Global Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences
ISSN: 2408-6886 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 230-235, June, 2015.
© Global Science Research Journals
http://www.globalscienceresearchjournals.org/
Full Length Research Paper
Milk production, reproductive performance and
utilization patterns of dairy products in East Shoa Zone,
Ethiopia
*
Lemma Abera1, Mekonnen Hailemariam2
1
Ziway Fishery Resource Research Center, B.O.Box 229, Ziway, Ethiopia.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debrezeit, Ethiopia
2
Accepted 4 June, 2015
Abstract
Milk production reproductive performance and utilization patterns of dairy were studied in Eastern Shoa
Zone, in three districts (Boset, Ada and Gimbichu) from October, 2007 to March, 2008 with the
objectives of generating some baseline information for the area. A total of 300 smallholders from the
three districts (100 from each district) were randomly selected and were individually interviewed using
semi-structured questionnaire. Average cattle herd size was 17.23 ± 0.3, 12 ± 0.2 and 10.63 ± 0.2 in
Boset, Ada and Gimbichu respectively. Crossbred cows were however very few (less than 2.5%) in
number. On average milk yield was about 0.92 ± 0.04, 0.97 ± 0.05 and 0.94 ± 0.04 litters per day for local
cow and 3.76 ± 0.1, 8.39 ± 0.4 and 5.34 ± 0.1 litters per day of crossbred cow for Boset, Ada and
Gimbichu respectively. The lactation length of local cow varied from 6 to 12.5 months with an average
10.51 ± 0.1 (Boset), 9.59 ± 0.1(Ada) and 10.36 ± 0.1 months (Gimbichu). Similarly, for crossbred cows,
average length of lactation was reported with the high lactation length (11.66 ± 0.1 month) in Boset and
highly significant (P < 0.05). The highest mean age at first calving of local and crossbred cow was
reported in Boset and accounts 63.72 ± 0.1 and 43.48 ± 0.9months respectively. Within a household
children had priority for fresh milk consumption followed by husband and wife comes in third position.
Keywords: Dairy product utilization, Herd composition, Reproductive performance
INTRODUCTION
In Ethiopia, milk is produced in all the agricultural
production system from cows, camels, sheep and goats.
However, a minor portion of this milk enters the
commercial sectors. Hence, much of the preparation of
the traditional milk products takes place in rural areas.
Smallholder farmers commonly process sour milk into a
variety of products. Dairy products such as butter, ghee,
and milk protein based foods contribute much to the
dietary requirements of rural society [8].
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
The fact that milk is relatively perishable and a high
percentage of it is consumed in a relatively natural state,
handling of milk and its products to preserve its natural
and desired characteristics is very important for further
utilization. However, in Ethiopia and most of sub Saharan
countries the climate is hot and humid for most of the
year. Under such conditions the raw milk spoils easily
during storage unless it is cooled or when possible
treated with a preservative. But preservatives are not
readily available in rural areas, while cooling systems are
not feasible in some areas because of lack of facilities
[18].
Glob. J. Agric. Agric. Sci.
231
Beside the huge livestock population in Eastern Shoa,
the natural condition of the area is conductive for dairy
development and little effort has been made in
understanding
the
traditional
dairy
production,
reproductive performance and utilization patterns of the
products; and understanding them is central to make
development interventions to expand and improve upon
the existing production systems. Therefore, this study
intends to generate baseline information on the milk
production and reproductive performance as well as
utilization patterns of dairy products in Eastern Showa.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Description of the study area
East shoa zone has an estimated total population of
2,475,945, of whom 1,246,576 were males and
1,229,369 were females; 794,683 or 32.1% of its
population are urban dwellers with an estimated area of
13,624.09 square kilometer. Hence, based on this
general description of the zone, the study was conducted
in three districts (Boset, Ada and Gimbichu). The
selected districts were representing three different agroecologies. These include lowland (Boset), midland (Ada)
and highland (Gimbichu). The farming systems of the
districts are characterized by mixed livestock production
system.
Sample Selection and Sampling procedures
The sample size required for the study was determined
by the formula recommended by [3] asfollow:
N = 0.25/SE2, where N = sample size
For a SE of 5% the computed sample size for each
peasant association was 100.
Based on this five peasant associations from each
district were purposively selected based on more dairy
activity practices and convinces for logistic reasons.
