Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Winter 2022

The study was conducted to describe the breeding objectives, selection criteria, and breeding practices for improvement of genetics of indigenous goat populations in South Gondar. To this effect, 3 districts (Farta, Fogera, and Libokemkem) were selected purposely based on distribution of goat population. Data were collected from 153 randomly selected households and gathered through semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and field observations. The results indicated that the overall mean of young bucks and does was 7.9% and 10.5%, respectively. The mean number of breeding does per household was 4.55, 5.12, and 5.8 in Farta, Fogera, and Libo-kemkem districts, respectively. The average flock size per household for Fogera, Farta, and Libokemkem was 9.2, 10.5, and 11.7 with an overall average of 10.5 goats. Income generation, meat consumption, and saving ranked first, second, and third, respectively for the reason of goat rearing in all districts. About 62.7 % of the respondents owned breeding bucks of which 70.8 % of them were born in the flock. The overall selection criteria of bucks were early maturity, coat color, and appearance with index values of 0.22, 0.2, and 0.19, respectively. Selection criteria of does were appearance, sexual maturity, and litter size with index values of 0.2, 0.19, and 0.14, respectively. About 95% of the households exercise uncontrolled mating. The results concluded that breeding does in south Gondar represented the largest proportion of goats and covered 49.8% of the total population of goats followed by kids of both sexes. Goat breeding practiced in the study area was traditional, keeping them primarily for income generation. The breeding system of the goat was characterized by uncontrolled mating which would lead to the occurrence of inbreeding depression in small flocks.

The objective of this paper was to review on opportunities and constraints of dairy production in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is believed to have the largest livestock population in Africa. The total livestock population for the country is estimated to be about70.29 a million cattle population. Despite the huge number of cattle and their dairy industry, the productivity is low due to the constraints of disease, scarcity of feed, inefficient and insufficient AI, veterinary services, infectious diseases, environmental, shortage of feed, and shortage of land. The findings of different authors conducted in different regions indicated that the existence of a large population of dairy cattle and diverse dairy animals’ genetic resources, the country’s diverse topography, and climatic condition as favorable for dairying. The high potential of smallholder income employment generation is also the key opportunity to dairy production. Therefore, necessary measures have to be taken to reduce identified constraints that hinder the dairy sector's development.

Artificial insemination (AI) is the first and oldest biotechnological technology for livestock genetic improvement, and it involves inserting sperm into the female's reproductive canal without using natural mating. It's one of a group of technologies known as assisted reproduction technologies (ART), in which babies are produced by enabling the meeting of male and female gametes. Ethiopia has Africa's largest livestock population and a huge potential for dairy production expansion due to the country's favourable climate, which encourages the use of upgraded, high- yielding animal breeds and provides a disease-free environment for livestock development. Over the last four decades, development and research programs have introduced genetic enhancement of indigenous cattle through crossbreeding employing AI technology. However, due to factors such as the AI delivery system, heat detection and time of insemination, intrinsic factors associated with the cow, early embryonic losses, management issues, semen quality, insemination techniques, and lack of awareness, AI technology was not successful in improving cattle reproductive efficiency. As a result, to build a successful technology, the above- mentioned aspects must be resolved to the optimum stage of the technology requirement.

Correlations among blood biochemistry and haematological parameters of sheep in Bauchi, Nigeria were assessed between February and September, 2017. Blood samples were collected from one hundred and twenty sheep comprising Yankasa, Balami, Ouda (32 per each breed) and West African Dwarf (24) at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching and Research Farm, Muda Lawal, Durum and Gwallaga markets. The samples were analyzed for both haematological and biochemical parameters. White blood cell (WBC) and RBC (0.210), RBC and HB (0.569), MCV and MCH (0.539) and MCH and NTP (0.346) were positive and significant. Furthermore, others such as between WBC and HB (-0.215), MCV and PLT (-0.223), MCV and MCHC (-0.610) and LYM % and NTP (-0.571) were negative and significant. Correlations among biochemical parameters were in general positive, low to moderate and non-significant. A few such as between Na+ and Cl- (0.379), HCO3- and CRT (0.264), TP and GLC (0.267), Cl- and TP (0.239), CRT and AST (0.182) and UR and ALT (0.405) were positive and significant. In addition, some correlation values namely; between ALB and ALT (-3.93), ALB and GLC (-264), Na+ and ALB (-235) and ALB and AST (-0.211) were negative and significant. The correlation coefficients between haematalogical and biochemical parameters were generally positive, low to moderate and non- significant. A few such as between Na+ and HB (0.239), K+ and HB (0.192), UR and LYM (0.248), TP and LYM (0.385), ALB and MCV (0.182), AST and RCD (0.219), ALT and MCHC (0.242), GLC and LYM (0.267), TC and MCHC (0.212) and WBC and LYM (0.433) were positive and significant. Furthermore, some correlation coefficients namely; between Cl- and MCHC (-0.256), TP and NTP (-0.185), ALT and LYM (-0.199), GLC and MCV (-0.249), TP and NTP (-0.185), ALT and LYM (-0.199), GLC and MCV (-0.249), TC and MCV (-0.185), AP and HCT (-0.207) and WBC and NTP (-0.237) were negative and significant. Therefore, there were generally positive but low to moderate correlations among haematologic, biochemical; and between haematogical and biochemical parameters. The high correlations between parameters could be used as indicators between them to reduce the need to estimate both. The blood parameters needed to be monitored frequently and appropriately controlled to ensure stability and adequate health and nutritional status of sheep.

