ASSESSMENT OF MILK PRODUCTION POTENTIAL, MILK PROCESSING, COMPOSITION AND MARKETING IN AGARFA DISTRICT OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

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.