Production aspects of intensification and milk market quality in Amhara region, Ethiopia

摘要

ThestudywascarriedoutinJune2010inselectedvillagesofAmhararegionofEthiopia,representingthreelevelsofmarketquality(high,mediumandlow),withthegeneralobjectiveofdevelopingasystematicunderstandingofthelinksbetweenmarketopportunitiesandproductivityincreasesinlivestock,withafocusondairyproduction.ThepresentreportfocusesonproductionaspectsofdairyintensificationinAmhararegion.Findingsshowedthatfeedingofconcentratesfordairycattlewasmoreprominentinhighmarketqualitysitescomparedtomediumandlowmarketqualitysites,whichindicatedtheleveloffeedintensificationasthemarketqualityimproved.Thecontributionofgrazingtototaldietwashigherforindigenousthancrossbredcows.Indigenouscowswereallowedtograzefreelythroughouttheyearandwereexpectedtomeettheirfeedrequirementfromgrazing,especiallyinthewetandharvest(cropaftermathgrazing)seasons,andsupplementedduringthedryseasonwhentheconditionofgrazingpasturedeteriorated.Crossbredcowsthatdemandedbetternutritionforbettermilkproductionwereonlyallowedtograzeforalimitednumberofhoursinadaywhengrazingpasturewasinbettercondition.Theyweremostlykeptindoorsduringthedryseasontomeettheirfeedrequirementsthroughstallfeeding.Theproportionofcrossbredcowsexceededthatofindigenouscowsinhighmarketqualitysitesbutthereverseappliedinmediumandlowmarketqualitysites.Milkyielddataindicatedthatthereisroomforincreasingaverageproductivitybyimprovingmanagementpractices.Dueconsiderationshouldbegiventoalleviatetheproblemsinreproductiveandmilkyieldperformancetoincreaseproductivityandimprovedairy-derivedincome.