Characterization of Livestock Production Systems in Three Selected Districts of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

The cross-sectional field survey was conducted in three selected districts of Jimma zone, Southwest Ethiopia with the aim of characterizing the prevailing livestock production systems as well as to identify the major constraints and opportunities in relation to livestock production. The study districts were selected based on their livestock production potential and accessibility. Accordingly 122, 188 and 104 households (HHs) from Kersa, Omo Nada and Tero Afeta districts, respectively were participated in the study. The respondents were purposively selected depending on their livestock keeping experience. This study revealed that livestock production systems in the study districts were mixed crop-livestock production system where livestock production is totally based on the indigenous livestock breeds with no improved input and low output. The average number of livestock in terms of tropical livestock units (TLU) was 5.10±0.32/HH, which varied significantly (P<0.01) between the study districts. Overall, the herd structure comprised of cattle (4.74±0.24 TLU/HH) (P<0.05), sheep (0.10±0.01 TLU/HH), goats (0.06±0.01 HH), donkey (0.07±0.02 TLU/HH) (P<0.05), horses (0.05±0.02 TLU/HH) and mule (0.06±0.03 TLU/HH). Natural mating was the only means of breeding system (P>0.05). The study on productive and reproductive performance of livestock revealed that average age at first calving (AFC) of cows was 4.50±0.08 years, calving interval (CI) of 25.56±0.43 months, lactation milk yield (LMY) of 203.29±4.75 litters, lactation length (LL) of 7.84±0.30 months and 4.56±0.10, 5.61±0.14 years for draught age and life span of oxen, respectively. Average age at first kidding and kidding interval of goats were 2.05±0.04 years and 15.45±0.30 months, respectively (P<0.05). The average age at first foaling (AFF), foaling interval (FI, P<0.05) and age at first work (AFW) of horses were 4.95±0.14 years, 35.57±1.76 months and 6.28±0.30 years, respectively. The average AFW for mules was 6.60±0.14 years (P<0.05). The average AFF, FI (P<0.05) and AFW (P<0.05) of donkeys were 6.22±0.32, 2.56±0.17 and 6.38±0.37 years, respectively. The study on livestock feed resource revealed that crop residue, stubble grazing and natural pasture in a decreasing order were the main feed resources; however, they varied with seasons (P<0.05). Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae were the major fodder plant families. The main crop residues were teff straw, maize and sorghum stovers. The Mean annual total utilizable feed supply per HH was 4.53 tDM of which, 4.01 tDM (about 88.5%) was derived from cropping system which comprised of 3.04 tDM utilizable crop-residues and 0.97 tDM stubble grazing. Total utilizable DM production from cropping system per household significantly varied (P<0.05) between the study districts. The annual maintenance DM requirement per HH for TLU was estimated to be 11.44 tDM. Hence, the existing feed supply can satisfy only 39.59% of the annual maintenance DM requirement of livestock units per HH (P<0.05), pointing to the need to discern adaptation of livestock to feed insufficiency athwart the year. The feed supply can no longer support the existing livestock in the study districts unless possible interventions is made by decision making bodies and channeled to the farming community through extension workers. 15 The main constraints of livestock production were feed shortage, animal diseases and low productivity of the indigenous livestock breeds. Good climatic condition of the study area for livestock production and high demand for livestock products due to geometrically increasing human population are the opportunities for livestock production in the study area.