Accordingly, from each peasant association 20
households who owned milking cows and experienced in
cattle rearing were randomly selected from each district.
Hence, a total of 300 households (100 households from
each district) were selected.
Questionnaire Survey
\
The type of questioner that conducted in the study area
was semi-structured questionnaire. Then before
administer pre-tested were conducted. In order to
conduct the household survey, a total of three
enumerators (one for each district) who speak the same
language, Afan Oromo and Amharic, were recruited. The
enumerators were also trained by the researcher before
launching the survey to make them understand the
purpose of the survey and to be familiarized with the
questionnaire. The interviews were then conducted with
the close supervision of the researcher. The content of
the questionnaire prepared to interview sample survey
includes, general questions related to cattle composition,
milk production and reproductive performance of the caw
as well as utilization pattern of the products.
Focus Group Discussion and Key Informants
Group discussions were held with a total of 4 - 6
members for each district, this includes committee
members
of
milk
and
the
product
user's
association/cooperative (Ada), peasant association
executive committee members, development agents, and
the districts livestock development desk and individuals'
who believed to be knowledgeable about the past and
present history of the milk and milk product.
The leading (check list of issues discussed at group
discussion) were prepared to guide the discussion with
the focus group emphasis on policy issues, external
support for the schemes, institutional and managerial
issues, major problems and future plans to further
development the milk and the products.
Data management and Statistical analysis
The data collected during the study period were entered
into Microsoft Excel computer program. Mean
comparisons of cattle compositions, milk yield,
reproductive performance, fresh milk accumulation and
consumption; and market price of the products were done
by using Statistical Package for Social Science [19] for
variables whose F-values declared a significant
difference. Differences were considered significant when
P < 0.05.
RESULTS
Cattle holding
The cattle herd structure per household is presented in
Table 1. In Boset and Ada cows represented the highest
proportion of cattle. However, in all the three study areas
the total number of crossbred cows was very small (less
than 2.5% of the cattle herd). As to milking cows number,
there seemed existed significant deference (P < 0.05)
between the three study areas; Boset had the highest
number (3.38 cows per household) and Gimbichu the
least (1.63 cows per household) (Table 1).
Milk Production and Reproductive Performance
The average daily milk yield, lactation length and age at
first calving of local and crossbred cows were indicated in
table 2. On average each household owned about 0.92 ±
0.04, 0.97 ± 0.05 and 0.94 ± 0.04 litters per day for local
Abera and Hailemariam 232
Table 1. Average household cattle herd size and composition in three study areas
Districts
Animals/ Household
Milking Cow
Dry Cow
Oxen
Heifers
Calves
Young bulls
Bulls
Crossbreed Cow
Average herd size
Boset
*
3.38 ± 0.1
*
3.14 ± 0.1
3.63 ± 0.1
2.67 ± 0.1*
*
3.38 ±0.1
*
0.79 ± 0.08
0.06 ± 0.02
0.06 ± 0.03
*
17.23 ± 0.3
Ada
*
2.28 ± 0.08
*
1.76 ± 0.1
2.74 ± 0.09*
1.4 ± 0.08*
*
2.28 ± 0.08
*
0.43 ± 0.05
*
0.29 ± 0.04
*
0. 3 ± 0.08
*
12 ± 0.2
Gimbichu
*
1.63 ± 0.06
*
1.31 ± 0.08
3.44 ± 0.1
1.09 ± 0.09*
*
1.63 ± 0.06
*
1.07 ± 0.09
0.15 ± 0.03
0.09 ± 0.05
*
10.63 ± 0.2
* Means rows significantly difference at 0.05 levels
Table 2. Productive and reproductive performance of milking cows in the study area
Districts
Variable
Average daily milk yield/Litter
Local
Crossbred
Boset
Ada
Gimbichu
0.92 ± 0.04*
*
3.76 ± 0.1
0.97 ± 0.05*
*
8.39 ± 0.4
0.94 ± 0.04*
*
5.34 ± 0.1
Average lactation length (Month)
Local
Cross bred
10.51 ± 0.1
11.66 ± 0.1*
9.59 ± 0.1*
9.32 ± 0.1
10.36 ± 0.1
9.51 ± 0.1
Average age at first calving (Month)
Local
Crossbred
63.72 ± 0.1
43.48 ± 0.9
59.79 ± 0.4
36.74 ± 0.2*
*
61.05 ± 0.3
41.81 ± 0.3
* Means rows significantly difference at 0.05 levels
cow and 3.76 ± 0.1, 8.39 ± 0.4 and 5.34 ± 0.1 litters per
day of crossbred cow for Boset, Ada and Gimbichu
respectively. The value of milk yield for local and
crossbred cow was statistically highly significant (P <
0.05) between districts and also between breeds. The
lactation length of local cow varied from 6 to 12.5 months
with an average 10.51 ± 0.1 (Boset), 9.59 ± 0.1(Ada) and
10.36 ± 0.1 months (Gimbichu) and the value was not
significant difference (P > 0.05) between Boset and
Gimbichu. Similarly, for crossbred cows, average length
of lactation was reported with the high lactation length
(11.66 ± 0.1 month) in Boset and highly significant (P <
0.05) (Table 2).
