World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ON-FARM PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGENOUS CATTLE POPULATIONS IN METEKEL ZONE, BENISHANGL GUMUZ REGION, NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

Oumer Sheriff Mohammed* and Wendimu Bireda

ABSTRACT

This exploratory survey of indigenous cattle populations was carried out in Metekel zone of Benishangul Gumuz Region, Northwestern Ethiopia, with the aim to identify and phenotypically describe the indigenous cattle populations and design community-based breeding strategy. To collect the data, 180 sample cattle owners with different herd sizes were interviewed on their cattle husbandry practices and trait preference. Focus group discussions with key informants were held in six different sites. A total of eight quantitative measurements and eight qualitative records were taken from 540 mature cattle. Outcomes of the interviews and focus group discussions revealed that cattle are kept in a mixed crop-livestock production system. Cattle are the dominant livestock species in the area and have multi-functional roles in the production system. Farmers of the study area were interested to improve their indigenous cattle genotypes and suggested different target traits for improvement. Based on their trait preference, village breeding scheme is proposed through the provision of genetically selected breeding bulls. Among the reasons of keeping cattle, milk production, income generation from sell of live animals and animal products and draft power (traction purpose) are the prevailing ones. Results from analysis of variance (ANOVA) on quantitative variables showed significant differences between sites (p<0.05), sex (p<0.01) and age (p<0.01). The Chi-square results on qualitative records indicated that the level of association of site with most of the categorical variables was medium (p<0.05). The indigenous cattle population of the study area was not homogenous and they are identified as significantly different in morphological characteristics. Hence, subsequent molecular investigations need to be made to confirm their genetic distinctiveness.

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