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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 64(18)

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

Kahsa Tadel Gebre https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4348-6533 A * , Fasika Agegnehu A , Tesfaye Gebreselama Teweldemedhn A , Solomon Abera Bariagabre A and Tsige Hailay Hagos A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Mekelle University, College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences. P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia.

* Correspondence to: kasolet2006@gmail.com, kahsatadel06@yahoo.com

Handling Editor: Robyn Alders

Animal Production Science 64, AN23298 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN23298
Submitted: 5 September 2023  Accepted: 21 November 2024  Published: 10 December 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

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, whereas milk yield, mothering ability (kid survival and growth), pedigree, coat color, kidding interval, and twinning were the important attributes 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 6-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-month 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, 6-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.

Keywords: Abergelle goats, bio-economic model, breeding objectives, economic values, Ethiopia, own-flock ranking, selection criteria, Tigray.

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