Assessment of Dairy Cattle Breeding Practices in West Shoa Zone

This study was conducted to assess the breeding practices of dairy cattle in Adea Berga, Ejerie and Metarobi districts. The study was undertaken using questionnaire-based survey and a participatory group discussion method. A total of 180 households were participated in the interview. A Structured questionnaire was used to describe qualitative and quantitative traits. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Frequency distribution procedures were used for statistical analysis of survey. Result from the survey indicated that the mean herd size of cattle per household was 6.42 ± 0.50, 8.10 ± 0.69 and 9.04 ± 0.76 in Adea Berga, Ejerie and Metarobi districts respectively. All of the respondents owned dairy cow and about 40%, 61.70% and 10% of the households had 1.92 (ranging 1-10), 2.41 (ranging1-10) and 3.28 (ranging 1-16) crossed cows in Adea Berga, Ejerie and Metarobi districts respectively. About 48.30%, 56.70% and 40.70% of the respondent practiced AI services in Ada Berga, Ejerie and Metarobi respectively, while 3.30% of the respondents practiced synchronization in Ada Berga and Ejerie. On the contrary, about 26.70%, 21.70% and 53.30% of household were practiced uncontrolled natural mating in Ada Berga, Ejerie and Metarobi respectively. Milk production was the primary objective of keeping livestock whereas Metarobi farmers keep their livestock for drought and milk purpose. Finally, the information on breeding practice assessment in these districts may serve as a basis for improvement of dairy cows and may help for designing appropriate breeding strategies of dairy cattle.