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The status of cattle genetic resources in North Ethiopia: On-farm characterization of six major cattle breeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

M. Zerabruk ,
O. Vangen  and
M. Haile
M. Zerabruk
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life SciencesP.O. Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway
O. Vangen
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life SciencesP.O. Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway
M. Haile
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life SciencesP.O. Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway
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Summary

On-farm surveys and characterisation of six indigenous north Ethiopian cattle breeds (Afar, Arado, Begait, Fogera, Medenes and Raya) was carried out with the objective of determining the current status of these breeds. Information from a structured questionnaire distributed to 450 farmers, 37 group discussions, field measurements of heart girth and height on 25 males and 25 females from each breed and secondary information were used to carry out the study. Population size of the Arado breed increased by more than three fold between 1992 and 1999, while the Raya, Fogera and Begait population decreased by57, 27 and 67%; between 1981 and 1999 respectively. Three distinctive types were identified within the Afar and Begait breeds with different adaptation and threat levels in relation to changes to the bio-physical and social environment. Overall production and reproduction performance of the breeds in the pastoral production system (Afar and Begait) was higher than the Raya and Medenes, and Arado and Fogera breeds of the agro-pastoral and mixed crop/livestock production systems respectively. Extinction probability for most ofthe breeds was high, the highest (0.67) being for the Begait breed. On the other hand, except for the initiative taken to evaluate, improve and conserve the Fogera breed at the Metekel and Andasa cattle breeding ranches, there are no institutionalized attempts towards improving and/or conserving the other breeds.

Resumen

Se llevó a cabo una serie de encuestas sobre el terreno sobre caracterización de seis razas bovinas indígenas del norte de Etiopía (Afar, Arado, Begait, Fogera, Medenes y Raya) con el objetivo de determinar la situación actual de estas razas. Se utilizó la información proveniente de un cuestionario estructurado distribuido a 450 ganaderos, 37 grupos de discusión, medidas tomadas sobre el terreno de circunferencia torácica y altura de 25 machos y 25 hembras de cada raza así como información secundaria utilizada para el estudio. El tamaño de la población de la raza Arado se incrementó por más de tres veces entre 1992 y 1999, mientras que las razas Raya, Fogera y Begait disminuyeron de 57, 27 y 67%, respectivamente, entre 1981 y 1999. Se identificaron tres tipos diversos entre las razas Afar y Begait con diferente adaptación y niveles en relación a los cambios biofísicos y de entorno social. La producción global y rendimiento de reproducción de las razas Afar y Begait en el sistema pastoral fue superior al de las razas Raya y Medenes, y de las razas Arado y Fogera en sistema agropastoral y mixto en sistemas de agricultura/ganadería. La probabilidad de extinción para muchas de las razas fue elevada, la mayor (0,67) correspondía a la raza Begait. Por otra parte, salvo por las iniciativas tomadas para la evaluación, mejora y conservación de la raza Fogera en la zona de Metekel y Andasa, no existen intentosinstitucionalizados con el objetivo de mejorar y/o conservar las demás razas.

Keywords

CattleGenetic resourceOn-farmcharacterizationEthiopiaExtinctionAfarAradoBegaitFogeraMedenesRaya
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 40 , April 2007 , pp. 15 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 0000

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