The highest mean age at first calving of local cow was
reported 63.72 ± 0.1 months (Boset), 59.79 ± 0.4 months
(Ada) and 61.05 ± 0.3 months (Gimbichu). Similarly age
at first calving of crossbred cow was 43.48 ± 0.9, 36.74 ±
0.2 and 41.81 ± 0.3 months for Boset, Ada and Gimbichu
respectively. In both breeds the value was not significant
between Boset and Gimbichu (ANOVA, P > 0.05) (Table
2).
Utilization of milk and milk products
The average milk production, consumption, accumulation
and marketing per household were indicated in table
13.The average milk production in the study area were
recorded 3.43 ± 0.03, 2.62 ± 0.03 and 2.41 ± 0.03 liters
for Boset, Ada and Gmbichu in the same order. These
values were significantly differing to each other (P < 0
.005).
The average milk consumed and put aside for other
use were also highly significant in Ada and Boset
respectively at the level of 5 %. The marketing of milk
was occurred only in Ada and accounts 0.43 ± 0.09
(Table 3).
Figure 1 shows liquid milk allotment priority ranking
within households. In Boset district husband was ranked
on top followed by children and wife. In Ada and
Gimbichu children were the first priority and husband
came in the second position. The position of wife in the
household for the consumptions of raw milk was always
third place. The least category termed as others include
sick person, elder and gusts (Figure 1a to c).
Most of the respondents indicate that fermented milk,
buttermilk and ghee were not sold in the study area. Butter and
Cheese were the most important marketable items. Table 4
shows the aims of processing milk to butter and cheese. The
majority (more than 60%) indicated that they were processing
both for sale and house consumption.
Smallholder farmers produce and partly consume fresh
milk, fermented milk ("Ergo"), buttermilk ("Arera"), cheese ("Aybe")
Glob. J. Agric. Agric. Sci.
233
Table 3. Average milk production, consumption, put aside and marketing per household in the area as reported by
respondents
Parameters
Average milk produced/day (liters)
Average fresh milk consumed/day (liters)
Average milk put aside/day (liters)
Average milk marketed/day (liters)
Boset
*
3.43 ± 0.03
0.52 ± 0.01
*
2.91 ± 0.03
0.0
Ada
*
2.62 ± 0.03
*
0.29 ± 0.01
1.9 ± 0.08
0.43 ± 0.09
Gimbichu
*
2.41 ± 0.03
0.54 ±0.01
1.87 ± 0.06
0.0
* means rows significantly difference at 0.05 levels
Table 4. Utilization patterns of some milk products in the three districts
Utilization patterns
Butter (%)
Home consumption
Sell
Both
Cheese (%)
Home consumption
Sell
Both
Districts
Boset
Ada
Gimbichu
7.5
29.2
63.3
24.7
17.2
58.1
11.8
25.5
62.7
15
24.1
60.9
35.6
10.1
54.3
21.4
20.4
58.2
a. Boset
100
Priority (%)
80
Husband
Wife
Children
Other
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
b. Ada
100
Priority (%)
80
Husband
Wife
Children
Other
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
c. Gimbichu
100
Priority (%)
80
Husband
Wife
Children
Other
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
Priority (Ranking)
Figure 1. Priority order in fresh milk consumption
among household members in the study areas.
and ghee ("niter kibe"). Among these products fermented
milk was the most preferred one followed by ghee.
