Characterization of Dairy Cattle Production Systems in Debremarkos City Administrative Woreda of East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study was conducted in Debremarkos Woreda, Amhara National Regional State, from
October 2007 to may 2008 with a with the objective of characterization of dairy cattle production
systems /practices of the Woreda; to get base line data on the status of dairy cattle production
levels in the study area and identify the .constraints and opportunities of dairy production. All 7
kebeles of Debremarkos were included in the study. A total of 200 house holds were selected
randomly based on the proportion of total house holds in each kebele site using random nLunber
table. In formations were collected from secondary data, by key informant group discussion,
household level questionnaire survey, fann visit and personal observations. The data were
analyzed using the SPSS computer soft ware and Ex-cell programs. The mean land holding in
rural farms were 1 ha and except 5 persons the rest of urban area farms were landless. The mean
livestock holding was 8.36 TLU in rural areas and 5.32 TLU in urban areas. Cattle constituent
98.86 % and 92.44 % of total TLU per household in Urban and rural sites respectively. In urban
sites cows constitute 41.20 % of cattle herd and steers 0.60 % and in rural sites steers constitute
20.31 % and cows 29.00 % of cattle herd. The propOltion of cross breed and local breed cows in
urban areas was 31.10% and 69.90% and for rural areas it was 3.38 % and 96.62% respectively.
Main feed resources were crop residues and communal grazing land and most common
supplements include hay, atela, wheat bran and noug cake mix as concentrates. For the last two
years AI service was not available in the Woreda. During the survey period 72.0% of urban area
and 93.2% Of rural area households used uncontrolled natural mating. Common animal health
problems were black leg, anthrax. abortion, foot and mouth disease, ticks, liver fluke. Animal
health service (treatment and vaccination) for the last two years was not available in the Woreda.
Only 7.5 % of urban area households used private veterinary service. The average daily milk
yield was 1.50±0.68 and 7.30±4.65 litters for local and cross bred cows respectively. There was a
significant difference in mean daily milk yield, lactation length, AFC and CI, for local breed
cattle between urban and rural areas but there was no significant difference for cross breeds
except calving interval in between urban and rural areas. Main milk processing milk products
include butter, ayib, sour milk, butter milk, whey and "Metata." The main milk market outlet was
contractual type of informal marketing either for hotels and restaurants or neighboring consumers.
Lack of improved breed cattle, disease, feed shortage, milk market, space and water were
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identified in decreasing order of impOliance as constraints for dairy production. From this study,
it was recommended that: Extension service should be improved; dairy cooperatives and bull
service should be established.
Key words: Characterization, Dairy cattle, Production systems, Debremarkos
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Keywords
Characterization, Dairy cattle, Production systems, Debremarkos