Kefyalew Gebeyew, Solomon Amakelew, Mitku Eshetu and Getachew Animut
The study was conducted in Dawa Chefa District, Oromia Zone of the Amhara National regional state. The aim of this study was to characterize production, processing, and handling of cow’s milk. Five Kebeles namely, Gerbi Mesena, Shekila, Teref Gur, Woledi Town and Bedeno Serte were selected purposively based on their potential for milk production and variation in agro-ecology. A total of 90 households were selected from five kebeles and administrations of semi-structured questionnaire on milk, processing, and marketing practice were employed. The local cattle are the major breed used in the study area. The average number of cattle per household is 6 and ranges from 3-27. There are three major milk production systems namely, mixed crop-livestock (98%), peri-urban (1.5) and urban (0.5) milk production system. Mixed crop-livestock production systems were the dominant production system in the study area. The percentages of milking cows are higher in the mixed croplivestock production system than in the urban milk production system. The overall estimated mean value for age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval, number of service per conception for local and crossbred cows were (29 and 27.03 month), (46.16 and 37 months), (25.86 and 21 month) and (1.61 and 1.17), respectively. Milking, processing and marketing are predominantly done by female member of the household. The main feed resources in the District were communal grazing, crop residues and crop aftermath. Natural pasture account for 54% of the feed that was available and green maize stover contributes 10% of the overall feed resources
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