CHAPTER FOUR

4. Dairy Cattle Production

1
 4.1 Common terminologies

• Calf: A young female dairy • and

Yearlings : both male
female cattle laid
• Heifer: A female that has
animal before she has not produced a calf
in between one and
matured. two years of age.

• Colostrum: The first milk given to calves

• Cow: An adult female in the first 24 hours of life by a dairy cow
that has had a calf following birth1-3 days before birth
 Terminologies…
 Dairy cattle: cattle that is raised primarily to produce milk

 Dairy: is used to refer to cows that are used for producing milk

rather than meat, or to food that are made from milk, such as cream,

butter or cheese

 Dairy farm: is a farm that produces milk and milk products

 Dairying /dairy farming: is the business of a dairy farm

 Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals.

3
 4.1. Dairy production systems in Ethiopia

 The history of dairy devn’t in Ethiopia is similar to the rest of the world.

 Ethiopia is endowed with a large & diverse cattle population, which makes
her the first in Africa, and among the top ten in the world.

 Ethiopian cattle types are mainly Zebu types; only a small number of
exotic dairy cattle & their crosses have been introduced in to the country.

 The majority of the cattle populations (78%) are found in the highland
settled crop farming area and the rest (22%) are found in the low land
pastoralist area.

 In both these areas milk & milk products have an important place in the
traditional diet of the people.
4
 The pastoralists & especially the nomads & semi- nomads
depend largely on milk from cattle, sheep, goats and camels as
their staple food.

 In the mid and high altitudes, although large numbers of draft

oxen are kept, cows are also kept to provide the family with milk.

 In general the rural population consumes nearly all the milk that
is produced & only a small proportion is marketed in the form of
butter or cottage cheese

5
 Dairy production system in Ethiopia

 The main source of milk production in Ethiopia from the cow but
small quantities of milk are also obtained from goat and camel in
some region particularly in pastoralist areas.
 Four major systems of milk production can be distinguished in
Ethiopia, these are:

a. Pastoralism
b. Agro-pastoralism
c. Mixed(crop-livestock)
d. Urban and pre-urban
6
 a) Pastoralism
 About 30% of the livestock population are found in the pastoral
areas.
 The pastoralist livestock production system which supports an
estimated 10% of the human population covers 50-60% of the total
area mostly lying at altitudes ranging from below 1500 m.a.s.l.
pastoralism is the major system of milk production in the low land.

 However, because of the

rainfall pattern and related
reasons shortage of feed
availability milk production is
low and highly seasonally
dependent. 7
 b. Agro-pastoralism
 Agro-pastoralists are sedentary farmers who grow food crops and
also keep livestock.
 Their livestock graze on common land, fallow lands and cropland
after the harvest.
 Livestock are used for drought, savings and milk production.
 Shifting cultivation is a common practice.
 The herd is dominated with unimproved Zebu animals
 Milk production is of subsistent type

8
 C. Mixed crop-livestock production systems
 The Ethiopian highlands possess a high potential for dairy development.
 Production system is predominantly substance smallholder mixed farming,
with crop and livestock husbandry typically practiced within the same
management unit.
 In this farming system all the feed requirement is derived from native pasture
and a balance comes from crop residues and stub grazing.
• The majority of milking cows are
indigenous animals which have low
production performance with the
average age at first calving is 53 months
and average calving intervals is 25
months.
• A very small number of crossbred
animals are milked to provide the family
with fresh milk butter and cheese.
Surpluses are sold, usually by women, who use the regular cash income to buy
household necessities or to save for festival occasions
9
 d) Urban and peri-urban milk production
 Developed in and around major cities and towns which have a high demand for milk.

 The main feeds sources are agro-industrial by products (Oil Seed Cakes, Bran, etc)
and purchased roughage.

 The system comprises small and medium size dairy farms located mainly in the
highlands of Ethiopia.
• Farmers use all or part of their land for
home grown feeds.
• Generally, the primary of the production
system is to sale milk as a means of
additional cash income.
 a more specialized dairy farming
practiced on commercial basis.

• Most of the intensive dairy farms are concentrated in and around Addis Ababa and are basically
based on exotic pure bred stock.
• The urban, peri-urban and intensive dairy farmers are produce 2% of the total milk production
10
of the country .
 4.2. Breeds of Dairy Cattle
4.2.1. Indigenous Ethiopian cattle breeds
 There are many local cattle types/breeds in the country, which
vary in size and colour.
 However, all are grouped in to Bos indicus.
 Well-known adapted to tropical environment through natural
selection.
 No interference has been made by man except few attempts tried
in few research sites.
 They are not well characterized. Thus, they are called with
references to the place where they dominate. Example:
 Horro (dominating western part of the country around Horro in Wollega),
 Boran (Dominating southern part of the country around Borena),
 Fogera (Northern part of the country around Fogera).
 In general, indigenous cattle are multipurpose in their function.
i.e. meat, milk and draft. 11
 The indigenous cattle type in Ethiopia
1. Barca/Begait cattle
• Barca originated in the west part of Eritrea, but is
abundant in Tigray and Gonder.
• Coat colour is variable, but two colours (pied) including
black is common.
• It is considered to be a good milk cattle.
• Milk yield is about 682 litres per lactation under
extensive management conditions.
• Milk production is enhanced when managed intensively.
Barca Cow
2. Fogera cattle

 The Fogera breed is found in the northwestern part of the

country around Fogera, Gondar.
 The common coat color is white with black spots or
patches.
 Fogera are a small sized breed.
 They can produce about 915 litre of milk per lactation.
 The butter fat content is 5.8%. 12
Fogera Cow
 The indigenous cattle type in Ethiopia
3. Arsi-Bale cattle
• This breed is predominantly found in the highlands of
the central region of Arsi and Bale.
• The coat colour is variable.
• It has a small body size.
• The breed possesses a compact body conformation.
• Selected Arsi cows produce up to 516 litres per
lactation.
• The milk contains a high butter fat percentage (5.4 to
5.8 %). Arsi-Bale Cow
4. Horro cattle
 Horro cattle originated in the western part of Ethiopia,
around Horro Guduru, Wollega.
 The dominant coat color is brown and sometimes slightly
lighter on the flanks and between the hind legs.
 They are medium sized animals.
 They are mainly raised for meat and draft use.
 Selected Horro cows can produce up to 543 litre/lactation.
13
• Poor temperament Horro Cow
 5. Boran
Indigenous cattle…

 Is a famous Ethiopian breed

 Originated from Borena, Southern part of the country
 Today is also found in Somalia and Kenya
 Is larger than the short horned Zebu
 Has good body conformation
 Colour is normally white or grey but also red or pied animals
occur
 Horns are usually small, Hump is thoracic
 Has been subjected to selection both in Ethiopia and Kenya

 Produce good crosses with dairy breeds.

 Average weight vary from 318- 680 kg for male and
259 - 454 kg for female
 Milk yield is 440 kg /lactation
 Butter fat percentage is 6.0 %
 Average birth weight is 23.5 kg
 Average weaning weight is 170 kg ( 8-month basis )
 Average daily body weight gain is 540 gm.
 Dressing percentage is 54 -57% 14
 Indigenous cattle…
6. Ogden type
Originated in the Eastern part of the country around
Ogden .
 Compact body
Characterised conformation
by coat colour which vary from white to
Grey
 Short horns, Small head
 Long facial profile
• Special Characteristics: similar to the Ethiopian Boran with well developed hump and
large dewlap; horns are short; mainly used for milk, but are also good beef animals

7. Sheko type
• Found in the south western part of the
country
• Do not possess hump
• Not much work done compared to others
• High tsetse resistance animal
15
 Dual purpose type
Characteristics of dual purpose type
 Dual purpose type have characteristics intermediate between those
of dairy and beef
 Produce both meat and milk.
 Are medium seized or large
 Multi-purpose type exhibit not only the properties typical of dual
purpose cattle, but also some of the features characteristics of
working cattle (strong, bones, sound constitution, quiet
temperament

Example:
Girolando
Sahiwal Bos indicus
Guzerela and
Gir cattle type
Simmental= Bos taurus 16
 Tropical dual purpose breeds
1. Girolando brred • Origin: breed of dairy cattle created in Brazil
• breed is the result of crossing the Gir and
Holstein breeds.
• Resistant to hot temperatures and tropical
diseases
• It is responsible for 80% of milk production in
Brazil, this being the main factor in the choice of
this breed for export.