Figure 2 a to c show the preference ranking of different
dairy products for household consumption. The
respondents in the study areas expressed their belief that
fermented milk and ghee were nutritious compared to
fresh milk and other dairy products. Buttermilk was
ranked as the least preferred item by most of the
households. The households also stressed that
consumption of any of the dairy products generally
depends on the number of milking cows at a time and the
wealth status of the family.
DISCUSSION
The reported average daily milk production of local cows
in the current study was lower than the means recorded
in literature, [12] found an average yield per day of 2.7
liters for Arsi breed for Asela station. [13] also reported
that local cows around Debre Zeit produced 524 liters of
milking in a 239 days lactation period, which is about 2.2
liters daily. Similar study conducted by [4] also revealed
that the average daily yield of local cows was about 2
liters compared with 6 liters for crossbred cows.
According to [6], an average lactation length of private
holding ranged from 5 to 7 months, with average daily
milk yield of 1.25 liters. The value obtained in the current
study is comparable with the value reported by [9] in his
study in the southern parts of Ethiopia, a mean lactation
length and daily milk yield of 11 months and liters
respectively. [2] also reported that daily milk yield of
about 1.8 liters per cow. Thus the lower average daily
milk production per cow per day in the current study
could be attributed to the critical feed shortage due to
longer dry season the country in general and in the study
Abera and Hailemariam 234
a. Boset
Milk and products (%)
100
Fresh milk
Fermented milk
Butter milk
Cheese
Ghee
80
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
b. Ada
Milk and Products (%)
100
80
Fresh milk
Fermented milk
Butter milk
Cheese
Ghee
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
c. Gimbichu
Milk and Products (%)
100
80
Fresh milk
Fermented milk
Butter milk
Cheese
Ghee
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
Ranking (Priority)
Figure 2. Preference ranking trends of milk and milk
products in the study area
areas in particular during the study period. [11] indicated
due to dry season effect difficulties have arisen in
maintaining supplies during the off-season when urban
feeds shortage become a problem.. In the current study
milk yield of crossbreed animals is significantly higher
than that of indigenous breeds due to better managerial
practices. Similarly, [20]; and [10] reported that milk yield
of exotic and cross breeds higher than that of local
breeds.
The lactation length of local cows varied from 9.59 ±
0.1 to 10.51 ± 0.1 months. This value is higher than the
mean lactation 204 days reported for horro cattle [1].This
variation depends on the availability of feeds and other
factors such as management practices as well as breed
types. The mean age at first calving of this study was
relatively longer than what was reported by [15] (55.25
month) for the same breed. The difference might be
attributable to the relatively better feeding management
than in this study.
In the majority of the households, milk was not
consumed on daily basis as it is accumulated for
processing after fermentation. Contrary to this finding,
among pastoralists on the Borana plateau most milk
produced was used as fresh and only the reminder was
soured for consumption or butter processing [5]. The milk
consumption system in the study areas was
characterized by considerable product diversity. At the
household level the consumption pattern was defined as
a combination of the types, quantities and frequencies of
dairy product consumption [14]. These parameters are
closely linked to household location and income classes.
Earlier reports indicated that in most parts of Ethiopia, the
milk produced on farms are used for calves, consumed
by the members and sold to local markets [17]; [21].
Household in the study areas processed the greater
share of their milk production in to various products.
Similar observations were also reported from the central
highlands of Ethiopia. A study in the central highlands of
Ethiopia on dairy marketing indicated that about 56
percent of the milk products surveyed explained the main
reason they kept cows was to produce butter and
cheese, mostly for sale [7]. [16] in a survey of 160
smallholders in central highland of Ethiopia observed that
only less than 2 percent of the smallholders sold fresh
milk, the remainder preferred to process the milk into
butter and cheese.
In study areas consumption of dairy products (cheese
and butter) was very low. Specially, the limited
consumption of butter may be due to higher price
associated with it and the need for cash income to buy
some necessities. Butter can fetch them a good price
compared to other milk products. Butter was consumed
only during holidays and special occasions in rural lowincome households because it brings cash income.
Almost all of the consumers or traders consider the
color, flavor, texture and cleanness of the products during
transaction. Butter that fail to fulfill these requirements do
not fetch them a good price. Therefore producing good
quality butter is very important to earn better income.
There was a fluctuation of both butter and cheese price
depending on seasons and holidays. During the dry
seasons the price of both butter and cheese increase,
which is related to reduce milk yield of cows due to the
insufficient feed supply.
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