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Breeding objectives and economic value of important traits of Abergelle goats kept under a smallholder production system in Tigray, Ethiopia

Kahsa Tadel Gebre , Fasika Agegnehu, Tesfaye Teweldemedhn, Solomon Abera Bariagabre, Tsige Hailay Hagos

Abstract

Context: In developing countries, the production of livestock can be improved by establishing a functional breeding program that involves communities in planning and implementation. Production objectives, farmers’ preferences for traits, and the economic value of the traits need to be studied and documented in designing a functional breeding program. Aim: This study aims to identify production objectives, determine the preferred traits of smallholder farmers, and estimate the economic values of important traits for Abergelle goats in Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: An own-flock ranking exercise was used to identify the trait preferences of smallholder farmers. A bio-economic model was employed to estimate the economic values of important traits of Abergelle goats. Key results: Abergelle goats were mainly kept for income generation followed by milk production. Appearance (size), color, libido, pedigree, and growth were the most important breeding buck attributes while milk yield, mothering ability (kid survival and growth), pedigree, coat color, kidding interval, and twinning were for breeding does. Positive economic values of €0.25, €0.12, €0.45, €0.68, €0.17, and €2.00 per genetic standard deviation were obtained for six-month weight, mature weight, daily milk yield, liter size, kidding interval, and pre-weaning kid survival per average doe place and year, respectively. However, a negative economic value of €-0.017 per genetic standard deviation was achieved for 3-6 months Average Daily Gain (ADG) per doe per year. Conclusions: In this study, the most economically significant traits with positive economic values were pre-weaning survival, litter size, daily milk yield, six-month weight, mature weight, and kidding interval. Implication: Including these traits in the breeding goals can increase the profitability of the flock and improve the livelihood of Abergelle goat keepers.

AN23298  Accepted 21 November 2024

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