• Originated in west India

• It is one of the principal Zebu or Bos indicus breeds
in India, and has been used locally in the improvement
of other breeds.
• mainly raised for milk production in India. But in
some other countries, they are also raised for beef
17
production.
 Tropical dual purpose breeds
3. Sahiwal breed
 The Sahiwal originated in the dry Punjab region
which lies along the Indian-Pakistani border.
 Body colour: ranges from reddish brown to more
prominent red with white shades on neck, underline
and hind limbs.
 Body weight: about 400-500 kgs.
 Milk yield: about 5 -7 liters per day
 Dewlap: large

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 4.2.2. Exotic dairy cattle breeds
The most popular dairy breeds within Bos taurus include
I. Holstein-Friesian
II. Jersey
III. Ayrshire
IV. Guernsey
V. Milking shorthorn
• All of these major dairy breeds are originated in Europe. They are outstanding milk
producers.
• The most popular exotic cattle breeds in Ethiopia are Holstein Friesian and Jersey.
• Holstein Friesian are well known for their higher milk yield.
• Friesian teat size is often preferred by farmers for both hand and machine milking.
• Jersey is the most heat-tolerant of the exotic breeds and are good pasture animals in
harsh environments. 19
 Ⅰ. Holstein-Friesian
 The Holstein-Friesian: is the largest of the dairy breeds; it
produces the largest amount of milk and is the most popular and
widely distributed in the world

 The breed has its origin in the northern provinces of North Holland
and west Friesian of the Netherlands

 Origin :Netherlands and northern Germany (imported to N. America

by the early Dutch settlers)

 Colour : Black and white or red and white

20
 Distinctive characteristics:
 Large angular animal
 Developed exclusively for milk through selection
and intensive feeding
 The breed is large animal, therefore, can be
used for beef
 Potential yield: 30-50 litres milk/day
 Average milk yield = 6500 - 7500 kg with
butter fat content of 3.7%
• low in terms of butterfat (average 3.6%) and
protein (average 3.2%).
 Has the best disposition/temperament than any
other breed of cattle
 Are adapted to high level of management
 Do not respond to adverse environmental
conditions
21
 II. Jersey
 Origin : Island of Jersey (Great Britain/UK)
 Colour : usually being some shade of fawn
yellowish or grey with or without whit markings
 Developed from the crosses between cattle from
Brittany and Normandy.

 The Jersey breed ranks the highest among all

major breeds in milk fat and protein percentages
about 5.3 %
• It is prized by cheese makers for its rich creamy
texture and outstanding yield of cheese.
• The Jersey breed is the smallest and the earliest
maturing dairy breed
• It is more heat-tolerant than its counterparts and
is recognized for its reproduction and longevity. 22
 III. Ayrshire
 Origin: Native to Scotland

 Colour: Red and white usually

irregular shaped red patches on a

white background

Distinctive characteristics
The special characteristics are good feet and legs, well style and animation and excellent

grazing ability

Udders are especially symmetrical and well attached to the body.

Potential yield: 20 - 30 litres/day.

Average milk yield is estimated to be 4500 kg; with milk fat content of 4 %
23
Relatively adaptable to adverse conditions , They are relatively resistant to diseases.
 Ⅳ. Guernsey
 Origin: Islands of Guernsey in the English
channel.
 Colour: Fawn with white markings
 The breed developed from the cross
between cattle from Brittany and Normandy
 Guernsey milk has a golden hue attributed
to carotene, a precursor of vitamin- A;
which is transferred directly from the diet in
to the milk.
 High milk production potential (25lt/day).
 Milk has moderate butter fat content 4.3%.
 Guernsey are efficient converters of feed to product
 Well known for having the minimum of calving complications.
 Adaptable to all climates and management systems and lack any known undesirable genetic
recessives. 24
 V. Brown Swiss
 Origin: Switzerland
 Colour: Solid brown
 Distinctive characteristics
 Nose and tongue are black
 Light coloured band around the
muzzle
 Average milk production is
5,000 liters
 Butter fat content is 4.0%
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 Ⅵ.Milking shorthorn
Origin: England
Colour: Red, white or any combination of
red and white

 Developed from the same foundation stock as Beef shorthorn.

 In England and Australia, the breed is called the Dairy shorthorn.
 Milking Shorthorns are a mixed of red, white, and roan in color, possess a medium
frame size, and
 Milking Shorthorn is adapted in all climatic condition
 Distinctive characteristics
 The breed is strong, hardy, well adapted to harsh climate and also a good milker.
 The cow is docile and calm temperament.
 The cows produce about 7000 liters of milk in annual lactation of 305 days. 26
 Choice of breed Choice of individual animals
 The selection of dairy breed  The following points sh/be given much
depends upon several factors.
consideration in choosing the foundation
• Climatic conditions: Select dairy of a new dairy herd.
cattle breeds that are hardy and
tolerant of tropical environmental • Physical characteristics: The indicators of
conditions. good productive dairy cattle include
• Production objective: Get general appearance, dairy character,
information on the type of dairy body capacity and mammary system.
product, fresh milk or butter that • Performance records: more reliable for
has a good market in the region.
use in selection than visual appraisals.
• Feeding system Contain Information on characteristics
• Age of maturity: There is at least 4 such as milk yield, milk composition,
to 5 months difference in age of feeding efficiency, age at calving and
maturity among the major dairy
breeds. condition at calving.
• Cost: Price sh/be the last • Free from diseases: Important contagious
consideration within reasonable reproductive diseases of breeding cattle
limits. are tuberculosis, brucellosis,
leptospirosis and mastitis
4.3 Milk and milk products utilization
patterns
• Dairy products: In the Ethiopian context, the type of milk and dairy

products that needs to be considered are:

• Whole milk (liquid milk, Ititu, Ergo, buttermilk etc.) and other dairy

products from

• Fermented processing (butter, ghee, Ayib, Metata Ayib etc.),

28
 Utilization of milk and milk products products
 Utilization of dairy products in rural Ethiopia reveals that of the total annual
milk production:
 85% was used for household consumption

 7% was sold

 Only 0.3% was used for wages in kind and

 The remaining 8% was used for other purposes (could be for the production of
butter, Cheese, and the likes).

 With respect to the utilization of butter, 61% of the produce was used for
household consumption although considerable portion (36%) was sold.

 Most of the total Cheese produced was used for household consumption that is
about 87%, and the rest about 3 % was used for other purposes
 CHAPTER FIVE
5. Beef Cattle Production

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 Beef Cattle Production

What is beef and Beef Cattle?

 Beef is meat of cattle.
 Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production.
 The meat of mature cattle is mostly known as beef while, meat of calf known as
veal.
 It is a valuable source of very good quality proteins and of many
minerals and water soluble vitamins, especially of readily available
iron, zinc and vitamin B12.
 It is the most nourishing and appetizing.

31
 Beef Cattle Production….

Ethiopia is a calorie & protein deficient country,

Meat consumption is four times lesser compared to developed
nations.

Food shortage usually explained by under nutrition in the food

supply (malnutrition) result for deficiency diseases like:

Night blindness, anemia, kwashiorkor, etc…

Here comes the need for beef cattle production.

