Characterization of Smallholder Irob Cattle Production System: Contributions to Develop a Breeding Program

Abstract

Abstract An exploratory survey (i) to study livestock production system, some reproductive and productive performance traits of cattle and (ii) to recognize constraints to cattle production was conducted using 120 farmers keeping indigenous Irob cattle breed in selected districts of Tigray, Ethiopia. For this study, six tabias (the smallest administrative unit consisting of several villages) were selected using purposive sampling method although households from each tabia were randomly selected. Mixed crop-livestock farming system dominates the study area. Overall herd size was 5.14 ± 2.68, with each herd comprising of 1.66 ± 1.18 cows, 1.42 ± 0.88 oxen, 0.46 ± 0.71 heifers, 0.45 ± 0.69 bulls and 1.15 ± 0.90 calves. Cattle are reared for various functions. The main reasons mentioned for cattle keeping are draught power (I = 0.43), milk production for home consumption (I = 0.32), income (I = 0.15), manure as fertilizer (I = 0.06) and crop threshing (I = 0.04). Major feed resources were natural pasture, crop residue and cactus pear (opuntia ficus-indica). Least squares means (± S.E) for age at first services (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), days open (DO), daily milk yield (DMY) and lactation length (LL) based on in-person survey was 28.26 ± 3.85 months, 37.39 ± 5.47 months, 15.53 ± 4.10 months, 6.54 ± 1.83 months, 1.72 ± 0.43 liters and 7.42 ± 1.99 months, respectively. However, performance traits considered were insignificantly (p > 0.05) differed between districts. Key cattle production constraints in order of significance as perceived by the respondents were feed shortage, disease and parasites incidence, absence of AI services, water scarcity and poor veterinary services. Hence, the study shown the worth of taking into account the production environment during developing breed improvement programs and recommends fit management system.