Donkey production systems and breeding practices in selected districts of South Omo Zone, southern Ethiopia
Awoke Melak Wassie A * , Teklewold Belayhun Getachew A , Abebe Hailu Kassa A , Ashenafi Getachew Megersa B and Tesfalem AyeleA
B
Abstract
The study was conducted to understand the production system and breeding practices of Omo donkeys and provide baseline information for future production strategies. The data were collected through individual interviews, focus group discussions, and personal observation. A semi-structured questionnaire using 2012 Food and Agriculture Organisation guidelines was used to obtain respondent views. On the basis of donkey population, production potential, and road accessibility, 76 households from two districts were randomly selected and interviewed. Donkey growth performance and body size were given a higher priority in breeding selection. Most respondents selected their breeding donkeys based on growth performance, body size, and disease resistance. The criteria for culling were old age, body size, poor fertility, temperament, and colour. Variables that were given a higher priority in trait preference were disease resistance and pulling ability. Water shortage and disease were significant constraints to donkey production. Therefore, to address these constraints, the concerned bodies should invest in infrastructure to increase access to water and other services so as to support the livelihoods of donkey-dependent communities. Moreover, funding for animal healthcare and nutrition initiatives should be provided to ensure the health and well-being of animals.
Keywords: breeding, constraints, indigenous, marketing, production, purpose of keeping, selection criteria, trait preference.
References
Abebe AS, Alemayehu K, Johansson AM, Gizaw S (2020) Breeding practices and trait preferences of smallholder farmers for indigenous sheep in the northwest highlands of Ethiopia: inputs to design a breeding program. PLoS One 15(5), e0233040.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Alemayehu Y, Adicha A, Mengistu M, Eshetu B (2016) Assessments of market-oriented beef cattle fattening system under farmer management condition in South Omo zone of SNNPR. Current Research in Agricultural Sciences 3(3), 31-45.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Befikadu Z, Kiflay W, Sanjoy KP (2015) Conservation of indigenous donkey breeds in Ethiopia. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach and Studies 3(6), 13-22 Available at http://www.ijims.com.
| Google Scholar |
Burden F (2012) Practical feeding and condition scoring for donkeys and mules. Equine Veterinary Education 24(11), 589-596.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Deng L, Shi S, Li J, Tang C, Liao Q, Xie P (2020) A cross-sectional survey of foaling-related parameters of jennies (Equus asinus) under smallholder farm conditions in northeast China. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 8710292810.1016
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Deng L, Shi S, Li J, Tang C, Han Y, Xie P (2021) A survey of smallholder farmers regarding demographics, health care, and management factors of donkeys in northeastern China. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8, 626622.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Dudi K, Devi I, Kumar R (2019) Contribution and Issues of women in livestock sector of India: a review. International Journal of Livestock Research 9(8), 37-48.
| Google Scholar |
Etana D, Snelder DJRM, van Wesenbeeck CFA, de Cock Buning T (2020) Dynamics of smallholder farmers’ livelihood adaptation decision-making in central Ethiopia. Sustainability 12(11), 4526.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Garrido P, Mårell A, Öckinger E, Skarin A, Jansson A, Thulin CG (2019) Experimental rewilding enhances grassland functional composition and pollinator habitat use. Journal of Applied Ecology 56(4), 946-955.
| Google Scholar |
Gebeyehu A, Hundessa F, Umeta G, Muleta M, Debele G (2013) Assessment of challenges and opportunities of goat farming system in Adami Tulu, Arsi Ngelle, and Fantale districts of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research 8(1), 26-31.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Geiger M, Hockenhull J, Buller H, Tefera Engida G, Getachew M, Burden FA, Whay HR (2020) Understanding the attitudes of communities to the social, economic, and cultural importance of working donkeys in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas of Ethiopia. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 60.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Gelaye A, Fesseha H (2020) Assessment of socio-economic importance and major constraints of working equines in and around Debre Berhan town, Central Ethiopia. Veterinary Medicine – Open Journal 5(2), 30-38.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Ghafar A, McGill D, Stevenson MA, Badar M, Kumbher A, Warriach HM, et al. (2020) A participatory investigation of bovine health and production issues in Pakistan. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 248.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Harago T, Megersa M, Niguse A, Fayera T (2015) Assessment on working donkey welfare issue in Wolaita Soddo Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia. Global Veterinaria 14(6), 867-875.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Hu S, Hu Y, Yang J, Yang M, Wei P, Hou Y, Marshall FB (2020) From pack animals to polo: donkeys from the ninth-century Tang tomb of an elite lady in Xi’an, China. Antiquity 94(374), 455-472.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Huffman WE (2020) Human capital and adoption of innovations: policy implications. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 42(1), 92-99.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Koko FA, Shuiep ES (2016) The socioeconomic value of rearing different breeds of donkeys (Equus asinus) in South Darfur State, Sudan. Journal of Science and Technology 17(2), 74-84 Available at http://repository.sustech.edu/handle/123456789/16433.
| Google Scholar |
Lal R (2015) Restoring soil quality to mitigate soil degradation. Sustainability 7(5), 5875-5895.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Mamo EM, Mengistu A, Asebe G (2017) Opportunity and constraints of livestock feed resources in Abol and Lare districts of Gambella region, Ethiopia. Nutrition & Food Science International Journal 3, 555620.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Maswana M, Mugwabana TJ, Tyasi TL (2022) Evaluation of breeding practices and morphological characterization of donkeys in Blouberg Local Municipality, Limpopo province: implication for the design of the community-based breeding program. PLoS One 17(12), e0278400.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Mekonnen A, Haile A, Dessie T, Mekasha T (2012) On farm characterization of Horro cattle breed production systems in western Oromia, Ethiopia. Livestock Research for Rural Development 24(6), 100 Available at http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/6/meko24100.htm.
| Google Scholar |
Melak A, Belayhun T, Kefyalew E, Hailu A, Mustefa A, Assefa A (2020) Farmers’ willingness to pay for Sinar donkey conservation in selected districts of Metekel and Assosa zones, northwest Ethiopia: a contingent valuation study. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity 21(7), 3373-3379.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Mthi S, Nyangiwe N (2018) Farmers’ perception on sheep production constraints in the communal grazing areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. International Journal of Livestock Production 9(12), 334-339.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Niraj K, Alemayehu E, Berihu G, Endale B (2014) Productive performance of indigenous and HF crossbred dairy cows in Gondar, Ethiopia. Veterinary World 7, 177-181.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Tuaruka L, Agbolosu AA (2019) Assessing donkey production and management in Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District in the Northern Region of Ghana. Journal of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science 3(2), 1-5.
| Google Scholar |
Xu Y, Liu X, Fu J, Wang H, Wang J, Huang C, et al. (2020) Enhancing genetic gain through genomic selection: from livestock to plants. Plant Communications 1(1), 100005.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Zewdu S, Kassa B, Agza B, Alemu F (2013) Village chicken production systems in Metekel zone, northwest Ethiopia. Wudpecker Journal of Agricultural Research 2(9), 256-262 Corpus ID: 131407639.
| Google Scholar |