32
 Importance of Beef Cattle Production

 It is the most important and popular to ensure nutritional

security.
 Providing employment to large number of small and marginal
farmers.
 Provides economically important product and by products that
are used for domestic and export items. Example, meat, bone,
blood, fats, leather etc. and a source of income.
 It is a highly preferred animal protein (Protein of animal origin is
of higher quality than the protein of plant origin (except Soya
bean) because animals contain almost all essential amino acids.
 It is the most important and popular of the red meats. 33
 5.1 Beef cattle production in Ethiopia:
challenges and opportunities
 In line with the general livestock system existing in the country, the

major beef cattle production system can be broadly classified into:

A. Pastoral production

B. Mixed crop livestock production system and

C. Intensive/ semi- intensive production system

 Cattle are kept primarily to provide milk for the family.
 Animal production usually concentrates around water points and
herd size per family is usually large.
 In the lowlands where pastoralists do not use cattle for draught,
cattle are sometimes fattened on natural pasture in good seasons.
 However, much body weight is lost during long distance trekking to
major markets such as Addis Ababa and the animals may reach
market in little better condition than culled highland stock.
 In average or poor seasons, lowland cattle are rarely fattened and
often have to be sold in poor condition at relatively low prices.
 The traditional system of selling cattle in the mixed crop livestock system
recognizes that beef is a by-product since cattle are primarily kept for
traction purposes.
 Cattle are usually sold when they are too for this purpose or drought or
cash shortages forces people to sell.
 Cattle find their own feed by grazing on natural meadows, fallow and
marginal lands and crop residue after harvest.
 Grazing area is very limited. Oxen are usually sold after ploughing when
they are old and in poor condition.
 The exception in “Hararghe highland fattening system” where cattle
are profitability fattened using forages and crop residues.
 There is a scope for improvement of the traditional system.
C. Intensive/ semi- Intensive production systems
 This system is entirely based on cattle fattening using agro-industrial
by products and crop residues.
 The parastatal and private based intensive commercial fattening system
the parastatal, which was mainly based on nationalized private properties
by the previous regime, has operated specialized fattening.
 Fattening of a high magnitude has also emerged in the past and is
growing in importance around the major cities of the country.
 Commonly based on purchased cattle from the pastoral/ agro-
pastoral and mixed Cro/LS production system and to a limited extent
on excess crossbred males, culled cows and bulls from the dairy industry.
 Shortage of feed, especially industrial by-products and feed
supplements is a major constraint.
 Challenges of beef cattle production
• Indigenous animals considered to be of low genetic potential

• Inappropriate “management” (= use) of natural resource base

• Shortage of feed resources (both in quantity and quality).

• Feed shortage is becoming the issue in the mid and high altitude areas in which
crop-livestock mixed production system is predominant with the population rise

• Thinly spread support services (animal health and general extension)

• Poor (but improving) road and market infrastructure

• Low participation of private sector on services and direct development

• Low levels of (market) off-take

• A credit environment unsympathetic to small holder borrowers 38

 Opportunities of beef cattle production
• Huge numbers of livestock of several species
• Very large areas of land for production of feed
• Rapidly rising world-wide demand for products of
animal origin
• Government well-disposed to sector and willing to
improve policies and increase budgetary allocations
• Reorientation of government towards creating an
appropriate enabling environment
• Liberalization of economy and privatization trends
• Irrigation potential of Ethiopia to produce animal
feed and forage
2/27/2024 39
 Development Strategies that is applicable to Beef
• Improve quality of native livestock through selective breeding
• Improvement of capacities of farmers and pastoralists
• Establishment of an Ethiopian “Brand” and build “Brand recognition” to
establish and maintain product loyalty.
• The national livestock research strategy should be designed on a
demand-driven and problem-oriented approach (improvement of nutrition
and animal health and the testing of available and newly generated
technologies).
• Reorient the role of gov’ts in creating an appropriate enabling
environment;
• Better natural resource mgt and beneficiary participation in efforts and
rewards.
• Facilitate credit service

2/27/2024 40
 Beef Cattle Traits
 There are various beef traits that are considered during the
genetic improvement attempts.
 These traits need to be measured and evaluated to achieve the
objective of the producer.
These are:
 Birth weight  Pasture gain
 Pre weaning weight  Dressing percentage
 Weaning weight  Carcass grade
 Post weaning weight  Carcass fat thickness
 Yearling weight  Carcass loin-eye-area
 Mature weight  Carcass tenderness
 Carcass weight  Carcass rib-eye-area
 Carcass score at weaning  Marbling
 Feedlot gain
 Beef breeds are noted for early maturity and high quality meat:
marbled appearance, high percentage carcass weight (minimum of
offal and high proportion of important cuts) and a low proportion
of bone
 Breeds developed as a result of geographical isolation, natural
selection and as deliberate effort by human beings
 Natural selection in a population can be speeded up to make the population
different from others if there is a severe pressure exerted on it.
 An example is the occurrence of rinderpest in East Africa in the late 1800's,
which wiped almost all Sanga breeds and left Zebu breeds to dominate.
 Deliberate development of a breed by human beings to introduce genes by cross
breeding.
 Classification of breeds can be either on functional characteristics where you
have beef, dairy or dual purpose breeds.
 Another may be between humped, humpless and intermediate.
 A. Humpless (Bos taurus) cattle
B. Humped (Bos indicus)

A. Humpless (Bos taurus) cattle

There are many types and breeds of tropical cattle
 Hampless or Bos taurus cattle may either be completely acclimatized and of very
ancient origin such as:
 N'Dama and dwarf shorthorn breeds of West Africa,
 Oksh of west Asia
 Chinese yellow of south China
 Criollo cattle of Caribbean, central and south America and
 Creole of Mauritius
 B. Bos Indicus=Zebu cattle
 The Zebu cattle have the hump over their chest or shoulders (thoracic hump).
 The zebu cattle came into the continent later than the hump less.
 The dominating cattle in Africa today are the humped
 It is believed that the zebu which came into the south east Africa are more
resistant to rinderpest than the sanga and that this is a reason for their
spread since the big rinderpest pandemic in the 1890s.
• Abyssinian Shorthorned
Zebu • Dhanni • Lohani
• Fulani
• Ankole-Watusi Sudanese • Madagasc
• White Fulani ar Zebu
• Arsi
• Gobra • Masai
• Baherie • Tharparkar
• Nelore
• Boran • Gudali
• Guzerat • Rath
• Brahman • Halikar • Red Sindhi
• Dajal (cattle) • Horro
• Vianesa
• Kankrej
  Sanga cattle
The sanga cattle that have originated from the hump-less longhorn and
zebu cattle have a cervico thoracic hump.
The common sanga breeds raised especially for beef in southern African
countries are:
 Africander
Mashona and
Tuli.

 All Sanga have cervico thoracic humps and a small dewlap.

1. Small East African Zebu

2. Large East African Zebu

3. Sanga Breed Group

4. Zenga Breed Group

5. Humpless Shorthorn Breed Group

6. Humpless Longhorn Breed Group

7. West African Zebu Group

8. Commercial Composites Breed Group

 I. Small East African Zebu Group Breeds
• Breed Group Name: Small East African Zebu
• Subgroup Information: Abyssinian Shorthorned Zebu
1. Adwa: Found in Adwa of Tigray
2. Ambo: Found in Ambo, Addis Alem Holetta
3. Arsi: Found in Arsi, Bale & eastern Shoa
4. Bale: Found in Bale, JemJem
5. Goffa (Goffa Dwarf): Found in Goffa, Sawla
6. Guraghe: Found in Guraghe, Hadiya
7. Hammer: Found in South omo zone
8. Harar: Found in Harar highlands
9. Jem-Jem (Black Highland Cattle): Found in Highlands of Sidamo –
Jem Jem area, north Borana
10. Jijiga: Found in Jijiga and neighboring area of eastern Hararghe
11. Mursi: Found in South Omo zone
12. Ogaden Zebu (Lowland Zebu): Found in
13. Smada: Found in Gayint,Smada highlands
 II. Large East African Zebu
 Arsi: Found in Arsi, Bale & eastern Shoa
 Breed Group Name: Large East African Zebu
 Subgroup Information: Abyssinian Shorthorned Zebu
 Barka: Found in the border of Ethiopian and Eritrean
 Breed Group Name: Large East African Zebu
 Subgroup Information: North Sudan Zebu
 Ethiopian Boran: Found in Borana, lowlands of Bale & part of Somali
 Breed Group Name: Large East African Zebu
 Subgroup Information: Boran
 Somali Boran: Found in Somali region (eastern Ethiopia) & eastern
Hararghe
 Breed Group Name:Large East African Zebu
 Subgroup Information:Boran
 Murle:
 Breed Group Name: Large East African Zebu
 Subgroup Information: South Sudan Zebu
 III. Sanga Breed Group
 Danakil/Adal, Adali, Afar, Kereyu, Keriyu: Found in Northeastern
lowlands, Afar, Rift Valley areas, east & north Shoa

