International Journal of Sustainable Development Research

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Dairy Cattle Husbandry Practices and the Major Constraints of Smallholder Farmers in Telo District, Ethiopia

Received: 11 December 2018    Accepted: 24 January 2019    Published: 18 February 2019
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Abstract

Dairy cattle production is an integral part of the farming system in Telo district which lacks information on dairy cattle husbandry practices and major constraints. Thus, this study was conducted with the aim of assessing the husbandry practices and major constraints of smallholder farmers in Telo districts. Cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from randomly sampled 156 households (33 from Urban and 123 from Rural) using questionnaires, farm visit and group discussion. The average number of dairy cattle were 7, the higher (P<0.05) cattle number found in rural than in urban. About 67.3% and 66.9% of cows and calves were housed sharing the same house with family house respectively. The main source of feed were grazing on natural pasture on the grazing area of individual owned 71.2% (rural), combination of rented and individual owned10.3% (rural) and only rented 18.6% (urban) respectively. Majority (78.8%) of respondents were producing crops like wheat, barley, teff and maize. But the ones supplementing their cows with crop residues were only 13.8%. The majority (67.3%) of smallholders used water from river for their dairy cattle. Access to modern animal health services was significantly (p<0.05) different between rural (mixed crop-livestock) and urban smallholders. The reported disease was Anthrax, black leg, diarrhea, parasite, bloating and cough. Most smallholders relay on traditional healers or on their own skill to treat their sick dairy cattle. Male calves suckle relatively longer period than female. The major constraints hindering dairy cattle production was shortage of grazing land, disease and low productivity on their decreasing orders of importance. Crop and livestock production systems were not complementing each other therefore; there should be resource control over with improved dairy management system.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180404.11
Published in International Journal of Sustainable Development Research (Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2018)
Page(s) 47-54
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Dairy Cattle, Husbandry Practices, Major Constraints, Telo

References
[1] IBC, (2004): The state of Ethiopia’s Farm Animal Genetic Resources: A contribution to the first report on the state of the world’s animal genetic resources. May 2004, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[2] CSA (2016/17). Agricultural Sample Survey Volume II: Report on Livestock and livestock characteristics (Private peasant holdings). Statistical Bulletin 585, Central Statistical Agency (CSA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; 2017.
[3] Shapiro, B. I., Gebru, G., Desta, S., Negassa, A., Nigussie, K., Aboset G. and Mechale, H. (2017). Ethiopia livestock sector analysis. ILRI, Project Report. Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
[4] Azage, T., Million, T., Alemu, Y. and Yosef, M.( 2000): Market oriented urban and peri -urban dairy systems, urban agricultural magazine, The Netherlands. PP, 23-24.
[5] Mekonnen, H., Asmamaw, K, Courreaw, J. (2006): Husbandry practices and health in smallholder dairy farms near Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Preventive Veternary Medicine, 74: 99-107.
[6] Agricultural and rural development report (2008): Annual report of the district presented for district council August 2008, Telo, odda.
[7] Barnabas, A., Zewdu, W. and Michael, A (2018): Indiginous Dairy cattle Husbandry Practice and Major production Constraints in Northern Ethiopia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Health, 8 (15).
[8] Sintayehu, Y., Fekadu, B., Azage, T. and Berhanu, G. (2008): Dairy production, processing and marketing systems of Shashemene–Dilla area, South Ethiopia. IPMS (Improving Productivity and Market Success) of Ethiopian Farmers. Project Working Paper 9, ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya, P 62.
[9] Belete, A. (2006): Studies on cattle milk and meat production in “Fogera” district: Production systems, constraints and opportunities for development. MSc Thesis, University of Hawassa, Awassa, Ethiopia.
[10] Assaminew, T. (2007): Production, handling, traditional processing practices quality of milk in “Bahir Dar” milk shed Area, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. Alemaya University of Agriculture, Alemaya, Ethiopia.
[11] Seyoum, B., Zinash, S. and Dereje, F. (2007): Chemical composition and nutritive values of Ethiopian feeds. Research Report No. 73. Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 33P.
[12] Daniel, K. 1987. Role of crop residues as livestock feed in Ethiopian highlands. In: Proceedings of the Third Workshop on African Forage Plant Genetic Resources Evaluation of Forage Germplasm and Extensive Livestock Production System. November 11-15, Nairobi, Kenya.
[13] Kedija, H. (2008): Characterization of milk production system and opportunity for market-orientation; A case study of’ Mieso “District, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
[14] Adebabay, K. (2009): Characterization of milk production Systems, Marketing and on- farm evaluation of the effect of feed supplementation on milk yield and milk composition of cows at” Bure” district, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis, Bahr Dar University, Ethiopia.
[15] Ahmed Ali (2018): Assessment of Major Constraints of dairy cattle and Its Associated Risk Factors in Mekelle City, Ethiopia. Global Veterinaria 20 (5): 225-238.
Author Information
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Teferi, Ethiopia

