On Farm Phenotypic Characterization, Husbandry and Breeding Practices of Indigenous Goat Population in Abaya and Yirgachefe Districts, Ethiopia

A study was conducted at Abaya and Yirgachefee districts to characterize indigenous goat type phenotypically, identify breeding practices and production constraints and describe husbandry practices of the community. Data were collected through structured and semistructured questionnaire, focused group discussion and field measurements. Totally 540 goats were used for metric and morphometric measurement and 180 households for survey work. Data collected through questionnaires were subjected to statistical analysis to generate descriptive statistics. Ranking was explained by calculating indexes, Chi-square test was used to describe the significance of qualitative traits between districts. Multiple correspondence analyses were carried out on the nine significant qualitative traits recorded. General linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS versions 9.1 (2008) was employed on metric data to test the effect of sex, age, location and interaction of sex by age on body weight and other linear body measurements. Correlations were computed between body weight and linear body measurement for each sex. The REG procedure of SAS was employed to regress body weight on linear body measurements for male and female. The primary reason for keeping goat in the study districts were as source of income, insurance, meat and saving. The major constraints of goat production were disease incident, predators, drought occurrence and feed shortage. Farmers practice morphological selection for future replacement of stock considering selection criteria such conformation, growth rate, coat color for buck and conformation, twining ability, age at sexual maturity, kidding interval and color for female. The overall age at first kidding and kidding interval were 12.11 and 7.83 months, respectively. The dominant coat color pattern was plain, patchy and spotted with proportion of 55.19, 37.04 and 7.78% and 46.67, 38.89 and 14.44% in Abaya and Yirgachafee district respectively. Strong and positive correlation(r = 0.83, 0.76) were observed between heart girth and body weight for male and female goat population respectively. From the result of multiple regression analysis, the best fitted models to predict body weight were LBW= -5.98 +0.17 Heart girths ( HG) + 0.25 HW(height at wither) + 0.24 BL(Body length) + 0.06PW(pelvic width) +0.05HL(Horn length) and LBW= 12.25 + 0.15 HG +0.01HW+ 0.16 BL+ 0.15 PW for male and female goats respectively and also fitted regression model of female and male goat was with adjusted coefficient determination (R2)0.63 in male and0.84 for female. In both districts, farmers have relatively similar production and breeding objectives. Conformation is hub selection criteria for replacement of breeding flock and study area has liable by in breeding also goat in this study prolific (twinning birth).Trait preferences of farmers in goats (conformation, growth rate, twinning, kidding interval were an indicator traits needed by communities. Hence adopting breeding programme that suited to this area which aimed at improving preferred traits is relevant