Browsing by Author "Habtamu, Lemma"

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    ANALYSIS OF INTENSIFICATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, BOVINE MILK QUALITY AND CONSUMPTION IN THE SMALLHOLDER DAIRYING OF ADA’A DISTRICT OF ETHIOPIA
    (2018-06) Habtamu, Lemma; Dr. Ashenafi Mengistu, Dr. Tadesse Kuma; Dr. Berhanu Kuma
    This study was carried out in Ada’a district of Oromia Regional States of Ethiopia with the objectives to identify factors determining intensification of dairy production systems to shed light on the present status of market-oriented smallholder dairy operation; to analyze gender aspects of labor distribution in dairy activities in the intensifying smallholder dairying; to explore milk production, major challenges facing dairy producers and dairy opportunities; and to investigate household consumption habits of bovine milk and to assess the quality and safety of raw milk sampled during delivery at collection center. Data were collected from household-level survey of 200 dairy farmers, milk sampling, key informant interviews and direct observation. Descriptive statistics, General Linear Model (GLM), and binary logistic regression methods were employed as analytical tools. The results revealed that 77 % of respondents/dairy producers kept crossbred dairy cows only, 53.5 % acquired good manure management and crossbreeding practices, and 44 % of the sampled rural households involved in crossbreeding and cultivating improved forage crops. The binary logistic regression model results showed that herd size, farmland size, dairy training and cooperative membership had significant effects on cultivating improved forages. Dairy production system, dairying experience and herd size were significantly associated with rearing only crossbred dairy cows. Farmland size, dairy system and awareness of manure handling were significantly associated with good manure management. Further analysis of the extent of intensification indicated that mean daily milk yield per cow and household milk market share were significantly related to crossbreeding and manure management practices in combination. Most family labor input for the dairy activities was contributed by women, which increased their workload though they involved well in decisions on dairy production and had market access for fresh milk. These differed significantly among farm- households across dairy production systems and source of major income. The major challenges faced by dairy farmers were: shortage of concentrate feed and water, lack of sustainable/guaranteed improved breeding and milk marketing, dairy stock health and manure disposal, in descending order. The total bacterial count in fluid milk was slightly higher than Ethiopian minimum standard. The coliform count was in the range of the standard. Somatic cell count was higher than US standard, but it was in the range of the EU standard. The overall mean value of the milk fat (3.82%) was slightly higher than the Ethiopian Standard (ES) value (3.50%). The mean value of protein and SNF percentages were 3.25±0.32 and 7.73 ±0.86, respectively. The overall mean value of protein was similar with the Ethiopian standard value (3.20%). The dairy potentials observed included some improved herd holdings, optimal daily milk yield, dairy experience, education and use of dairying as a major income source. The majority consumed (66.5 %) and traded (94.2 %) milk at the same time. The amount of self-consumed fresh milk per farm and day by producer families varied from 0.5 to 5 liters. Eighty four percent of the dairy producers boiled milk prior to consumption. The practice of treating milk before consumption differed significantly across production systems. 8.5 % of the dairy households did not consume fresh but rather fermented/sour milk (ergo) as most of them had symptoms of lactose intolerance. In household consumption, there was a lack of 1.40-2.85 liters of milk, which is insufficient to satisfy the nutrition requirement from dairy foods. However, there are ample experiences of dairy farming, local availability, milk production, and culture of milk consumption. In conclusion, production systems-based dairy-stock breeding, manure management practices, and related input supply and alternative formal marketing options are key attributes of the intensification and improved productivity of smallholder dairying. The capacity of smallholder dairy producers need to be built through gender-sensitive dairy extension including introducing cost-effective /labor saving-dairy technology, awareness creation in family to share women workload and enable them to participate in cooperative management positions. The dairy potentials could also help as spring board to enhance the market-oriented smallholder dairy farming provided that the above-mentioned challenges are dealt and tackled. To this end, a coordinated action involving all dairy stakeholders is needed in supporting/ building capacity of smallholder dairy producers to overcome the challenges for sustainable dairy production. There is scope to improve nutrition through consuming sufficient quantities of milk by the dairy farm families and balancing the staple foods (teff and wheat) in the area. Improving milk productivity will increase the levels of milk consumption, which in turn would have great potential as a cost-effective and sustainable household food production strategy for food/nutrition security besides market orientation.
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    A Study on Milk Production and Reproductive Performance of Jersey Cattle Breed at Wolaita Sodo State Dairy Farm, Southern Ethiopia
    (2006-06) Habtamu, Lemma
    This study was conducted in Wolaita Sodo State Dairy Farm from October 2007 to April 2008 to determine the milk yield and reproductive performance and herd life of Jersey cattle and also potential factors affecting these parameters. The Jersey cattle in the study farm were mainly kept on pasture land and with some supplementary feeds. The data recorded and kept by the farm from 1987 to 2007 were used for the study. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and GLM of SPSS (release 11.05, 2002). The factors considered in the model were year of birth, calving and service; season of birth, calving and service; parity number of dam; source of cattle and sex of calves. The results of this study revealed that the overall mean values of lactation milk yield, lactation length and life time milk yield were 1691.59kg (SE=27.55), 318.42 days (SE=3.92) and 5565.19kg (SE=220.03), respectively. Lactation milk yield and lactation length (p<0.001) were significantly affected by year of calving and cattle source. Imported cattle had better lactation milk yield and length than those reared on farm. In addition, lactation length was significantly decreasing with parity number (p<0.001). Life time milk yield was also affected by year of calving (p<0.01). The overall means of age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval, interval between calving and effective service and number of services per conception were 722.24 days (SE=36.4), 1035.21 days (SE=12.59), 450.09 days (SE=6.60), 174.68 days (SE=8.61) and 1.79 (SE=0.06). All the reproductive performance traits were significantly influenced by year of birth, calving or service depending on the type of trait. In addition, age at first service was significantly lower in imported cattle while calving interval was lower in on-farm raised cattle (p<0.001). Calving interval and the interval between calving and effective service were decreasing significantly with parity number (p<0.001). Number of services per conception was significantly lower in short rainy season (p<0.05). The overall mean values for total herd life, productive herd life and effective productive herd life were 2983.74 days (SE=67.98), 2310.11 days (SE=296.91) and 1663.15 days (SE=55.09), respectively. In this case, year of birth had significant effect on total (p<0.001) and effective productive (p<0.01) herd life. Imported cattle had significantly longer total (p<0.01) and productive herd life (p<0.05) than the on-farm reared cattle. The overall mean values for birth and weaning weight were 22.87 kg (SE=0.17) and 108.88 kg (SE=0.67), respectively. Both traits were influenced significantly by year of birth, season of birth, sex of calves and parity number of the dam. Calves born in the long xi rainy season had better birth and weaning weight than the others. There was a trend of increased birth weight of calves as the parity number of the dam increased. From this study it can be concluded that Jersey cattle kept in the study farm had poor milk yield and reproductive performance. The herd life, productive herd life, effective productive herd life and birth and weaning weight of Jersey cattle found in this study are in general good. Inconsistency in management and variations in climatic conditions seem to determine the values for the different traits considered in this study suggesting the need to improve the overall herd management at the study farm.