PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGENOUS GOAT TYPE, BREEDING AND HUSBANDRY PRACTICES IN ODO SHAKISO AND ADOLA DISTRICTS

phenotypically characterize indigenous goat type and to identify breeding and husbandry practices. Data were collected through questionnaire, focus group discussion and field measurements. A total of 544 goats (163 adult males and 381 adult females) were used for measurement and 136 households were interviewed. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Chi–square test was employed for categorical data and Index was calculated to provide ranking. Multiple correspondence analyses were carried out on the nine qualitative traits recorded. GLM procedure of SAS versions 9.1 (2008) was employed to analyze quantitative data. The results revealed that agro- pastoral and pastoral were the main production systems with average holding of goats per household 12.2±1.6 in Odoshakiso and 11.7±1.3 for Adola district. The primary reason of keeping goat was cash income, milk, and meat in both districts. Milk yield, meat quality, size, coat color and growth rate were the most preferred traits of goat in study area. Shrubs and bushes, natural pasture and crop residues were the main feed resources in the study area. Labor shortage, predator disease incidence and lack of extension service were the major constraints of goat production. Most frequently observed coat color pattern was plain in both female (54%) and male (58.5%) goats. The overall mean age at sexual maturity for indigenous female goat was 12.6 ± 0.16 months and for male 11.6 ± 0.17 months; age at first kidding 18.4 ± 0.16 months; average reproductive life time of doe 8 ± 0.1 year; and average kidding interval 6.5 ± 0.06 months. Multiple correlations between body weight and linear body measurements showed positive correlations among body weight and linear body measurements for both sexes. Strong positive correlation between heart girth and body weight was observed (r = 0.98, 0.97) for male and female population. As per multiple regression analysis the best fitted models to predict body weight were HG, HW, BL, RH, PW, EL, SC and SL for males whereas HG, HW, RH, BL, PW, EL and RW for females. Therefore this finding can form a baseline for understanding breeding and husbandry practices of goats in the study area as first step in designing a sustainable breeding