ON FARM PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGENOUS GOAT TYPES REARED IN BENA-TSEMAY AND DEBUB ARI DISTRICTS OF SOUTHERN REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to physically characterize indigenous goats’ population in Debub Ari and Bena-Tsemay districts (Debub Omo zone). A total of 180 households were identified by using multi-stage (purposive and systematic) sampling techniques for characterization of the survey study. 630 mature goats were sampled randomly for the phenotypic characterization. The average (±SD) goat flock size per house hold was 14.97±7.4 for Bena Tsemay district which was significantly (P<0.01) higher than the 9.07±6.3 heads/household for Debub Ari district. Saving was primary purpose of male goats rearing both in Debub Ari and Bena-Tsemay districts. Similarly respondents in Debub Ari keep female goats primarily for asset (saving) with the index value of 0.53 whereas respondents in Bena-Tsemay district keep female goats for income source with the index value of 0.53. The major criteria considered for selecting breeding bucks and does in both districts were physical appearance and body conformation. Natural pasture was the main feed source and rivers, pond and rain water were main water source for goats. The age at puberty of male goats was 10.19±1.17, and 11.71±0.81 months while for females it was 9.92±0.93 and 11.45±1.04 months in Debub Ari and Bena-Tsemay, respectively. The average kidding interval for Debub Ari and Bena Tsemay goat was 8.57±0.62 and 8.09±0.65 months, respectively. Disease and feed shortage were the major production constraints in studied districts. 52.38% of goats in Debub Ari and 60% of goats in Bena-Tsemay had patchy coat color pattern. Among the sampled goat population, brown coat color was dominant one on both sexes. Majority of female and male goats were horned and had horizontally carried ear orientation both in Debub Ari and bena Tsemay districts. Fully matured (4ppi) female goats (30.46± 0.58, 25.15±0.16) and male goats (34.43±0.35, 33.33±0.81) had average body weight (kg) in Debub Ari and Bena-Tsemay district respectively. Positive correlation (P<0.01) were observed among most of the different body measurements for female and male goats population. Paunch girth (52.3%) and chest girth (77.3%) had high coefficient of determination (R2) for female and male respectively to estimate live body weight from others linear body measurements. The result revealed that the goats’ populations were related with woyito-guji goats’ type and more suitable for meat than milk production but it needs genotypic characterization to classify the goats’ breed clearly.