Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Cattle in Western Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

The survey was carried out in northern Ethiopia to describe phenotypic characteristics and breeding practices of Begait cattle. In-depth interviews and structured questionnaire were used to collect the data. Phenotypic descriptors were directly measured using measuring tape and morphological measurements were collected. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was employed to analyze the data. Mixed crop-livestock production system was dominant. Among reason of keeping cattle, breeding was ranked first followed by milk production. Farmers prefer composite traits for male and female cattle. Breeding, milk yield and body size were highly ranked among the preferred traits for both male and female cattle. Linear measurements of female were: height at wither (131. 48±0.25cm), body length (128.13±0.16cm) heart girth (159.55±0.24). In male: height at wither (136.99±0.10cm), body length (135.96±0.09cm), and heart girth (168.91±0.10). Age at first puberty (female) (35.51±0.14 months), age at first calving (48.68±0.16 months), calving interval (17.06±0.11 months) and lift time productivity (8.2±0.02 years); daily milk yield (2.52±0.03 liter), lactation length (6.38±0.03 months) and lactation milk yield (482.95±6.24 liters). Begait cattle population decreased over the years and it is on the verge of extinction. It is concluded that appropriate breeding strategies and conservation models should be designed for overall breed improvement