The simple linear regression of the first lactation yield on each part production was used to predict the first lactation milk yield. The value of R 2 indicates the magnitude of explainable variation. The higher value of R 2 for the 3 rd month indicates that the efficiency of prediction will be maximum if it is based on the 3rd- month milk yield. Among cumulative part lactation yields, 90 days’ yield showed the highest predictability (R 2 = 63.03) while the 180 days showed the lowest predictability (R= 57.93). The high magnitude of R 2 values for the 3 rd month indicates the efficiency of prediction which was observed maximum if the prediction was based on 3rd- month milk production. In the case of cumulative milk production, 90 days yield showed the highest magnitude of R 2 value for prediction of first lactation production. When the earlier part of lactation was considered the single fourth monthly yield gave comparatively better efficiency of selection. Among cumulative yields, the first 120 days’ yield was efficient for indirect selection of complete first lactation yield.

Before implementing any development plan, it is critical to understand traditional goat management practices, which allow breeders to create long-term genetic improvement while preserving indigenous goat production. This study aimed to describe the goat husbandry system in two districts of Sidama zone of southern Ethiopia using two production systems. A semi-structured questionnaire was employed to gather information regarding the management activities, the purpose of keeping goats, and farmers’ selection criteria for breeding animals. A total of 240 households were interviewed to collect relevant information for the study. Data collected were statistically analyzed and summarized into descriptive statistics. Indexes were calculated to clarify rankings by using indexes formula. The number goat population was more in Loka Abaya than Aroresa. The primary purpose of keeping goats in the study area is mainly for their milk, meat and income generation. Broad shoulders, compact frame, and short and thick necks of the bucks were considered the most important characteristics for selection. Communal grazing and crop aftermath were the most common feed sources reported by farmers in the study area. River was the major water source for goats in the study districts. The major factors limiting the productivity of goats are feed shortage, diseases, and labour shortage. The management and husbandry practices are nearly equivalent to the rest of the country with the same agroecology. Planning and implementing goat development and extension services on management, improvement, disease control, and suitable forage production strategies helps farmers in increasing goat production and therefore improving their livelihood.

An experiment was conducted at Yabello Pastoral and Dryland Agricultural Research Center in Oromia National Regional State to evaluate the effects of local and conventional feed supplementation on milk yield and milk composition of Borana cows. Twelve lactating Borana cows of first parity and second parity with a similar stage of lactation were used. The experiment had four treatments with three replications using a randomized complete block design. Treatments included noug seed cake (NSK)+ wheat bran + free grazing (T1), Vachelliatortilis pods + wheat bran + free grazing (T2), Vachelliatortilis pods + free grazing(T3), and the control (free grazing) (T4). There were significant differences (P<0.05) in milk yield between cows fed in control and supplemented as well as within supplemented groups. Higher (P<0.001) significant interaction of parity with the treatment of milk yield was also observed. Significantly (P<0.001) higher (3.10 kg/cow/day) and lower (1.95 kg/cow/day) milk yield was obtained from cows fed T2 and T4, respectively. Except for solid not fat and lactose content all analyzed milk compositions were significantly different (P<0.05) among treatment groups. Higher fat (7.69%), protein (3.59%) and total solids (15.98%) and lower ash (0.73%) were recorded from cows fed T1, T2, T4, and T3, respectively. The treatment diets increased the net profit/cow/day by Ethiopian Birr (ETB) 16.35 (T1), 31.57 (T2), and 13.67 (T3) over the control (T4). In conclusion, supplementation of Vachelliatortilis pods with different feed to Borana cows on natural pasture improved milk yield, milk composition as well as net profit. Therefore, using Vachelliatortilis pods with different feeds as supplementation for lactating cows can be recommended for milk production in the pastoral and agro- pastoral areas

