Milk Production and Reproductive Performance of Indigenous Goat in Loka Abaya Woreda, Sidama Region
Amare Argaw *
Sidama Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Debir Legesse
Sidama Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Goat production is an important livestock activity in Ethiopia, particularly in rural lowland areas where indigenous breeds contribute to household income, nutrition, and livelihoods. However, productivity remains low despite the large national goat population, especially in terms of milk yield and reproductive efficiency. This study was conducted to evaluate milk production and reproductive performance of indigenous goats at Loka Abaya woreda. A total of 50 households were selected for the survey and monitoring study. For milk data collection, 110 does were mentored from September 2021 to November 2022. A general linear model was employed for data analysis. Does constitute the largest proportion (46.6%), followed by kids under 6 months. Goat milk consumption is a common cultural practice, and all family members consume the milk. Average daily milk yield and lactation length of does were 0.65 liters and 89.3 days, respectively. Milk yield was affected (P<0.001) by birth type, parities, and birth season. Parturition was affected by season of birth; thus, the majority of parturitions occurred during the wet season. Average age at first kidding and kidding interval were 12.8±0.0.3 and 8.12 months, respectively. Liter size and fertility rate were 1.5 and 87.3%, respectively. In conclusion, litter size, parity, and season of birth were found to be important sources of variation in milk yield and lactation length. Therefore, goat milk production integrated with forage development and farmer awareness creation should be considered an important developmental intervention.
Keywords: Birth type, flock size, lactation length, milk yield, milk utilization