Production practices, constraints and opportunities of abergelle goat breed, northern Ethiopia

The study was conducted to assess the production practices, constraints and opportunities of Abergelle goat breed. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through focus group discussion and key informant interview by using tools of participatory rural appraisal. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS software and the qualitative data ware narrated. The mainstay of livelihoods of the people of Abergelle district was found highly dependent on production of goats. Two types of goat housing were practiced during dry and wet seasons in the study area. Females were not supposed to herd goats and women were culturally prohibited to consume whole goat milk in the study area. The major supporting institutions in the study area to enhance the productivity of the goat breed were Save the Children (UK), Office of Agriculture and Sekota Dryland Agricultural Research Center. The major constraints faced for the production of Abergelle goat breed were lack of supplementary feed during dry seasons, low level of production, inflexible credit services, shortage of animal health extension workers, lack of transportation facilities, the prevalence of diseases and parasites, shortage of veterinary drugs and equipment. On the other hand, the major opportunities for the production of Abergelle goat breed in the area were availability of adaptable improved forage species, presence of water bodies and the existence of vast communal grazing areas. To improve the production and productivity of Abergelle goat breed in the study area, concerned stakeholders should give an emphasis on the aforementioned major constraints and opportunities.

HIGHLIGHTS

Goat production was major livelihood of the community.

Major constraints were feed shortage, low productivity, lack of transportation, diseases and parasites.