Socio-Economics Determinants of Selection Criteria for East African Zebu Cattle Breeding for Dairy Production: Case of Kitui County, Kenya

Margaret Kimani ,Margaret Ngigi ,E D Ilatsia

doi:10.7176/jesd/10-18-06

Abstract

East African Zebu (EAZ) cattle play a very important role in the livelihoods of the Arid and the Semi-arid communities. Despite the breed being the most populous, its contribution to the dairy industry is very low. To ensure success of a breeding program for more milk production, there is need to understand how the indigenous farmers select their breeding cows and bulls for more milk production. A study was therefore conducted in Kitui County to determine the farmers’ selection criteria for breeding bulls and cows for more milk production. To determine how farmers, select an animal for breeding, five selection criteria traits for bulls and eight selection criteria for cows were ranked using Friedman non-parametric analysis of variance test and Wilcoxon Test. Multivariate Probit model was used to determine the influence of socio economic factors on bulls and cow selection criteria for EAZ breeding. The mean ranks indicated that the bull’s body frame (5.94), udder shape (6.04), teat size and placement (5.8) for cows were regarded as the most important selection criteria.The Multivariate Probit regression results showed that male farmers had a higher preference for bulls’ body frame than female farmers. The study concluded that selection criteria in breeding bulls and cows are significantly influenced by socio-economic and demographic factors. Key recommendation from the study is to consider farmers’ trait selection criteria in planning and design of a breeding program Keywords : selection criteria, breeding program, East African Zebu DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-18-06 Publication date :September 30 th 2019

Highlights

For many years East African Zebu (EAZ) has been the most populous and well adapted breed in the ASALs of Kenya
In order to impose and ensure success of a breeding program, this study aims at determining the selection criteria for bulls and cows traits for breeding EAZ for more milk production and the socio economic factors that determine such selection criteria
4.1 Selection criteria for bulls Figure 1 shows the mean rank score of bull traits preferred by Kitui County farmers for breeding EAZ

Summary

Introduction

In most low input production systems, selection criteria are not well defined to warrant success of a breeding program This has hindered the sustainability of genetic improvement in such systems (Rege et al, 2007). Farmer characteristics have a strong influence on farmers’ preferences for improvements in traits, and variables describing farmer characteristics should be included in studies analyzing heterogeneity of farmers’ preferences (Makokha et al, 2007; Martin-Collado et al 2015). Such information would help to ensure that breed improvement interventions are consistent with the needs of the intended beneficiaries

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Conclusion