Performance Evaluation of Boer × Central Highland Crossbred Bucks and Farmers’ Perceptions on Crossbred Goats in Northeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study aimed to characterize the production system, to evaluate the genetic merit of Boer × Central Highland crossbred bucks, and to solicit the perception of farmers about crossbred goats and crossbreeding program. Data were collected through a personal interview, focus group discussion, field observation, and measurement of the live animal. Besides, data on growth performance were extracted from available performance records at Sirinka sheep and goats breeding station. Data were analyzed using SAS, and the breeding values for bucks were estimated using WOMBAT software. Goats were the second most important animal species, and income generation, home meat consumption, and saving were found to be the main reasons for keeping goats with index values of 0.484, 0.355, and 0.085, respectively. The production system was characterized as a low-input production system. Feed shortage and disease/poor veterinary service were the most important constraints for the goat crossbreeding program. The overall mean estimated breeding values (EBV) for three- and six-month weight of disseminated crossbred bucks were 0.53 and 0.31 kg, respectively. The three-month weight EBV for crossbred goats disseminated in Amhara Sayint and Habru district was lower than their contemporary group. Likewise, the six-month weight EBV for crossbred goats distributed in Amhara Sayint was lower than the contemporary group mean. These results depict the absence of buck selection based on their genetic merit. As per farmers’ perception, crossbred goats were superior (odds ratio = 3.94 to 20.9, P < 0.001 ) to indigenous goats in terms of production traits. Besides, the price of the crossbred goat was higher (213 to 372 ETB/head) than indigenous goats with similar management and age. However, poor adaptability and fitness were the major demerits of Boer × Central Highland crossbred goats under a smallholder management system. Therefore, while introducing exotic breeds, it is imperative to give due attention to nutrition and veterinary service.

Agro-pastoralist trait preference, constraints, and perceptions on Boer x Woyito Guji crossbreed goats in Hammer district of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

“…The surveyed participants' perceptions are in line with the observations by Demerew & Aschenaki (2023) that about 73.4% of agro-pastoralists in Bena-Tsemay district greatly give high value for Boer crossbreeds for their sound production performance and better environmental adaptation as their local breeds. Other similar results were also reported by many authors, about 80% of farmers in the Raya Kobo district and about 57.1% of the respondents in the Amhara Sayint district revealed strong attention for crossbreeding reported by Zeleke et al (2022). Although the pastoral and agro-pastoral was preferred to Boer crossbreed breeds they confirmed that the crossbreeds had poor tolerance to feed shortages and endemic diseases.…”

“…In the country, Boer goats are imported from South Africa with the aim of improving the indigenous goat's market weight. This meat goat breed is serving as a sire line for up-grading of indigenous meat goat breeds (Demerew & Aschenaki, 2023;Zeleke et al, 2022). Crossing of local goats with Boer buck and distribution of crossbreeds (50% to 75%) genotypes has been in progress with the initiative of the Ethiopian Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Project (ESGPP) and currently Jinka Agricultural Research Center (JARC) has disseminating crossbreed bucks to pastorals and agro-pastoralists to improve the weight gain performance of indigenous breeds.…”

Demonstration of Boer x-Woyto-Guji crossbred goats in Bena-Tsemay Woreda, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

“…On the other hand, the reasons of Boer crossbred preferences by respondents were due to its adaptive behavior confirmed by their capability to tolerate shortage of feeds, poor quality forages, drought and diseases. The current study also revealed that the pastorals and agro-pastorals who preferred to keep Boer crossbreds believed that the Boer crossbred grows faster, has a big mature body size, has an attractive phenotype and sold at an exorbitant price in the market compared to the indigenous breed and a similar finding was observed in the study of Zeleke et al (2022) for Boer × Central Highland crossbred goats. The study conducted by Farm-Africa (2022) confirmed that, Boer crossbred kids' fast grower, better efficient in feed conversion and better milk and meat producers compared to indigenous goats, being easier to rise than purebred Boer goats.…”

“…In the current study, some few (21.7%) respondents claimed that the Boer crossbreds unable to survive better in their environment due to need of special management such as indoor feeding and watering, frequent health follow-up and treatment and adequate housing; this makes to be labour intensive and extensive for goat keeper. In contradiction to this Zeleke et al (2022) reported that 77.8% of the respondents do not prefer crossbreeding because of poor adaptability of the crossbred kids in the Habru Woreda. On the other hand, the reasons of Boer crossbred preferences by respondents were due to its adaptive behavior confirmed by their capability to tolerate shortage of feeds, poor quality forages, drought and diseases.…”

“…Boer crossbreds are having better advantages in body size whereas indigenous animals are harsher environment and diseases resistant (Tindano et al, 2017). About 80% of farmers in the Raya Kobo Woreda and 57.1% of the households in Amhara Sayint woreda showed a strong interest in crossbreeding as reported by Zeleke et al (2022). In the current study, some few (21.7%) respondents claimed that the Boer crossbreds unable to survive better in their environment due to need of special management such as indoor feeding and watering, frequent health follow-up and treatment and adequate housing; this makes to be labour intensive and extensive for goat keeper.…”