DMU Publishing
Choke Journal of Science and Technology
Choke Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 1, issue 2, (2021), PRINT ISSN: 2789-2565, ONLINE ISSN: 2789-2575
Sheep Production System and Farmers’ Perception towards Dorper Crossbred Lambs in Eastern Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Mesfin Lakew1*, Zeleke Tessema2 and Belay Deribe2
1Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
2Sirinka Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 74, Woldia, Ethiopia
*Corresponding author: meslamess@gmail.com
Accepted for publication: June 30, 2021
Published: July 20, 2021
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to assess the production system and farmers’ perceptions towards Dorper crossbreds in the Eastern Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Data on the sheep production system and farmers’ perceptions were collected using participatory rural appraisal in Kalu and Gubalafto districts. According to this survey, the average landholding in Kalu and Gubalafto districts were 0.75 and 0.55ha per household, respectively. The average number of sheep per household in Kalu (0.64TLU) was higher than in Gubalafto (0.42TLU). In the districts, sheep were virtually kept under low-input, traditional management systems; sheep production was entirely dependent on local sheep, and pure breeding was common. However, following the introduction of the Dorper sheep, few farmers were found to participate in crossbreeding activities. The primary goal of keeping sheep in Kalu and Gubalafto was to generate income with indexes of 0.31 and 0.32, respectively, followed by social security with the same index (0.24). In Kalu and Gubalafto, in approximately 77.3 and 68 percent of cases, respectively, children were found to be involved in sheepherding. In the Kalu district, feed scarcity and disease ranked first and second, respectively, with indexes of 0.40 and 0.27. In Gubalafto, feed scarcity ranked first with the same index (0.40), and still, the disease ranked second with a lower index (0.23). Because of their fast growth, all farmers expressed a strong desire to keep Dorper crossbreds. Farmers also reported that the 25% Dorper crossbreds had a high market demand and price due to their larger body size. In conclusion, effective ram dissemination and breeding strategies must be designed to ensure proper utilization of the
Dorper sheep and increase the profitability of sheep producers by taking into account the current sheep production system and farmers’ needs.
Keywords: crossbreeding, Dorper crossbred, Gubalafto, Kalu, perception
