Assessment of goat production system in Burie District, West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in four selected rural kebeles (divisions of a district) namely, Woheni Durebetie, Woyenema Ambaye, Denbun and Boko Tabo in Burie district to assess goat production system, and to identify and prioritize goat production constraints. Informal and formal surveys were conducted in the selected kebeles. Purposive sampling method was used for the informal survey and random sampling method was used for the formal survey to select the respondents. A total of 36 and 75 respondents were interviewed for the informal and formal survey, respectively.
Farmers in the study area rear goats for home consumption (1%), cash income (29%) and home consumption & cash income (69%) purposes. The mean number of goats owned by one household was 4.8±3.33 heads (n = 75). From the current study, about 25% of the goats in the flock were males and the remaining 75% were females. Browse species found in natural pasture and crop lands are the main feed resources for goats. In addition, farmers usually supplement their goats with common salt, maize grain, food left over and atella (a by-product of home brewed drink). Generally, there is feed shortage problem for goats during the dry and rainy seasons especially in the highland kebeles. Goat diseases and provision of inadequate veterinary service were reported
to be major constraints affecting goat production in the study area. To improve the goat productivity and make the goat production sustainable in the study area establishment of new veterinary clinics, provision of adequate veterinary service and improving the goat marketing system should be given more emphasis in future research and development activities. Furthermore, feed production in the highland study kebeles should be improved.