Abstract
This study was conducted from March 2018 to January 2019 with the aim of assessing the reproductive performance and traits preferences of sheep and goats producers in pastoral and agro-pastoral area of Afar, Ethiopia. Semi-structured questionnaires and field observations were used to collect the required information from 136 from pastoral and 56 from agro-pastoral. Sheep and goats were kept for a variety of reasons including income generation, insurance (sale for cash to meet unexpected expenditures) and economic security (sale for cash to support foreseeable expenses), social/religious functions and prestige in ownership. In both production systems, next to camels, goats and sheep were ranked as the second and third most important livestock species in accordance to their relative importance. In the current study, there was a significance differences (P<0.05) in the reproductive performance of both sheep and goats between pastoral and agro-pastoral areas. Goats in agro-pastoral areas had noticeably higher average age at first kidding (12.33 ± 0.76 months), and kidding interval (8.76 ± 2.04 months) whereas they had lower age at first mating both for Doe and bucks (9.28 ± 1.85 and 7.98 ± 2.08 months, respectively). Similarly, sheep in the agro-pastoral areas had higher age at first lambing (12.30 ± 1.18 months) and lambing interval (9.16 ± 2.66 months) than sheep found in the pastoral areas. In both production systems twinning ability (0.46), fast growth (0.41) and trekking long distances were the main preferred sheep traits, whereas fast growth, milk yield and twining ability were the main goat preferred traits with an overall index value of 0.37, 0.32, and 0.32, respectively. Genetic improvement programs targeting pastoral and agro-pastoral production system need to be incorporated the traits of preference, multipurpose roles and the existing traditional herding and breeding practices.
Highlights
Population growth, urbanization, and income rise in developing countries are the main driver of the increased demand for livestock products [1]
In Ethiopia, sheep and goats are mostly kept by smallholders and the rural poor, including women headed households
Ethiopia’s annual exports of cattle and sheep meat were valued at USD 79.13 million in 2012 The lower export level in Ethiopia could possibly be attributed to stronger local demand leading to higher prices, relatively lower meat output and differences in efficiency of meat production systems [4]
Summary
Population growth, urbanization, and income rise in developing countries are the main driver of the increased demand for livestock products [1]. The estimated sheep and goat populations are approximately 31.3 million sheep, 32.7 million goats, respectively [2] These species contribute substantially to the livelihoods of smallholder households as a source of income, food and raw materials (wool, skins). They serve as a means of risk mitigation during crop failures, savings and investments in addition to other socio-economic and cultural functions. Ethiopia’s annual exports of cattle and sheep meat were valued at USD 79.13 million in 2012 The lower export level in Ethiopia could possibly be attributed to stronger local demand leading to higher prices, relatively lower meat output and differences in efficiency of meat production systems [4]. The small ruminant industry in Ethiopia contributes substantially to the livelihood of the rural poor and the country at large but is faced with various challenges
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