 Raya-Azebo: found in raya Azebo district of Tigray near lake Ashenge

 Abigar/Anuak/
Found in Western lowlands, Gambella, (Akobo) Adjacent areas of
southern lowlands as far south as southern Omo
 Dinka/Nuer/

IV. Zenga Breed Group

• Zenga=Intermediate Sanga *Zebu /Zenga
 Fogera: Found around lake Tanna, Gojam & Gondar)
 Horro: Found in Wollega (Horro Gudru) western Shoa, Keffa Jimma &
Illubabor
 Arado: Found in Northern Shire,Adwa,Agme
 V. Commercial Composites Breed Group
• Breed Group Name: Commercial Composites
 Wegera
 Semein
 Qocherie
 Mahbere-Slassie/Monastery
 Dembia

VIII. West African Zebu Group

Red Fulani Cattle
• Found in west of Gambella (Ethio - Sudan boarder)
• Common Name/Synonym: Bunaji, Yakanaji,
Akou, White Bororo, Fellata, White Kano
• Breed Group Name: West African Zebu
• Subgroup Information: Fulani
 VI. Humpless Shorthorn Breed Group
• Sheko: Humpless (Brachyceros)
• Found in South-western Ethiopia
• Breed Group Name: Humpless Shorthorns
• Are believed to be the last remnants of the original
hump less Shorthorn (Bos taurus) cattle in eastern
Africa.
• At present some of the Sheko manifest small humps
that they inherited from zebu introgression.
• The breed is now considered endangered by gradual
interbreeding with local zebu and sanga (Abigar).
• Believed to have some level of trypanotolerance.
VII. Humpless Longhorn Breed Group
• Kuri Cattle: Hamitic Long Horn
• Common Name/Synonym: Baharie, Bare, Borrie,
Boundouma, Dongole, Kouburi, Buduma, White Lake
Chad, Boenca, Boyenca
• Found in Djicao, Gambella region
Temperate Breeds of beef cattle

1.Aberdeen Angus

2.Hereford

3.Galloway

4.Charolais

5.Brahman

6.Simmental
 Temperate Breeds of beef cattle
1. Aberdeen Angus
• Aberdeen Angus is solid black in color and are polled
• They are black polled early maturing cattle producing high quality beef with an
even deposition of fat in the muscle.
• The bone is small and fine and there is a high proportion of meat in the carcass.
• It was selected in northeast Scotland to thrive (gain weight) on a simple diet.
• The high carcass quality is passed on to crossed progeny.
• They are used for specialized beef production by crossing with beef type dams
and also for producing beef from dairy herd crossings.
 2. Hereford
• A red coat color and a white face characterize Herefords.
• Polled Herefords have the same characteristics, but are hornless (polled).
• A red breed with a characteristic white face and other white markings.
• Hereford cattle are relatively early maturing and are particularly suitable for
fattening on grass pasture, as they are excellent grazers.
• They are hardy and the breeding cows are normally kept out at grass all the
year round.
• Most strains are horned, but a polled type has been evolved
 3. Galloway
They are hardy beef cattle.
These are black with a brownish tinge (shade), and with a white belt
encircling the body.
 They are frequently bred on poor land in severe weather conditions.
Crossed calves are belted and polled.
Although slow maturing, the carcasses are of good quality without an
excess of fat.
 4. Charolais
It is the French beef breed.
Charolais are white or cream-colored, white or very light in color.
It is horned with a proportionately small head.
In France they have been extensively used for crossing with dairy cows to
give calves with good beef characteristics.
 5. Brahman
 Usually white in color, with large droopy ears, and a large dewlap (the large
fold of skin around the neck).
 Developed in the gulf area of the south-western United States
 It is a zebu type derived from different strains.
 The Brahman breed was originally developed in humid and sub humid tropical
climate, but cattle of this breed are now breed in many regions of tropical and
subtropical world.
 The Brahman is essentially a beef animal that grows well on poor, dry grazing
and also responds to feedlot management.
 6. Simmental
• It is a dual-purpose breed, originated from Switzerland
• Ranges in color from red and white, red in colour with white markings on the head, belly, legs
and tail switch.
• Have a large mature size, grow rapidly and lay down fat at a later age than the smaller breeds.
• Bulls of these breeds are useful for crossing with cows of the dairy breeds particularly
Ayrshire, Guernsey and jersey.
• Their early maturing qualities improve the growth rate of their progeny out of slow maturing
cows and the carcasses tend to have a higher muscle to bone ratio.
• However, the calves of some of these crosses are large at birth.
• Have dressing percentage of 53% for cows, 65% for young and 62% for calves.
 Body weight of bulls > 1000- 1200 kg bull
 Limousine bull
Gelvieh bull
5.3. Beef Fattening Systems in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia there are three types of fattening

systems.
 traditional,

 by- product based, and

 Hararghe types of fattening.

1. Traditional highland systems
• Oxen are usually sold after the end
of plowing season in poor body
condition;
• Meat yields obtained from this type
of oxen are low;
• The beef is poor quality;
• Returns are often inadequate to buy
a replacement
• No strategic feeding of good
quality forage to fatten animals
before selling
 2. By-product-Based fattening
(Intensive or Semi-intensive)
• Practiced around urban and per-
urban area
• Agro-industrial by-product are
the main sources of feed
• Grazing land unavailable and
crop-residues significant
roughage source
• Commercial feedlot with
o confined yard area
o watering and feeding facilities
o where livestock are completely
handled or mechanically fed
 The parastatal and private based intensive
commercial fattening system is a more recent
development.
 3. Hararghe fattening system
 market oriented fattening system in Hararghe
areas
 commonly practiced by almost all farmers
 farmers practice cut and- carry feeding
systems
 use high seed rate to enhance maize and
sorghum biomass, then thin excess to feed
animals.
 It is unique FS in which the feeding system is
zero grazing.
 Use roasted legume grains, lentils, and yeast as
part of animal feed
 Food leftover, by products
The major feed resources are: sorghum and maize stover, leaves, thinned
sterile plants, sweet potato leaves, and weeds grown in crop fields.
 Hararghe fattening…
 But currently some of the farmers
supplement their bull/ oxen with
different agro industrial by products
such as wheat bran and oil seed by-
products
 Farmers
 buy young bull from the
adjacent lowlands pastoral areas,
 use them for several years, then
fatten and
 sell them before they become
old and emaciated
 5.4. Specialized fattening programs
Cow-Calf Program
 Cow-calf production is the first stage of the Photos for Cow-Calf Program
beef production process.
 One of the key aspects of the beef industry in
the United States and many other countries.
 A method of raising a permanent herd of beef cows to
produce calves for later sale
 Heifer may be retained for herd expansion or sold
along with the steers to feedlot
 cow–calf operation is to produce young beef
cattle.
 There are several ways of starting a commercial beef
cow-calf herd: through purchasing
o Heifers (weaning/breeding age)
o Entire cow herd
o Individual cows from established herds. 65
5.2. Stocker and Feeder Calf Programs
1. Stockers
o weaned calves grazing pasture to enhance
growth prior to finishing and slaughter;
o younger, weigh less, and are of lower
condition (finish) than “feeders”
2. Feeders:
 The animals are sold to feed yards for
further weight gain
 Weaned calves grazing pasture and of
sufficient weight and maturity to be placed
on high‐energy rations for finishing;
 older, weigh more, and carry more condition
(finish) than “stockers”

