Environmental & Analytical Toxicology

Traditional Husbandry Practices and Major Challenge of Young Stock (Camel Calf) in Fafen Zone, Ethiopian Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Awoke K and Seid Mohamed Ali

The study was conducted between July 2013 and January 2014. The objective of this study was to examine the existing challenges and opportunities of traditional camel calf management practices. The importance of camels as a source of livelihood for pastoralists in eastern Ethiopia cannot be overemphasized. A study was carried out in the districts of Jigjiga, Babile, and Gursum in Fafen zone of Ethiopian Somali regional state, eastern Ethiopia to collect baseline data on camel calf colostrums feeding and management by the Jigjiga, Gurusum and Babile districts that inhabit the area and rearing of camel production. The primary and secondary data were collected to assess the impact of improved camel calf management and information whose dissemination was underway on the productivity of camel calves. During this study, between 30 and 60 households were purposively selected from three locations drawn from the three districts. A total of 130 respondents purposively selected from 60 households in Jigjiga district, 40 from Babile district and 40 household in Gursum per location were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questions targeted different aspects of camel calf management and colostrums feeding. Analysis of the data revealed malpractices in the areas of breeding management, colostrums feeding, milk allowance, feeding, and watering and health management, among others, across the studied districts. The feeding of with full suckling of colostrums across studied district Jigjiga (31.7%), Babile (27%) and Gurusm (46.4%). In the other hand, the percentage of case of death camel calves was disease (32.7%) and drought (27.8%) was the second across the studied area. The calves were herd with all-in one 71.7%, 69.1% and 56.1% for Jigjiga, Babilie and Gurusum, respectively. The average culling of bull from herd of camels during the survey year was 16 ± 4 years across the studied districts. In the study areas, the results further indicated that the pastoralists were aware of the challenges facing their camel calves but did not have the knowledge to adequately deal with the constraints and colostrums feeding. This study concluded that the existing indigenous camel calf and information on camel calf management have great potential to improve camel calf performance if widely disseminated among the studied districts. Awareness creation among pastoralists and agro pastoral on the dangers of the current malpractices, vigorous dissemination of the technologies/information and follow-up to ensure utilization and/ or application are strongly recommended.