Assessment of Preferable Breeding Method Use and Related Limitations under Smallholder Dairy Farmers’ Conditions: A Case Study in Selected Districts Southern Highland Zone of Tanzania

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess status and preference of smallholder dairy farmers on breeding method use under smallholder dairy cattle production in Southern Highland zone of Tanzania. Three districts namely Njombe, Mbeya and Mbozi were purposively selected for data collection. Data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 180 dairy farmers in three districts were voluntary interviewed. Results showed that many of dairy farmers’ age range between 41 to 50 years (33%) of respondents, 48% of respondents (48.9%) had primary education, many farmers were found not to be working in groups (82.2%) and majority had never received any training on dairy husbandry (81.1%).
 Zero grazing was the main management system (97.2%) used by farmers in all districts. Cows’ sheds were partially roofed, and the floors were soiled (48.9%). Mean dairy herd size was 5.21 per household and natural service was the predominant breeding method (55%) under smallholder farms production system. Farmers’ main reason for using AI was to improve genetic potential of their animal (48.8%). Under this system the major challenges of AI service were inefficient semen supply and poor heat detection. Natural services are widely used since it is easily accessible and cheaper. It therefore concluded that use of natural service is still a predominant method of choice in breeding due to unreliability and inefficiency associated with AI service in the Southern Highland zone of Tanzania.