66
 5.5. Principles of beef cattle production
5.4.1 Growth and development in Beef Cattle
 Growth refers to change in size and developmental changes associated
with it.
 Growth is a dynamic process, which continues through the life of an
individual animal.
 Growth leads to maturity, which is the process of becoming fully
developed.
 Development is a gradual progression from a lower to a higher stage of
complexity, in association with a gradual expansion in size.
 Hyperplasia: an increase in the number of cells
 Hypertrophy: an increase in the size of cells
 Chronological and physiological growth
 Chronological growth refers to increase in size or body
function due to an animal growing older while,
 Physiological growth refers to increase in size or body
function due to increase in tissue and organ growth and
development.
 As farm animals grow there is change in weight and
conformation (body proportion).
 Thus it develops locomotive, tactile skill, intelligence and
reproductive function
 Measurement of growth

Objective measurements: include weight, loin-eye area and back

fat thickness
Subjective measurements: visual appraisal of growth

Objective measurements
 Live body weight (LBW)
 Average daily gain (ADG)= LBW/Days fed
 Weight per day of age (WDA)
 Relative growth rate (RGR)= Gain per day per unit LBW on that day
 Body surface measurements (body length, body height, heart girth
etc)
 Carcass development in Beef cattle
In cattle, tissue develops in the following order: Organs, Skeleton (bones),
Muscle and Fat.
Bone is considered an early maturing tissue as compared to muscle and fat;
that is the greater portion of its growth and development is completed earlier in
the growth period.
At birth there are about two parts of muscle to one part of bone in the carcass
of a calf

 Muscle represents the major body tissue

 Muscle is a later maturing than bone and its increase is proportionately greater;
thus, great deal of muscle growth occurs mid-way (post-weaning) through the growth
period.
Muscle continues to gain faster than the other tissues during juvenile growth with a
resulting increase in the muscle: bone ratio and gradually decreases.
As the animal approaches maturity a fattening phase takes over and in grossly over
fat mature cattle the weight of fat can equal the weight of muscle
Fat deposition can be divided into four common depots:

1. Internal fat – surrounds the organs (WASTE FAT).

2. Intermuscular fat (Seam fat) – between the muscle

fiber bundles (WASTE FAT).

3. Subcutaneous fat – on the surface of the animal under the

hide (WASTE FAT).

4. Intramuscular fat – within the muscle, referred to as

marbling (TASTE FAT)

 Factors Affecting Growth
 Here below are mentioned some important factors that determine the
growth of beef cattle animals.

 Age: Younger animals are capable of growing faster than older ones

• Sex (Sex differences)

 Males have more rapid growth rate than females due to high androgen hormone
in male

 Growth rate and FCE are higher in intact males than in castrates.

 Under conditions of good nutrition bulls grow faster than steers and steers
faster than heifers.

 Hormones that affect growth in beef cattle includes: Somatothrophic hormone,

male hormone (androgen and testosterone) female hormones (estrogen and
progesterone).
 Factors Affecting Growth
 Breed/Genetic
 Heavy and lean cattle breeds grow faster than small breeds
 Improved breeds and cross breeds gain weight faster than native
animals.
 Nutrition
 Animal fed well grows faster than animals fed poor.

 There is direct relationship between feeding level and body weight gain,
But excessive feeding early in life will cause fattening and may inhibit
bone growth and organ development.

 Antibiotics
 Improve growth rate and feed efficiency by reducing the incidence of
diseases
 5.4.2 Transport, pre-slaughter care and slaughtering
 Selecting the mode of transport
When deciding on the mode of transport, convenience, and cost, must be the
major criteria.
Cost-effective, and reduces stress.
Traveling great distances on the hoof, this is not advisable where the abattoir
is the destination.
Rest and watering points must be identified over the whole route, and the
distances traveled each day must not be excessive
Rail transport is usually cheaper than is motor transport, and
should always be considered for all forms of livestock
 Truck design: should be taken into account when evaluating the suitability
of a vehicle, or railway truck, for cattle transport:
 Floor space: This should not be less than 1.4 m2 per adult bovine.
A small calf will require 0.3 m2. the roof height should not be less than 1.6m.
 Sh/be solid and impervious, and must be fitted with grids or cleats to prevent
slipping.
There must be no spaces between the floor and the side panels.
 The sides of the vehicle, and the partitions, must be strong enough to hold
the heaviest animal.
With solid surfaces and openings not allow legs or heads to become stuck.
 Ventilation must be adequate
 Gates warrant attention.
Off-loading gates could span the full width of the truck.
The gate used for loading animals ideally, should be narrow,
but only if it is to be used in conjunction with a loading crush
 Pre-slaughter handling
 Composition changes after animals are last removed from feed
should be minimal with respect to levels of carcass fatness or M:
B ratio provided this period is not excessively long.
 The main area of concern is whether there will be some loss of
carcass weight as this will commonly represent a direct monetary
loss.
 Most of the loss in live weight for the initial period following
removal from feed is in the form of decreased gut-fill with no
carcass weight loss.
 At what stage live-weight losses start to include some loss of
carcass weight is the key question.
 Carcass Evaluation and Grading
Factors Affecting Carcass Value
Beef carcasses are made up of muscle, fat, and bone with fat
being the most variable component in most situations.
One animal will yield more beef than another if its dressing-out
% is greater, if carcass fat % is lower, or if carcass muscle to
bone (M:B) ratio is higher,
True value of beef is taken to be determined by the quantity of
lean saleable beef produced, the quality of that beef, and the
value of other products.
Factors affecting carcass composition and beef quality are
discussed below:
 Factors affecting saleable beef yield
Saleable beef is defined here as the boneless product with no
visible fat except intramuscular or marbling fat, although it is
recognized that consumers frequently see meat on sale
containing some subcutaneous or intramuscular fat.
 Breed and breed-cross effects on composition
 Composition differences between the sex/castration classes
 Nutritional effects on beef cattle composition at a set
weight
Methods for Evaluating Carcass Composition
Beef grading is a method of evaluating a carcass in order to
group carcasses with similar characteristics into similar
‘grades.
It is paramount that producers, packers, retailers and ideally,
consumers, understand the beef grading system.
Consumers desire cuts of beef that are lean, nutritious, and
possess desirable eating characteristics.
USDA BEEF GRADING SYSTEM
Even if information for our country is not yet available, it is
essential to learn and adopt the evaluation methods used in
beef cattle.
 Beef carcass grading is divided into quality grading and yield
grading.
 A. Quality Grading
 Quality grades indicate the factors related to the sensory characteristics of
tenderness, flavor, color, texture and juiciness.
 Marbling is the flecks and streaks of white fat you find distributed throughout
the meat.
 In general, the higher the degree of marbling, the more tender, juicy, and
flavorable the meat will be.
Age/maturity also plays in an important part,
Beef is best in flavor and texture when cattle are between 18 and 24 months old,
so the grading favors younger animals.
• There are eight distinct grades of beef 1. Prime 5. Commercial
recognized by the USDA, in order of 2. Choice 6. Utility
descending quality they are: 3. Select 7. Cutter and
4. Standard 8. Canner.
Prime :This carcass has superior marbling,
proper carcass conformation, and adequate
maturity. the highest grade a piece of beef can receive Prime

Choice: This is the most economical and most

desirable carcass grade. Adequate marbling and
carcass conformation are required
Choice
Select: (Used to be called "Good"). Must have
slight marbling

Standard: Usually older animals and thin animals. Select

Commercial, Cutter, Canner, Utility. They are

typically not sold raw for foodservice. This meat
is usually processed into lunch meats, soup, and
canned meat products.
B. Yield Grading - Yield grades estimate the quantity or the
amount of closely trimmed boneless retail cuts from the loin,
round, chuck and rib.
There are five USDA yield grades, 1 through 5.
Yield grade 1 carcasses have the highest yield of retail cuts and
yield grade 5, the lowest.
The expected boneless retail yield from the round, loin, ribs and
chuck is as follows:
Yield grade Percent of carcass weight in boneless, uniformly
trimmed retail cuts

1st More than 52.3

2nd 52.3 to 50.1
3rd 50.0 to 47.8
4th 47.7 to 45.5
5th less than 45.5
The four factors used to calculate yield grade are:
1. 12th rib fat thickness
2. Rib-eye area
3. Kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (% KPH)
4. Hot carcass weight
 Fat thickness - The amount of fat on a beef carcass has the
greatest effect on the percent retail yield.
As the percent fat increases, the percent muscle decreases.

