Abstract:
A study on characterization of milk cattle production potential, milk processing, marketing
and chemical composition analysis were conducted in Agarfa District of Bale Zone. For
this study two rural and two peri-urban milk production potential kebeles and total of 150
respondents from study were purposively selected. Data were collected through
interviewing selected farmers, from field visit, focal group discussions, monitoring and
laboratory analysis supported with secondary information from different sources. The
average cattle herd size of households varied significantly (P<0.05) between peri-urban
(3.88±2.17) and rural (7.25±2.40) households. The major feed resource for dairy animal in
the study area is natural pasture grazing land, crop residue, fodder trees and hay. The
overall mean in dry season daily milk yield was 2.8 and 1.7 liters per cow in per-urban and
rural dairy production system, respectively whereas overall mean of daily milk yield in
rainy season was 3.3 and 2.61liter/cow respectively. Cows in per-urban gave significantly
(P<0.05) higher daily milk yield. These differences were mainly attributed to feeding
practice (supplementation of industrial by products and urea treated crop residue) in the
peri-urban kebeles. The common dairy products of the traditional milk processing were
traditional butter, cottage cheese, yogurt and ghee. The majority of the respondents
(54.15%) reported that milk was left to sour for 5 days and 76.25% respondents reported
that milk processing was undertaken once a week. Milk storage and processing materials
were found to be all traditional. As observed during the current study, dairy farmers in the
District practice the informal marketing system where milk and milk product were sold
directly to the consumer and retailers. Milk marketing system was constrained mostly by
price fluctuation, long distance from market, low milk productivity of cow and cultural
taboo against milk marketing. There was significance variation (P<0.05) in solid not fat,
total solid and ash between milk samples collected from peri-urban and rural milk
producers. In general, chemical composition of milk samples obtained from peri-urban and
rural milk producers were within the range of international standards. In conclusion,
trainings need to be given to farmer on proper feeding of dairy cattle. Establishing milk
collection centers and processing unit through establishing dairy cooperatives would
reduce milk marketing constraint and milk spoilage.
