Breeding practices in indigenous dairy cattle breeds in Northern Amhara, Ethiopia

摘要

Thisstudywasaimedatunderstandingofthegeneralindigenousdairycattlebreedingactivitiesofthecommunityandmajorconformationaltraitsparticularlyusedbysmallholderfarmersinselectingbetterindigenousdairycows.ThestudywasconductedinFogera,DembiaandWogeradistrictsofnorthernAmharaRegionalState,Ethiopia.Interviewsusingpre-testedstructuredquestionnairesandfocusgroupdiscussionswereusedtogeneratethedata.SPSSwasemployedtoanalyzethedata.nbsp;Themostcommonmatingsysteminallsiteswasnaturalcontrolledmating,butfreematingandAIalsoexistinsmallfrequencies.Thefirstbreedingobjectiveofthecommunitywasobtainingbettermilkyield.Thefarmers#8217;traitpreferenceswasmostlyincludeshighermilkoff-take,fastergrowthrate,adaptabilitytolocalfeedconditionsanddiseases,andbreedingability,tractionandbutterfatyieldofthecattle.Indoingso,Fogeracattlebreedwaspreferredbymostoftheparticipantsofthestudy,duetobetterexpressionofthedairytraits.Amongtheselectioncriteriaoffarmersforindigenousdairycows,navelsize,udderandteatsize,andpelvicwidthwerecommonlystatedandholdthefirstthreeranksofselectioninalldistricts.