 Rib eye area-Total square inches of rib eye is used to estimate

muscular development of a beef carcass.
This measurement can be taken objectively between the 12th and 13th rib.
A calibrated transparent plastic grid placed over the rib eye is
commonly used to determine the area.

 Hot carcass weight - Hot carcass weight, is the weight of the

carcass after slaughter.
 Chapter Six

6. Sheep, Goat Production and Mgt

 Lesson Objectives
 To identify some important indigenous breeds of sheep and
goats in Ethiopia.

 To describe the main features of important indigenous breeds

of sheep and goats in Ethiopia.

 To describe some important breeds of sheep and goats that

introduced into Ethiopia

 To describe some important breed identification parameters.

 Introduction
 Ethiopia has one of the largest populations of small ruminants (42.9 million sheep and
52.5 million goats) in the world.
 They are the first ruminants to be domesticated by man (2.5 million years ago)

 Sheep and goat production is the practice of raising sheep and goats for various
purposes such as meat, milk, wool, and leather.

 Both sheep and goats are relatively easy to raise and require minimal inputs
compared to other livestock species.

 Sheep and goats are widely adapted to different climates and are found in all production
systems.
 They also have lower feed requirements compared to cattle because of their small body size.

 This allows easy integration of small ruminants into different farming systems
 Common Terminologies Used in Sheep and Goat Production:
Ewe: a mature female sheep • Doe - female goat.
Ram: a mature male sheep • Buck - male goat at any age.
Lamb: new born • Kid: A new born goat (either sex).
• Billy: A young male goat.
Ram lamb: Immature male lamb
• Nanny Kid: A young female goat.
Ewe lamb: Immature female lamb
• Kidding: The process or act of giving
Lambing: The process of giving birth birth for goat
• Yearling: goat or sheep of either sex age between 1 and 2 years of age that may or may
not have produced offspring.
• Wether - male goat or sheep that has been castrated when young.
• Flock: A group (3 or more) of sheep or goat
• Mutton: Meat of sheep whereas, Chevon: Meat of goat
 6.1. Domestication, distribution and zoological classification of sheep and goats
6.1.1. Origin and domestication of sheep and goats
Sheep
• Most sources agree that they originated from
mouflon/wild sheep with prominent curved horns/.

 There are two wild populations of mouflons still in

existence:
a. The Asiatic mouflon which is still found in the mountains
of Asia Minor and southern Iran and,

b. The European mouflon of which the only existing

members are on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica.
 Origin and Domestication of Sheep and Goats

Sheep

sheep is said to be the first ruminant that had been domesticated by man,
northern Iraq; in 10,500 yrs. ago

Domesticated from wild spp of sheep

The Argali (ovis ammon) of central Asia

The Urial (ovis vignei) also of Asia

The moufflon (Ovis musimon) of Asia and Europe

Wild species of sheep never existed in Africa

From an Asian origin, sheep spread to Europe and Africa.

 Origin and Domestication of Goats
• Goat Originated and domesticated in the regions of south west Asia
The time of domestication was estimated to be around 9000 - 7000 BC

Domesticated from the wild spp

Capra hircus (the true goats and bezoar belong to this species).
Capra ibex(the ibexes belong to this species).
Capra caucasica (Caucasian tur)
Capra pyrenaica (the Spanish ibex).
Capra falconeri (Markhor of Asia)
the main ancestor of the domestic goats (Capra hircus) is the Bezoar of south
west Asia.
 Zoological Classification of Sheep and Goats

Sheep Goats
• Order of Artiodactyla • Order of Artiodactyla

• Suborder of Ruminantia • Suborder of Ruminantia

• Family of Bovidae • Family of Bovidae

• Subfamily of Caprinae • Subfamily of Caprinae

• Genus of Ovis • Genus of Capra

• Species of aries (domesticated • Species of hircus (domesticated

sheep belong to this species). goats belong to this species).

Scientific name:- Capra
Scientific name ovis aries (Ovis
hircus(Capra hircus, 2n = 60)
aries, 2n = 54)
 Geographical Distribution of Sheep and Goats

Both sheep and goats are widely distributed through out the arid, semi-arid and
humid rainforest regions
Sheep represent 28.9 %
Goats 20.2 %
In the arid tropics goats represent the highest proportion as compared to sheep.
 Rank of Ethiopia in Shoat Population
 Top 10 Countries with Top 10 Countries with highest
highest number of goats number of sheep
Goats Sheep

6th rank
6th rank

CSA Data of Ethiopia 42.9 million sheep and 52.5 million goats)
 6.2. Attributes of sheep and goats

Preferred environments
 Sheep and goat are among the livestock that can adapt to
environmental heat stress via a combination of physiological,
morphological, behavioral, and genetic bases
Sheep
sheep are more sensitive to environmental changes than other
domestic animals, however they can exist every where
Sheep adapted to humid tropics are somehow smaller in size
compared to those adapted to the drier climatic regions
Goat
prefer sandy soil in the dry tropics rather than in the wet humid
tropics and perform best and exist in the dry tropics
They are resistant to dehydration and show a wide range of feeding
habits that enable them to survive in the dry regions as they can
browse and graze
 Physical Features that differentiate goats from sheep
 Physically, goats can be differentiated/identified from sheep by the presence of
 beards and wattles or tassels,
 presence of scent glands (males) which produce Capric (caproic acid) that
has (specific) unpleasant smell/odour.
 Coat color is light hairy with some exceptions, like Angora and Bedouin
goats.
Sheep Goat
Horn Either circle or polled rudimentary, or twisted, Upwarm pointing and long
without a regular direction
Tail Pointed down wards or hangs down wards Pointed upwards
 The Importance of Sheep and Goats
Sheep and goats are multipurpose animals producing meat, milk skins, wool
and fibre and manure for the owners.

Meat: primary suppliers of meat especially in most tropical countries

Milk: Goat milk is produced in many countries, but sheep milk is produced in
certain regions due to low milk yield of sheep.

Goat milk is richer in fat, protein and Ash Ca, P and chlorine contents
than cow milk

Goat milk has high proportion of small fat globules which can be easily
digested and absorbed
Skins: Africa produces from goats and sheep about 33 and 29%
respectively, of the total skins for export
Wool hair: coarse wool can be used for making carpets, ropes, blanket
 Advantages of small ruminants over large ruminants
 Higher fertility rate: Have short generation interval to increase their
production (can produce two crops per year) more young in life time

 Low investment cost: Facility required to maintain them is very low

 They have an ability to survive in harsh environmental condition on low quality

and quantity or relatively small amount of feed and water.

 Low mortality rate

 Have less risk to the owner: in case of incident, disease and predator

 They are more convenient to slaughter

 They are easier to home consumption where you have little storage facility like
 Disadvantages of sheep and goat production

• Goats are fussy eater, damage tree, relatively

difficult to control & manage it & also may
requires more labour.
• They are seasonal breeder & affected by duration
of day & night.
• Disease and parasite- less response for treatment
and lower in resistance to disease.
• Sheep are vulnerable to predators.
  The major factors that need to be considered in identifying sheep or goat breeds or
types include.

