Advances in dairy Research
Open Access

Abstract

Sheep and Goat Production Systems in Degehabur Zone, Eastern Ethiopia: Challenge and Opportunities

Sisay Fikru and Kefyalew Gebeyew

Background: Unlike the large potential of small ruminants in the country their productivity is low. There are various factors that contribute for low productivity. The objectives of this study were to assess sheep and goat production systems, and to identify challenges and opportunities for small ruminant production.

Methodology: The study was conducted in Birkot, Guna Gado and Degehabur Districts of Degehabur Zone of Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. Results are based on survey of 120 sample households (40 household from each district) selected by using purposive sampling and rapid appraisal of major sheep and goat production.

Result: Sheep and goats are primarily kept to generate income (53.3%) and milk production (24.3%) and majorities (96.6%) of goat owners extensively milk their flock for household’s consumption. From the interviewed Households, 42.2%, 20%, 11.1%, 8.9%, and 4.4% of them utilize communal grazing, private grazing, roadside grazing, indigenous browser and riverside grazing are the major feed source for sheep and goat, respectively. Flock water are largely comes from ponds water (33.3%), harvested water (28.9%) and deep well (17.8%). The main lambing and kidding periods occurred in the main feed availability season. Deaths of small ruminants were reported by households over the last 12 months. The average mortality rate of suckling age groups for male lamb 1.9 ± 0.31, female lamb 2.02 ± 0.34 and male kids 1.36 ± 0.27, female kids 1.93 ± 0.29 for sheep and goat, respectively at household levels. The major constraints for small ruminant production system were: diseases and parasites (31.1%), drought (31.1%), feed and grazing land shortage (11.1%), water shortage (11.1%), and marketing problems (2.2%).

Conclusion: Interventions covering flock health, identification of alternative feed resources and strategic feeding management, water development, improve marketing efficiency, and production technologies/inputs could help farmers to build their flock and improve productivity.