Characteristics of Traditional Small Ruminant Production and Management in Awbare District of Ethiopian Somali Regional State

摘要

A survey was conducted to assess traditional sheep and goat production and management practices in aware district of fafan zones of Somali Region, eastern Ethiopia from September to December 2014. Information on sheep and goat ownership patterns, production objectives, and management and production constraints were collected from 60 households using semi structured questionnaires. About 80% of the respondents kept sheep and goats for family welfare, whereas 20% of them reared their sheep for market. About 58% of the pastoralists bred their animals during wet season. Home-grown forage production was not a common practice in the areas and the pastoralists totally depended on natural pasture as source of feed for ruminants. About 70% of the interviewed pastoralists used natural mineral soil while 16% used both Carro (local name for natural mineral soil) and common salt. With regard to housing, about 63% of the respondents housed sheep in the open house (kraal) at night. Shortage of feed and water, especially during drought period was found to be the major constraint to sheep and goat production due to which the highest death was report.