Article’s title & authors

Growth performance of indigenous cattle breeds in Ethiopia: A review

Fikadu Wodajo Tirfie

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holetta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 2003 Addis Ababa or 31 Holetta, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION

Ethiopia is naturally endowed with appropriate climatic conditions, various agro-ecological zones, and a home for many livestock species, making it ideal for livestock production (Belay, 2017). Ethiopia has the highest animal population in Africa, with 60,392,019 cattle, 31,302,257 sheep, 32,738,385 goats, and 60,042,295 fowl (CSA, 2018). Ethiopia currently recognizes about 28 local cow breeds (Abraham and Abebe, 2018). However, their productive and reproductive output is very poor, and the sector has stayed undeveloped and its potential has not been utilized efficiently and effectively (Nitsuh, 2018).

Accurate performance assessment and data generation could provide useful evidence for creating a future national breeding strategy (Abdinasir and Eskil, 2001). Some research has been conducted on the development rate of some Ethiopian indigenous cattle breeds (Sendros et al., 2003; Jiregna et al., 2004; Getinet et al., 2009; Melaku et al., 2011; Elias, 2015; Assemu et al., 2016). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review and summarize data on the growth performance of Ethiopia’s local cattle breed, which has been studied by various scholars in different parts of the Ethiopia with an emphasis on early growth traits.

Growth performance of local cattle breeds in Ethiopia

Growth performance is a chosen parameter for both beef and dairy herds. Growth performance of dairy cattle includes birth weight, weaning weight, six months weight, yearling weight and average daily weight gain. The growth performances of local cattle breeds of Ethiopia reported by different scholars are presented in Table 1.

Birth weight

Various scholars in various parts of Ethiopia have examined and assessed the birth weight performance of some indigenous cattle breeds (on-farm and on-station). The minimum birth weight performance for local breeds such as Horro was 17.5±2.25 kg at Bako agricultural research center and Horro Gudurru cattle breeding and improvement ranch, Ogaden was 21.5±0.29 kg at Haramaya University, Fogera was 20.7±0.11 kg at Metekel Cattle Breeding and Multiplication Ranch and Sheko was 16.12±0.22 kg at Bench Maji Zone, south western Ethiopia (Jiregna et al., 2004; Getinet et al., 2009; Melaku et al., 2011; Elias, 2015), respectively. According to various experts, the birth weight of the Fogera breed varied from 20.7±0.111 to 23.68±0.21 kg (Addisu and Hegede, 2003; Addisu et al., 2010; Melaku et al., 2011; Almaz et al., 2016; Assemu et al., 2016). Boran breed birth weight results varied from 22.9 to 23.7 kg (Sendros et al., 2003; Amsalu, 2004; Aynalem et al., 2011).

Weaning weight

The weaning weight performance of the Horro breed in Bako Agricultural Research Center was 39.8±0.39 kg (Habtamu et al., 2012), which was lower than the other Ethiopian local breeds such as Boran and Barka at research center farm under station management system, which were 95.2±1.3 kg and 92 kg, respectively. (Sendros et al., 2003). Under various production systems, indigenous cattle weaning weight performance was different. The difference in findings may be explained by differences in location and management methods.

Six months weight

According to a study performed at the Horro Gudurru Cattle Breeding and Improvement Center and the Bako Agricultural Research Center, the performance of Horro cattle at six months weight was 61.6±16.6 kg (Jiregna et al., 2004). Similarly, the Boran breeds weighed 79±1.51 kg at HARC at the same age (Aynalem et al., 2011).

Yearling weight

Different studies (Habtamu et al., 2012; Elias, 2015; Addisu et al., 2010; Getinet et al., 2009) recorded the yearling weight results of Ethiopian local breeds (Horro, Sheko, Boran, Fogera, and Barka), as shown in Table 1. Boran’s efficiency was found to be 130.1, 129.3, and 111.2 kg by Sendros et al. (2003), Amsalu (2004), and Aynalem et al. (2011), respectively.

Pre-weaning average daily body gain

Pre-weaning average daily body gain (PrWADG) performance for local Ethiopian cattle ranged from 280 g/day for Fogera at Metekel cattle breeding and improvement ranch to 630 g/day for Begait at medium input herd management on-station level (Almaz et al., 2016; Gebretnsae, 2018). According to Genet’s (2019) estimate, the PrWADG of Boran at Dida Tuyera Ranch was 440 g/day (Table 1).

Table 1. Growth performance of local cattle breeds in Ethiopia

BW, Birth Weight; WW, Weaning Weight; SWW, Six Month Weight; YW, Yearling Weight; PrWADG, per-weaning average daily body gain; ALRC, Andassa Livestock Research Center; BARC, Bako Agricultural Research center; HARC, Holetta Agricultural Research center; MCBIR, Metekele Cattle Breeding and Improvement Center; HGCBIR, Horro Gudurru Cattle Breeding and Improvement Center; HU, Haramaya University; WU, Wollega University; Kg, Kilo Gram; g, gram

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The information presented in this review indicated that the performance of indigenous cattle breeds of Ethiopia is variable. From all indigenous cattle breed of Ethiopia Boran had better early growth performance whereas Horro had the lowest performance. The performance of cattle is might be limited by several constraints that include natural uncontrolled and unorganized breeding practice, high prevalence of diseases, limited feed availability and lack of recording system. Improving management of feeding, housing system, disease control, crossbreeding with exotic and seasonal breeding should be needed to enhance growth performance of indigenous cattle.

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