Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 

Vol. 6(6), pp. 357-369. July, 2018.

ISSN: 2360-7874 

 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASRD2018.054

Full Length Research

Smallholder Dairy Cows Husbandry Practices in Selected Districts of Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abera Yetera ¹*, Mengistu Urge ², Ajebu Nurfeta ³

¹Lecturer, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Salale University, PO Box 245, Fitche, Ethiopia.

Address: Tel (Mobile) +251945158054, email:- aberayetera@gmail.com

²Associate Professor of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, Haramaya University, PO Box 138, Haramaya, Ethiopia.

Address:  Tel (Mobile) +251945388585, email:-  urgeletta@yahoo.com

³Professor of Animal Feeds and Nutrition, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, PO Box 222, Hawassa, Ethiopia.

Address: Tel (mobile): +251916032359, Email: ajebu_nurfeta@yahoo.com

Accepted 25 July 2018

The study was undertaken with the objective of assessing the husbandry practices prevailing at smallholder dairy cow producers in selected districts of Sidama Zone southern Ethiopia. Mult-stage sampling technique was used to undertake the study in that three districts were selected based on the agro ecology which represents highland, midland and lowland represented by Wenisho, Dale and Loka Abaya respectively. Three kebeles were selected from each districts based on production potential and accessibility of individual kebeles. A total of 135 respondents were selected from three districts (45 from each district) having at least one dairy cow.  The data was collected through semi structured questionnaires and focus group discussion. The overall mean for total land owned by farmers was 1.59±0.3ha. The land allocated for the crop and grazing differs significantly across agro-ecology (P<0.05).  About 77.78% in wet season and 46.7% in dry season reported that natural pasture, and crop residues as the main feed resource, respectively, in the study area. Almost all respondents noted that the breeding practice was entirely natural mating. Majority of respondents (59.25%) used river as major water source followed by pond, tap and spring water. All respondents provides traditional barn which is made from locally available materials. The most important diseases affecting dairy cattle are trypanosomosis (Shillo), Anthrax (Abba Senga), Mastitis (Gaddanissa), blackleg (Lamootta), Contagious Bovine Pleuroneumonia (CBPP) (Woraanitto) and Lumpy skin disease (Qadda). All of the respondents milked their dairy cows twice a day and milking of cows was undertaken by mainly suckling before milking as reported by 59.3% of respondents. The present study revealed that smallholder dairy cattle production was relied on traditional husbandry practices and this calls for improvement of the smallholder livelihoods via improving the existing traditional husbandry practices including better breeding strategy by introducing crossbreeding strategy of the local dairy cattle in order to enhance the productivity of local cows in the study area.

Key words:  Dairy cattle, Sidama Zone, Husbandry practices

How to cite this article: Yetera A., Urge, M., Nurfeta, A. (2018). Smallholder Dairy Cows Husbandry Practices in Selected Districts of Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 6(6): 357-369

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