of milk was used for processing. In the study area, 85.1% of the respondents preferred to sell butter than other dairy products. Some of the respondents (40%) used river water for their cattle. Maize stalk (42.2%) and wheat straw (41.7%) were the major crop residues used for cattle feeding. In the study area, farmers widely used crop residues and Enset leave (71.8%), when a feed shortage occurs during the dry season. Anthrax, Tripanosomiasis, Blackleg, Tick and Pneumonia were the major reported cattle diseases .In general the main problems of milk production & marketing in the studied districts were lack of feed, disease outbreak, lack of credit, market access and infrastructures.