1.Adaptation trait: these are the most important phenotypic traits

which in one way or another might influence the adaptability of the
animal to the prevailing environmental conditions (Tolerance to
disease, parasite, heat etc)

2. Reproductive traits: (female reproductive performance such as age

at puberty and first lambing, conception rate, prolificacy, etc. made
reproductive performance)

3. Production traits (birth and weaning weight, growth rate. carcass

yield and quality, fibre quality etc. and survival rate)
 6.3. Sheep and goats breeds
6.3.1 Criteria for breed classification
Domestic sheep and Goats vary in:
Origin, Size, Shape of the body, Nature of coat cover,
Productive ability, Reproductive capacity,
Adaptability, Size and shape of horns,
Tail, Ears and profile, as well as special breed
characteristics
Methods of classification of sheep, Based on
1. Tail type (Fat tailed, long tailed, short tailed and fat rumped )
2. Coat covers
3. Function/use of sheep. (Meat type, dairy, Wool type)
4. Origin or place of distribution
 Methods of Classification of Sheep….
1. Based on tail type
Tail type - All wild species of sheep had short-thin tails.
 The different tail types have been developed after domestication as the result of
natural selection and selection by breeders.
1. Long-tailed sheep breed
a. Long thin tailed: (Merinos, Rambouillet, etc) common in Europe, America, Australia
and New Zealand, East and South Africa.
 They have generally fine wool and are mainly kept for wool production. The tail
does not contain excessive fat.
b. Long thick tailed: They have coarse wool or hairy coat cover. E.g. Desert Sudanese
sheep.
 They are said to have been descended from crossing between the fat tailed
(tropical) and long thin tailed (temperate) sheep breeds
 Methods of Classification of Sheep….

2. Short tailed sheep: They are found in northern Europe and Eastern parts of Asia
and Central Asia.

 They are mainly of coarse woolen breed except the small rain forest sheep
that are found in the humid tropics of Africa with hairy coat cover.

3. Fat-tailed Sheep: Found in west Asia, North and East Africa. Examples of this
sheep breed of Ethiopia are the Menz, Tucur and Arsi-Bale with coarse wool.
The tail serves as a storage site for excess fat which endures the sheep to
withstand long periods of semi-starvation without any problem.

4. Fat-rumped sheep: In Africa these sheep breed predominate in Somali and from
there they have spread up to South, East and Horn of Africa
 Classification based on Coat Cover
Based on coat cover, domestic sheep can be again classified into three
main groups as wool, Hair, and Fur sheep.
1. The Wool Sheep:
a. Fine wool sheep: they yield fine wool for closing purposes like
sweaters and overcoats. They are mainly the long thin tailed
sheep of temperate breeds
b. Coarse wool sheep: This sheep breed yield coarse wool for
carpet/mat making and are mainly the fat tailed or fat ramped
tropical sheep breeds.
2. The Hair Sheep: They are primarily found in the tropics. The coat
cover has almost no commercial value, but the skins of these sheep
have greater value than the wool sheep breed because of the skin is
thicker.
3. The Fur Sheep: Matured sheep of this breed produce coarse wool for
carpet or mat making but they are known for the pelt of the new born
lambs for making over coats and head wearing/huts. An example of
the sheep breed is Karakul sheep of Ukraine.
Classification Based on Function/Primary Use: Based on their
function sheep can be classified as mutton, wool, fur and milk/dairy types.
 6.3.2. Ethiopian sheep breeds
1. Black head Somali (fat rumped type) also known
as Ogaden and Berber Black head.
• Distribution: over the Somali areas and horn of
Africa.
• Characteristics: large deposit of fat on the ramp
and at the base of the tail/hind quarter of a sheep.
– Belong to the fat rumped group,
– Weigh 30-45 kg & 60 –68 cm high, they are polled, have
small ears
– The coat cover consists of short hairs.

 Colour: black head with white body & legs. The black
area can vary from head to neck & in some cases to
shoulders.
 Utility: known for their meat & skins.
 Management system: They are well adapted to arid
conditions, hence kept by nomadic people.
 2. Adal or afar sheep: (fat tailed)
• Distribution: they are mainly distributed in the danakil and the lower
valley of the Awash.
• Characteristics: they are polled, they have long lop ears and the tail
has a wide base,
• It is a small-sized breed with mature weight ranging 30–35
kilograms (kg),
 hardy and tolerate periods of drought
relatively well
 have small ears and usually have a dewlap
and thick layers of fat on the brisket, Hair is
short and coarse
• Colour: solid pale with other colors ranging
from shaded white to light brown.
• Utility: known for their high quality meat.
• Management system: kept by nomadic people.
 3. Abyssinian (Ethiopian) (fat tailed type)
• Distribution: found through out the high land areas of the
country. May be originated from Arabian peninsula.
• Characteristics: Females are usually polled and males
have various types of horns. May have ruff or mane, a
long hair on the back of sheep’s neck & shoulders. They
have long legs.
• Colour: they are mostly brown colored but may be
reddish, blond, black, white or mixed/patchy.
• Size: they are of medium size, weighing on average 45-
52 kg and 74 cm high.
 Utility: Meat and skin milk yield is low, only sufficient for the
lamb, but surplus milk can be consumed fresh or made into butter.
 Management system: adapted to crop-livestock farming system
(mixed farming system).
 4. Menz (fat tailed type):
•Distribution: through out the
Menz and Selale area of Shewa.

• Characteristics:
– Males are usually horned, females polled,
– The coat color is black or dark brown, perhaps with white spots
on the head, neck and legs. Other colors such as light brown,
roan and white also exist
– the most prominent coarse wool bearing sheep in Ethiopia
• Size: they are of medium size weighing on average 30-35 kg, they
are woolly type.
• Utility: for wool production and meat. Shearing is done twice a year
with a yield of 1-1.6kg. The wool is used for coarse blanket making
• Management system: Adapted to mixed farming systems.
 5. Horro: (thin tailed type)
• Distribution: they are distributed in west
Ethiopia around Horro gudru area in
Wellega.
• Characteristics:
– males have offend ruff mien (mane),
they are mainly polled
– The body is covered with short, shiny
hair

• Color: They color is light brown.

• Size: medium
• Utility: they are known for their twin
births. Hence they are mainly
maintained for meat & skins.
• Management system: Mixed farming
systems. Horro Sheep
6. Arsi- Bale (fat –tailed type):
• Distribution: they are distributed through out the high land
areas of Harerghe, Bale and Arsi.
• Characteristics:
– Males are horned, females are either polled or may have
rudimentary horns. They have woolly under coat, (soft &
white hair).
• Color: varies from dark brown to grey, with white spots.
• Utility: They are known for their meat & skin.
• Management system: They are kept in mixed farming
systems
 7. Washera (dangla) sheep
• The Washera (Dangla) sheep is found predominantly in
West and East Gojam zones of the Amhara Region
extending to the south of Lake Tana

• Washera sheep weigh about 2.8, 13.8 and 22.7 kg at

birth, weaning and six months of age, respectively

• Washera sheep have high twinning rates

 Important Exotic Sheep breed
a. Awassi sheep
• Awassi sheep are widely distributed in the Middle East with a range covering
Israel, southwest Iran, southern Iraq, Syria and northeast Arabia.
• These are fat-tailed sheep known mainly for their meat and coarse wool along
with dairy potential.
• The average, traditionally maintained mature ewe weight is between 40 and
50 kg.

