Evaluation of production systems and husbandry practices of Ethiopian indigenous goats

The study was conducted in Limu Seka, Nono Benja and Omo Nada districts of Jimma zone with the objectives to assess production system and husbandry practices of indigenous goat. Data were collected through questionnaire, focal group discussion and secondary data. A total of 210 households were selected for an interview and case study. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and ranking index. The results showed that the overall family size and mean goats flock size per household are 7.10 and 7.78 respectively. The farming activities were mixed crop and livestock systems. Natural pasture (herbs and shrubs), fallow land, crop residues and non-conventional feeds were the feed resources of the study area. Free grazing/browsing, riverside grazing/browsing, aftermath grazing, and herding were the major grazing management types for goats in the dry season. In wet season, grazing management were herding and tethering alone and both herding and tethering together. In the study area, rivers were the main source of water in both dry and rainy season. All households in all the study districts provide nighttime shelter (house) for goat throughout the year. On average about 63.8% and 61.9% of respondents have been practicing fattening and castrating goat. Castration was primarily practiced to improve fattening and get a better price. Disease, feed shortage and lack of superior genotypes were major constraints of goat production in the study area. In general, goat production system and husbandry practices in the study area was traditional with mixed livestock system that challenged by serious disease problem and feed shortage, so interference is needed to solve identified problems.