EVALUATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED WOYTO-GUJI (KONSO) GOAT BREEDING PROGRAM IN KONSO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Konso Zone of southern Ethiopia to Evaluate the Community Based Breeding Program (CBBP) on Woyto-Guji (Konso) goat breed. A total of 1984 birth weight (BW), 1663 three-month weight (3MW), 1411 six-month weight (6MW), 1133 nine month weight (9MW), and 987 twelve-month weight (12MW) records were used for the analysis of non-genetic and genetic factors affecting growth traits. The least-square means analysis was performed using the general linear model procedure of SAS, Version 9.4 to determine the fixed effects. The model fitted for litter size was ordinal logistic regression. The genetic parameter estimation data were analyzed by VCE 6.0.2 and PEST 4.2.5. Two hundred sixty farmers from members and non-members were interviewed using a survey semi questionnaire for the evaluation of the CBBP. The socio-economic data were analyzed using statistical packages for social science(SPSS) version 20. The overall least-square means of BW, 3MW, 6MW, 9MW, and 12MW were 2.59kg, 7.96kg, 12.64kg, 16.29kg, and 19.88kg, respectively. Birth year and study sites were significantly affected growth traits. The whole model test report shows that the six-factor full factorial model as a whole was significant (Prob>ChiSq<0.0001) on litter size. Estimated heritability for BW, 3MW, 6MW, 9MW, and 12MW were 0.29±0.03, 0.16±0.02, 0.26±0.03, 0.18±0.03, and 0.21±0.03, respectively. Low to moderate heritability were obtained in the current study. The genetic trend for BW, 9MW, and 12MW showed an increase while for 3MW and 6MW showed a decrease over the years. The survey result revealed that the flock size difference was significant between households of members and non-members, respectively. In addition, the survey result also indicated that consumption of goats meat was in a decreasing trend while income gained from the sale of goats increased for both members and non-members of the CBBPs. The income gained showed an increasing trend for CBBPs participants and they were willing to continue their participation. The evaluation result revealed that, CBBP is acceptable and workable in the community. Therefore, there is an opportunity to scale up the ongoing CBBPs to the new sites and strengthening the old sites. Thus, the continuation of selection is therefore recommended to bring further improvements for the ongoing CBBPs.