Global meat production and consumption have important implications on health, nutrition, and the environment. The objective of this paper is to review the total meat production and consumption, the global trend of meat production and consumption, and also review factors affecting meat production and meat consumption. From this review, the World is producing a total of 337 million tones at an increasing rate. The world is majorly producing its total meat from Poultry, Pig, Bovine, and ovine. Currently, about 122.5, 121.1, 71.2, and 14.9 million tons of total meat is produced from poultry, pig, Bovine, and ovine respectively. The majority of global total meat is dependent on poultry and pig with an increasing trend. Increased economies, Urbanization, population growth social dynamics, and technological advancement are strong factors that affect meat production and consumption. Therefore, meat production and consumption are continuing to increase around the globe since meat is an important and rich source of protein.

Evaluation of cross-breeding effect on egg production traits of improved Horro chicken crossed with Koekoek and Kurioler chicken in direct and reciprocal mating was carried out for one generation at Debrezeit Agricultural Research Center. The experiment was done by mating foundation lines of improved Horro (H) and Koekoek(K) and Kurioler (Ku) chickens to obtain seven genotypes such as three pure lines (H), (K), (Ku) and their crosses ( K×H , Ku× H, H× K, H× Ku). Day-old chicks from the seven genetic groups were randomly distributed between pens using a completely randomized design with three replications. The chickens were raised in a deep litter system for 40 weeks of age during which data on feed intake, age at first egg (AFE), body weight at first egg (BWFE), egg laid, average egg weight, and mortality rate were recorded. The hen- day egg production (HDEP), hen-housed egg production (HHEP) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were calculated. The result showed that genotype had significant effect on most egg production traits studied. Older age at first egg was recorded in improved Horro (156) followed by crossbred H× K (150.33) whereas the lowest number of days for AFE for was recorded for crossbred H× Ku (153) followed by K×H (136.67) and Ku× H (139.33). In comparing crossbred, the heaviest bodyweight at first egg was registered for crossbred pullet H× Ku (2448 g) followed by Ku× H (2372.33 g) whereas the lowest body weight was recorded for K×H (1726.33 g) followed by H× K (1777.78 g) crossbred pullet. In comparing all the genotypes, HxKu crossbred hen showed superior (P<0.05) performance in HHEP, HDEP, egg number except egg mass. However, egg weight was higher for Kuroiler, Ku×H, and H×K with comparable values but the lowest egg weight was registered for improved Horro chickens. Estimates of maternal effects (M e ) were significantly (P< 0.05) positive only for age at first egg while additive (A e ) and heterotic effect (H e ) were non-significant with negative values. Positive and significant effect values were reported for bodyweight at first egg. From this study, it can be recommended that crossbred hens be sired by improved Horro (H x Ku) for egg production potential genotypes for the family poultry production system in the forthcoming synthetic breed development program.

Goats are small ruminants which have a vital role in the livelihood of the Ethiopian community. Their prolificacy and fecundity, short generation interval, adaptation in harsh environment and their ability to thrive under limited feed resources, all these make them favorable as an investment and insurance. Reproductive performance is one of the most important economic traits in terms of goat production. Reproductive performance determines several aspects of goat production and their reproduction and thus important for flock expansion and replacement. Reproduction efficiency of an animal helps in evaluating the strength and weakness of the genotypes across different production environments. Therefore, optimum reproductive efficiencies in the flock are fundamental to the success of any production system. The trait influences the overall productivity of the flock. Reproduction failure is the first indicator of low profitability of the flock. The reproductive efficiency of goats is accumulation of several correlated traits. The reproductive traits of goats are age at puberty, age at first kidding, post-partum heat period, kidding interval, litter size, parity order and service per conception. In Ethiopian communities the phenotypes of the goats have important influence on socio-cultural and economic values; as a result, most farmers pay special attention for the shape of the horn, presence/absence of wattles, color of the eyes, shape of the udder, coat colors and body sizes.