Breed and trait preferences of Sheko cattle keepers in southwestern Ethiopia |
| |
| Authors: | Takele Taye Desta Workneh Ayalew B P Hegde |
| |
| Institution: | (1) Wolayta Soddo Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training College, P.O. Box 120, Wolayta Soddo, Ethiopia;(2) International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;(3) Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia;(4) Present address: National Agricultural Research Institute, Livestock Program, P.O. Box 1639, Lae, 411 MP, Papua New Guinea |
| |
| Abstract: | Like their smallholder subsistence counterparts in developing countries, breed and trait preferences of Sheko cattle keepers
have broad perspectives. Our study has documented breed and trait preferences of Sheko cattle keepers in southwestern Ethiopia—the
natural breeding tract of Sheko cattle. Our results showed that due to their multifunctionality, cattle are the most preferred
livestock species. Overall, farmers showed slightly more preference to local Zebus over Sheko breed. This is due to voracious
feeding behavior of Sheko cattle, which make them less preferable in the face of worsening feed shortage, and due to aggressive
temperament of Sheko cattle. This is despite Sheko's outperforming potential over local Zebus in their milk production, draft
power, and hardiness. At trait level, overall milk production was consistently reported as the most preferred trait followed
by fertility and traction. This trait preference rank has matched with the reported frequency count ranks for Sheko cattle
use. However, breed preference rank has not matched with reported trait preference ranks because Sheko excels local Zebus
in all the three most preferred traits, but it was ranked second. Therefore, to minimize these conflicting interests, breed
management plans for Sheko cattle should target on strategies that help to solve feed shortage problem and to improve feeding
practices, and on selection of less aggressive Sheko cattle. Therefore, these strategies should be considered in line with
Sheko cattle conservation and genetic improvement programs. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
