MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND TRADITIONAL BREEDING PRACTICES OF FARMERS REARING INDIGENOUS GOATS IN HIDABU ABOTE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to describe morphological features, traditional breeding practices of farmers rearing indigenous goat types at Hidabu Abote district. The district was stratified in to highland, midland and lowland. Multi-stage sampling techniques were applied to select the kebeles and households within each agroecology. The research was composed of data collection using semi-structured questionnaire and morphological characterization. One hundred twenty households were randomly selected representing three agro-ecologies. For morphological studies, 342 goats of both sexes were used. Based on morphometrical traits, 16 structural and functional indices were calculated. The results indicated that the average goat flock size in highland, midland and lowland were 3.8, 7.2 and 12.0, respectively; and were significantly different between agro-ecologies. The overall average age at first kidding in highland, midland, and lowland was 11.4, 11.1 and 11.1 months, respectively. The kidding interval of goats in highland, midland, and lowland was 8.9, 8.4 and 8.2 months, respectively. Average number of litter size in highland, midland, and lowland was 1.5, 1.6, and 1.9, respectively. Disease, feed, and water shortage were reported as major constraints. From qualitative traits, the dominant coat color patterns of both sexes were plain (78.7%), pied (21.1%) and spotted (0.3%). The frequently observed coat color types were white (53.2%), brown (26.6%) and light red (15.5%). The proportion of goats with horns and wattles was 95.9% and 71.9, respectively. About 69% of the goats were characterized with concave head profile. There were significant differences (P<0.05) among sex, agro-ecology, and age, except ear length (P>0.05) for body weight and some morphometric traits. The respective average body weight (kg) of both sexes in highland, midland and lowland was 31.1, 30.1 and 32.3 being significantly different from each other. Goats reared in the lowland had higher (p<0.05) body length, chest depth and rump length values compared with those raised in other agro-ecologies. Similarly, scrotal circumference was higher (p<0.05) in lowland goats than in the highland. Heart girth was found to be the best independent variable to predict body weight for both sexes (R2=95%). The structural indices result showed that the body index was 0.87, which classify the studied goats as medigline goat. The compact index value 4.6, which classified them as meat type. However, the proportionality index (107) which is above 100 classifying them as dairy type breeds. In conclusion, the highest values for body weight, body length, chest depth, rump length and scrotal circumference were observed in those goats raised in the lowland. It is thus recommended to focus on the genetic and management improvement strategies of goats reared in the lowland.