ASSESSMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTION PRACTICES AND EVALUATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS PROCESSING, HANDLING AND THEIR CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SHEKA AND MIRAB OMO ZONES, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess dairy cattle production practices, dairy product processing and handling practices, and their constraints and opportunities in the Sheka and Mirab Omo zones of south-west Ethiopia. Multi-stage purposive and random sampling procedures were applied to this study. Three districts and twelve kebeles were sampled purposefully and randomly, respectively. A total of 384 households were sampled randomly and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. In addition, FGD, observation, and secondary data referencing were conducted. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 25, and priority indices were calculated by MS-Excel (2010). A Chi-square test was applied for qualitative variables, whereas quantitative variables were subjected to ANOVA by the GLM procedure. Statistical differences were declared at P<0.05. The results showed that major dairy cattle production system in the study areas was small scale mixed crop-livestock (93.2%), in which 57% of the respondents did practice free grazing and tethered grazing feeding. Natural pastures were used as primary feed resources, followed by crop residues, cultivated forages, and non-conventional concentrates. However, a relatively higher percentage of the respondents in Mirab Omo (10.9%) conserved feed than in Sheka (4.7%). About 68.8% of the respondents housed their dairy cattle in a separately constructed house, followed by the same house with family (20.8%), and an adjoining family house (10.4%). About 79.4 and 20.6% of the respondents owned only indigenous and both indigenous and cross-bred dairy cattle breeds, respectively. But their distribution did not differ between the study areas. Majorities (75.3%) of the respondents had access to veterinary services. All (100%) households were experienced in dairy products processing and handling, but higher proportion (49.2%) of respondent process butter-cheese. Disease outbreaks and traditional equipment were the primary challenges for dairy cattle production and dairy product processing, respectively. However, the day-to-day increment of dairy product demands and village market availability were the most important opportunities in the study areas. Generally, dairy cattle production and their products processing and handling practices of the study areas were not improved; but some promising results were obtained by traditional methods and equipment. Hence, enhanced dairy cattle management and dairy product processing techniques should be adopted through state and/or private collaboration