ON FARM PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION, BREEDING, HUSBANDRY AND FATTENING PRACTICES OF HARAR CATTLE IN HARARGHE HIGHLAND

Abstract

The study was conducted in four districts (Jarso and Goro Gutu) from eastern Hararghe and (Tullo and Oda Bultum) from western Hararghe zone of Oromia Regional Sate, Ethiopia, with the objectives of phenotypically characterization and to identify and characterize Harar cattle breeding, husbandry and fattening practice in the study area. Data collection were carried out through field observations, semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussions, discussion with key informants and linear body measurements of sample indigenous cattle and secondary data collection from different sources. A total of 300 households (75 from each district) were purposively selected and interviewed and 488 adult cattle were sampled for morphological description and linear body measurements. The average cattle herd size was 6.02±0.11heads per household and there were highly significant different (p<0.0001) among districts. The coat color type of female Harar cattle was white grey (36.1%) ,white (29%) ,red (23%) black (6.9%) and white and red (5%).The coat color type of male Harar cattle was roan (34.5%),white grey (26.2%),red (20.2%),white (13.1%) and black(6%). The average Body length, chest girth, height at withers,pelvic width,horn length and body weight for female cattle was 118.73±0.49,144.53±0.59,116.39±0.38, 36.84±0.26, 14.70±0.24cm and 257.12±1.63kg respectively. Result from Analysis of variance on quantitative variables indicated significant different for both sex and district (p<0.001).Body length, chest girth, height at withers ,pelvic width,horn length and body weight for male cattle were 125.26±0.66,163.52±1.55,121.32±0.47,39.60±0.55, 12.50±0.38cm and 280.43±3.45kg.Based on a discriminant analysis sample populations were classified into their respective districts with the overall hitting rate of 56.19 percent for females and 84.14 percent for males. Age at first mating, age at first calving, calving interval, reproductive life time of cow and total calves born per cow life time of Harar cattle were 3.57±0.61, 4.48±0.68, 1.94±0.67, 12.03±3.04 and 5.81±1.89 years respectively. Natural uncontrolled mating was the main breeding system in all districts. The main sources of breeding bull were own bull and from neighboring herd. xix The effective population size of mixed herd was calculated to be 926.5 and the inbreeding coefficient in combined population was estimated to be 0.05%. The main traits of Harar cattle preferred by community were adaptability traits, meat quality, milk yield, and coat color and disease resistance. The majority (95%) of the interviewed respondents practiced cattle fattening. All of cattle fatteners in the study districts were used indigenous cattle for fattening purpose. Majority of the respondents (72.3 %) in the study areas fatten cattle once a year. Decision of ending of fattening period was made by considering live weight change of the animals (79%) and anticipated current and future price (21%). The main sources of fattening cattle are local markets and own production. The most preferred animal for fattening are young bulls (uncastrated male) in Oda Bultum, Jarso and Goro Gutu districts while matured oxen in Tullo district. The main feeding methods of cattle in the study area are cut and carry (62.7 %) followed by tethering (22.7 %) and herding (14.7%).The main source of water for fattening cattle during dry season was pond, while during wet season river and pond. The major diseases described by respondents were blackleg, pasterullosis, mastitis, and anthrax and parasites. The major challenges that faced the cattle fatteners (farmers) in the study areas are shortage of feed and water, disease and parasite problem, and lack of improved forage.