• Awassi rams and ewes were imported in

1980, 1984 and 1994 from Israel to be
crossed with the Menz sheep at
Amedguya and Debre Birhan sheep
breeding and multiplication centers.
 2. Corriedale sheep
• Originated in New Zealand and is a cross between Lincoln
and Merino with a later addition of the Leicester breed into
the crossing.
• The intent was to develop a dual purpose breed that could
produce medium wool as well as a good quality carcass
• Corriedale sheep were used in Debre Birhan and Amedguya
sheep breeding ranches for many years from the 1970’s
through the early 1990’s to produce crossbred
Corriedale/Menz animals for distribution
 3. Dorper sheep
• The Dorper is a meat breed developed in South Africa
• It is a crossbred between the Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian
breeds. Dorper sheep are also widely distributed in some African
countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya
• The body of Dorper sheep, except the belly and the face, is covered
with a mixture of hair and some coarse wool.
• Dorpers have a black head and neck with a white body, but there are
also solid white Dorper sheep
 4. Hampshire sheep
• The Hampshire breed was established in 1815 in the
United Kingdom. Hampshire sheep are famous for early
maturity and carcass quality
• They are also known to produce good wool with an
average staple length of 9 cm. The breed is widely used
for crossbreeding throughout the world to produce top
quality lambs for meat production
• Crossbred animals appeared to have no adaptability
problems. However, in all cases, farmers complained that
the Hampshire crosses produced poor quality skins.
 6.3.3. Methods of Classification of Goat breeds
 Goat breeds can be classified according to:
Origin,
ear shape and length,
function,
body size/weight and height at withers
a. Origin: Based on origin goats may be considered as European,
oriental or Asiatic or African origin.
• But Classification based on origin may be not exact criterion,
because some breeds may be common to both Asiatic and Oriental
areas due to movement of goats between territories.
b. Ear shape and length: This more applicable to sheep than goats,
because in goats there little variation in ear shape and length as
compared to sheep with great variation. This method should be
combined with their origin.

c. Function: Goats have been classified in terms of their major

functions as meat, milk/dairy and skin or fibre. But goats in the
tropics have not adequately bred for specific purposes to
identify them in terms of their function (multipurpose)

d. Body size/weight: This method is most widely used method. It

requires body weight data for individual breeds.
e. Height at withers: This method depends on the body size/weight the goats and
divides goats into three major groups.
1. Large breeds: They measure over 65 cm in height at withers but should
weigh 20 – 65 kg and such be dual purpose in function.
2. Small breeds: They should measure between 51- 65 cm in height and should
weigh also between 19 – 37 kg and should be either meat or milk type in
function
3. Dwarf goats: Should measure under 50 cm in height and should weigh 18 –
25kg and should be of meat type.
In general, classification based on height at withers is more precise than other
methods,
but gives little or no information/attention to anatomically important body
features, like ear shape, horn type, colour, wattles and beards.
It does not also provide any information about the correlation between height
and weight.
It roughly relates height with body weight without giving correct figures.
 Types of Goats in Ethiopia
1. The Nubian family, 3. The Somali family
Nubian
a. Short eared Somali goats
2. The Rift Valley family,
b. Long eared Somali goats
a. Abergelle,
c. Hararghe highland goats
b. Afar,
c. Arsi Bale, 4. The Small East African family

d. Woyto Guji and a. Western highlands

e. Worre. b. Western low land
c. Central highland
d. Keffa goats.
 Rift Valley family…
a. Abergelle goats
• The Abergelle goat is believed to be a relative of the Afar and
Worre goats.
• It is found along the Tekeze River and some parts of Alamata
of the Tigray Region, and Wag Hamra (Sekota) and East
Gondar zones of the Amhara Region.
• Abergelle goats are stocky, compact and well-built
• Both males and females have horns and in most cases the
horns in males are much bigger and spiral shaped
• The hair is short and smooth in both sexes and males have
beards and ruffs.
• Mean height at the shoulders is 71.4 cm and 65 cm for adult
bucks and does, respectively
 Rift Valley family…
b. Afar goats
• The Afar goat is also referred to as the Adal and Danakil goat. Its
natural habitat is the Afar Region but it can also be found in
northern and western Hararghe zones of the Oromia Region.
• Its distribution extends to the Afar area of Eritrea and northern
Djibouti. Afar goats are well adapted to arid environments where
they are watered every three or four days
• The Afar goat has a concave facial profile, narrow face and
forward-pointed ears. The breed is also characterized as being
leggy. Both males and females are horned, though females have
smaller horns
 Rift Valley family…

c. Arsi-Bale goats
• The Arsi-Bale goats are widely distributed covering the whole of
Arsi, Bale and western Hararghe zones of the Oromia Region, and
the high altitude areas of Sidama Zone of the Southern Region.

• Arsi-Bale goats are also found in most areas of the Rift Valley
from Lake Abaya to south Shoa Zone.

• They are mostly kept in small flocks in mixed farming areas

 Nubian family…
d. Begayit (Barka) goats
• It is believed that the Begayit, also known as Barka in Eritrea, was
derived from Nubian type goats. These goats are mainly found in
western Tigray.
• Begayit goats have a predominantly Roman type facial profile.
They are tall with mean height at the shoulders being 74.3 cm for
adult bucks and 67.9 cm for does
• The coat color of Begayit goats is mainly white with brown patches.
Their hair is particularly long around the thighs.
 e. Central Highland goats Small East African family…

• Central Highland goats are related to Western Highland and Keffa

goats.
• These goats are mainly found in the Central highlands, west of the
Rift Valley, Wollo, Gondar and Shoa.
• The Central Highland goats have a predominantly straight facial
profile.
• All male goats have curved or straight horns which are oriented
backwards.
• The coat color varies, the predominant color being red-brown,
and the hair is smooth. Males have beards and ruffs. In some
cases, wattles are also present
 Somali family…
f. Hararghe Highland goats

• Hararghe Highland goats are believed to have been derived from

Short-eared Somali goats.
• These goats are small in size. The coat color is white, brown or
black and the hair is short and shiny
• The goats have a straight-to-concave facial profile.
• Both males and females are horned but there could also be a high
proportion of polled goats among the flock. Horns could be straight
or curved
 Somali family…
g. Somali goats
• The Short- and Long-eared Somali goats are related.
• The Short-eared Somali goats are widely distributed in northern
and eastern Ogaden, Dire Dawa.
• The Long-eared Somali goats are found in all parts of the Ogaden,
lowlands of Bale and Borana zones of Oromia and in some parts
of Sidama zone of the Southern Region.
• The Short-eared Somali goats are smaller than the Long
eared ones.
• Mean height at shoulders for adult Short-eared Somali bucks and
does is 64.9 cm and 61.8 cm, respectively.
• The corresponding figures for Long-eared Somali adult male and
female goats are 75.8 cm and 69.4 cm, respectively
 Exotic goat breeds
a. Anglo-Nubian
• The Anglo-Nubian is a dual purpose breed known for both meat
and milk production.
• The breed was developed through the crossing of Jamnapari
(Indian) and Zaraiby (Egypt) breeds with Nubian and Damascus
ancestry.
• Anglo-Nubians are polled, have a convex facial profile and lopped
ears.
• The breed is well-adapted to tropical environments
 Boer goat

• The Boer goat was developed in South Africa through crossing

Africander, South African Common, indigenous Bantus, European,
Angora, and Indian blood.
• Boer goats are medium to large, 75–80 cm in height at the
shoulders
• The coat color is white with red or brown on the head and neck
• The hair is short and shiny. Boer goats have horns and large
drooping ears

• The Boer goat is a meat breed but milk and

skin are also important products.
• The breed has good meat conformation,
possessing superior rib, body length and
muscling
 Damascus or Shami goats

• Damascus goats are among the known dairy goat breeds of eastern
Mediterranean countries and Iraq. This breed belongs to the Nubian
group
• The dairy characteristic of this breed has been particularly
developed through breed improvement programs in Syria and
Cyprus
• Damascus goats are tall with a pronounced Roman-type nose.
• Ears are pendulous reaching 25–30 cm in length. The breed is
normally polled
 Saanen goats
• Saanen goats are one of the most prominent dairy breeds developed
in Switzerland.
• Saanen goats have been used for crossbreeding to develop other
dairy subtypes and as a result German, British, Dutch, Israel,
Australian and American Saanen breeds have been developed
• In Ethiopia, there were attempts in the early 1970’s to cross Saanen
with Afar and Highland goat types.
• However, the program was not sustainable since the effort was not
supported by appropriate extension packages including health, feed
and management
 Toggenburg breed

• The Toggenburg breed is also a Swiss dairy goat breed originating

in the Toggenburg valley. The breed has mostly long hair
• The identifying characteristics of this breed are its fawn-to-light
grey-base color, the white stripes on the head running from the
muzzle to the eyes and polls, and its white ears and legs.
• Mature body weight is 65 and 45 kg for males and females,
respectively
• This breed has also been introduced to Ethiopia for crossing to
produce grade dairy goats by crossbreeding with Somali goats
 Quiz
• Write method of classification of sheep
and goat
• Write at least three Ethiopian sheep
and goat breed