  • Department of Animal Production Studies, Addis Ababa University, Debrezeit, Ethiopia

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  • APA Style

    Askale Gebremichael, Mekonnen Hailemariam. (2019). Dairy Cattle Husbandry Practices and the Major Constraints of Smallholder Farmers in Telo District, Ethiopia. International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 4(4), 47-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180404.11

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    ACS Style

    Askale Gebremichael; Mekonnen Hailemariam. Dairy Cattle Husbandry Practices and the Major Constraints of Smallholder Farmers in Telo District, Ethiopia. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. Res. 2019, 4(4), 47-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180404.11

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    AMA Style

    Askale Gebremichael, Mekonnen Hailemariam. Dairy Cattle Husbandry Practices and the Major Constraints of Smallholder Farmers in Telo District, Ethiopia. Int J Sustain Dev Res. 2019;4(4):47-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180404.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180404.11,
      author = {Askale Gebremichael and Mekonnen Hailemariam},
      title = {Dairy Cattle Husbandry Practices and the Major Constraints of Smallholder Farmers in Telo District, Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Sustainable Development Research},
      volume = {4},
      number = {4},
      pages = {47-54},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180404.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180404.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsdr.20180404.11},
      abstract = {Dairy cattle production is an integral part of the farming system in Telo district which lacks information on dairy cattle husbandry practices and major constraints. Thus, this study was conducted with the aim of assessing the husbandry practices and major constraints of smallholder farmers in Telo districts. Cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from randomly sampled 156 households (33 from Urban and 123 from Rural) using questionnaires, farm visit and group discussion. The average number of dairy cattle were 7, the higher (P<0.05) cattle number found in rural than in urban. About 67.3% and 66.9% of cows and calves were housed sharing the same house with family house respectively. The main source of feed were grazing on natural pasture on the grazing area of individual owned 71.2% (rural), combination of rented and individual owned10.3% (rural) and only rented 18.6% (urban) respectively. Majority (78.8%) of respondents were producing crops like wheat, barley, teff and maize. But the ones supplementing their cows with crop residues were only 13.8%. The majority (67.3%) of smallholders used water from river for their dairy cattle. Access to modern animal health services was significantly (p<0.05) different between rural (mixed crop-livestock) and urban smallholders. The reported disease was Anthrax, black leg, diarrhea, parasite, bloating and cough. Most smallholders relay on traditional healers or on their own skill to treat their sick dairy cattle. Male calves suckle relatively longer period than female. The major constraints hindering dairy cattle production was shortage of grazing land, disease and low productivity on their decreasing orders of importance. Crop and livestock production systems were not complementing each other therefore; there should be resource control over with improved dairy management system.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    AB  - Dairy cattle production is an integral part of the farming system in Telo district which lacks information on dairy cattle husbandry practices and major constraints. Thus, this study was conducted with the aim of assessing the husbandry practices and major constraints of smallholder farmers in Telo districts. Cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from randomly sampled 156 households (33 from Urban and 123 from Rural) using questionnaires, farm visit and group discussion. The average number of dairy cattle were 7, the higher (P<0.05) cattle number found in rural than in urban. About 67.3% and 66.9% of cows and calves were housed sharing the same house with family house respectively. The main source of feed were grazing on natural pasture on the grazing area of individual owned 71.2% (rural), combination of rented and individual owned10.3% (rural) and only rented 18.6% (urban) respectively. Majority (78.8%) of respondents were producing crops like wheat, barley, teff and maize. But the ones supplementing their cows with crop residues were only 13.8%. The majority (67.3%) of smallholders used water from river for their dairy cattle. Access to modern animal health services was significantly (p<0.05) different between rural (mixed crop-livestock) and urban smallholders. The reported disease was Anthrax, black leg, diarrhea, parasite, bloating and cough. Most smallholders relay on traditional healers or on their own skill to treat their sick dairy cattle. Male calves suckle relatively longer period than female. The major constraints hindering dairy cattle production was shortage of grazing land, disease and low productivity on their decreasing orders of importance. Crop and livestock production systems were not complementing each other therefore; there should be resource control over with improved dairy management system.
    VL  - 4
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