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Description of production systems and morphological characteristics of Abergelle and Western lowland goat breeds in Ethiopia: implication for community-based breeding programmes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2013

S. Abegaz ,
J. Sölkner ,
S. Gizaw ,
T. Dessie ,
A. Haile  and
M. Wurzinger
S. Abegaz*
Affiliation:
Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Gondar Agricultural Research Centre, PO Box 1337, Gondar, Ethiopia
J. Sölkner
Affiliation:
Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
S. Gizaw
Affiliation:
Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Debre Birihan Agricultural Research Centre, PO Box 112 Debre Birhan, Ethiopia
T. Dessie
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
A. Haile
Affiliation:
International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
M. Wurzinger
Affiliation:
Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
*
Correspondence to: S. Abegaz, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria. email: soabgu96@yahoo.com
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Summary

A household survey and measurements of different body traits from 120 households and from 1 009 goats were collected to characterize the production system and morphological features of Western lowland and Abergelle goat breeds of Ethiopia. Goats were kept for multifunctional roles in both areas, but mainly to generate cash. The average ± SD of flock sizes per household were 10.8 ± 7.25 and 48.56 ± 52.21 for Western lowland and Abergelle, respectively. Production characters such as body conformation, multiple births and milk yield were reported as major selection criteria of breeding goats. The majority of Abergelle goats have red brown (23.8 percent) and brown (19.7 percent) coat colours with short and smooth hair. All Abergelle goats have horns, 11.1 percent have wattles, 8.0 percent of males have ruff. White (20.4 percent) and a mixture of white with other colours were the predominant coat colours of Western lowland goats. A total of 42.3 percent males and 5.1 percent females of the Western lowland population have ruff. The least square means of body weight, chest girth, body length and height at withers of Western lowland female goats were 24.00 ± 0.19 kg, 65.27 ± 0.23 cm, 54.8 ± 0.21 cm and 62.60 ± 0.22 cm, respectively. The corresponding values for Abergelle female goats were 18.34 ± 0.22 kg, 61.03 ± 0.27 cm, 51.00 ± 0.24 cm and 58.99 ± 0.25 cm, respectively. Breed improvement programmes in these areas should take into account the multifunctional roles of goats, goat breeding practices and traits preference of the farmers.

Résumé

Afin de caractériser le système de production et les traits morphologiques des races caprines des terres basses de l'Ouest de l'Éthiopie et de la race Abergelle, 120 foyers ont été enquêtés et différents paramètres corporels de 1 009 chèvres ont été mesurés. Dans les deux zones, les chèvres jouaient des rôles multifonctionnels, bien qu'elles soient principalement élevées pour générer de l'argent liquide. La taille moyenne (±écart type) du troupeau par foyer a été de 10,8 ± 7,25 et 48,56 ± 52,21 pour les races des terres basses occidentales et la race Abergelle, respectivement. Des caractéristiques productives comme la conformation corporelle, les mises-bas multiples et la production laitière se sont révélées comme étant les principaux critères de sélection pour l'amélioration génétique des chèvres. La plupart des chèvres Abergelle présentent une robe marron rougeâtre (23,8 pour cent) ou marron (19,7 pour cent), le poil étant ras et souple. Toutes les chèvres Abergelle ont des cornes, le 11,1 pour cent ont des pendeloques et le 8,0 pour cent des mâles présentent une crinière sur l'encolure. Le blanc (20,4 pour cent) et la combinaison du blanc avec d'autres couleurs sont les couleurs prédominantes pour la robe des chèvres des terres basses occidentales. Pour le 42,3 pour cent des mâles et le 5,1 pour cent des femelles de la population caprine des terres basses occidentales, le poil est long sur le cou. La valeur moyenne, calculée par la méthode des moindres carrés, du poids corporel, la circonférence thoracique, la longueur du corps et la hauteur au garrot des chèvres des terres basses occidentales a été de 24,00 ± 0,19 kg, 65,27 ± 0,23 cm, 54,8 ± 0,21 cm et 62,60 ± 0,22 cm, respectivement. Les valeurs correspondantes pour les chèvres Abergelle ont été 18,34 ± 0,22 kg, 61,03 ± 0,27 cm, 51,00 ± 0,24 cm et 58,99 ± 0,25 cm, respectivement. Les programmes d'amélioration des races de ces zones devraient tenir compte des rôles multifonctionnels des chèvres, des pratiques d'élevage et des préférences des éleveurs.

Resumen

Con el fin de caracterizar el sistema de producción y los rasgos morfológicos de las razas caprinas de las tierras bajas del Oeste de Etiopía y de la raza Abergelle, se realizó una encuesta doméstica a 120 hogares y se tomaron medidas de diferentes parámetros corporales de 1 009 cabras. En ambas áreas, las cabras cumplían roles multifuncionales, si bien se mantenían fundamentalmente como fuente de dinero en efectivo. El tamaño medio (±desviación típica) del rebaño por hogar fue de 10,8 ± 7,25 y 48,56 ± 52,21 para las razas de las tierras bajas occidentales y la raza Abergelle, respectivamente. Caracteres productivos como la conformación corporal, los partos múltiples y la producción lechera resultaron ser los principales criterios de selección para la mejora genética de las cabras. La mayoría de las cabras Abergelle presentan capas de color marrón rojizo (23,8 por ciento) o marrón (19,7 por ciento), siendo el pelo corto y suave. Todas las cabras Abergelle tienen cuernos, el 11,1 por ciento tienen mamellas y el 8,0 por ciento de los machos presentan pelliza. El blanco (20,4 por ciento) y la mezcla del blanco con otros colores fueron los colores predominantes para la capa de las cabras de las tierras bajas occidentales. El 42,3 por ciento de los machos y el 5,1 por ciento de las hembras de la población caprina de las tierras bajas occidentales presentan pelliza. La media por mínimos cuadrados para el peso corporal, la circunferencia torácica, la longitud del cuerpo y la alzada a la cruz de las cabras de las tierras bajas occidentales fue de 24,00 ± 0,19 kg, 65,27 ± 0,23 cm, 54,8 ± 0,21 cm y 62,60 ± 0,22 cm, respectivamente. Los valores correspondientes para las cabras Abergelle fueron 18,34 ± 0,22 kg, 61,03 ± 0,27 cm, 51,00 ± 0,24 cm y 58,99 ± 0,25 cm, respectivamente. Los programas para la mejora de las razas de estas áreas deberían tener en cuenta los roles multifuncionales de las cabras, las prácticas de manejo y cría y las preferencias de los ganaderos.

Keywords

body measurementsselection criteriaproduction systemAbergelle goatWestern lowland goatEthiopiamesures corporellescritères de sélectionsystème de productionchèvre Abergellechèvre des terres basses occidentalesÉthiopiemedidas corporalescriterios de selecciónsistema de produccióncabra Abergellecabra de las tierras bajas occidentalesEtiopía
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 53 , December 2013 , pp. 69 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2013 

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