this resource potential optimally and more than 45% of the population living under poverty is supported by relief
(TGWADO, 2015). This problem emanated from a number of factors such as low level of management skills, unavailability
of inputs for goat production, needs and interests of individuals, poor agricultural practices and attitude. However, the
above factors have not yet been extensively studied, therefore, there is a need to assess goat husbandry practices and
productivity at farmer’s level to fill the existing problems in the area. Therefore, it is better to systematically describe the
productivity of goats in order to plan and design appropriate research and development interventions that are relevant for
better improvement. Therefore, this study was conducted to fill the existing information gap with regard to husbandry
practices and productivity of goat in Tach Gayint district. Therefore, the objective of this study was characterizing the
smallholder goat husbandry practice and on-monitoring productivity of goat under the existing management condition.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Description of the study area
The study was conducted at Tach Gayint district, Amhara region, Ethiopia. The district is located between 11º23’-
11º44’ north latitudes, and 38º20’- 38º44’ east longitudes. It extends for about 40 kilometers in the north-south direction
and about 44 km in the east-west direction and has a semi- compact shape and an area of 995 km2 and 82540.7 ha.
The topography of the district consists of gorges and rugged terrain (54 %), mountains (23 %), and plain land (22%), and it
is divided into three agro- climatic zones: “Kola” (23.7%) altitude >500, “Woyna Dega” (63%) altitude>1500 and
“Dega”(13.1%) altitude >2300 More than 90 percent of its population lives in rural areas engaged predominantly on
subsistence agricultural production. Agricultural production is mixed crop livestock and crop production is predominantly
rain fed. Average annual rainfall is about 600-1000 mm. The Mean annual maximum temperature ranges between 21-
Sampling Methods and Data Collection
Sampling Techniques. The sampling method was multistage sampling technique. For the purpose of this study agro-
climatic distribution of the district was used in order to stratify the Kebele in the district. Based on topography and agro-
climate of the area, the district was divided into three strata as low land (23.7%), midland (63.2 %) and highland (13.1%),
(TGWADO, 2015). In the second stage, a proportional allocation technique was used in order to determine the number of
sample Kebele from each stratum. In this manner, proportionally, two Kebele from the lowland, three Kebele from the
midland and one Kebele from the highland i.e., a total of six Kebele were selected to undertake the study. Finally,
households used for the study were selected using simple random selection method after identifying the goat owners
from the community. Household that has at least 3 goats were selected for the survey. Accordingly, 30 households from
each Kebele total of 180 households were randomly selected to participate in husbandry practices and productivity study
of goats.
Data Sources. Both primary and secondary data were used on various aspects of goat husbandry practices. The
primary data were collected from sample respondents through structured and semi structured questionnaire and through
monitoring on growth of goats. The questionnaire covers various aspects of goat husbandry practice. Structured
questionnaire was used to collect information on the following variables: purposes of keeping goats, feeds and feeding,
breeding systems, housing, diseases and parasites and veterinary services. Secondary data were obtained from district
Agricultural Development Office, Zonal Agricultural Department, NGOs and other published and unpublished sources. For
data collection, development agents (DA’s) working in the district were recruited, intensively trained and administered the
questionnaire for 180 selected households in selected six Kebeles under the close supervision of the researcher.
Focus group discussion
In addition to informal survey collect qualitative data through focus group discussion before conducting the survey.
Three focus group discussions were held at each agro-ecology with 9-12 key informants selected from the area,
mainly the elders and those who have experienced goat keepers.
Flock monitoring
The study also includes monitoring of the, birth weight, pre -weaning growth rate and survival rate of kids. To make
these monitoring 20 households from the three Kebeles of different agro ecologies (a total of sixty does) that have late
pregnant goats were selected purposively from each three agro-ecologies by the researcher and development agents. The
monitoring was done for three months. The birth weight of the kids was taken as soon as they are born using spring
balance. The subsequent weight of kids was taken at 15 days interval and the analysis was made for birth weight, 60
days and 90 days weight. The live weight measurement was taken before feeding and watering and survival rate of kids
was recorded starting from their birth.
Data analysis
The collected data was organized, summarized and analyzed using SPSS statistical package (SPSS version 20). A
one-way analysis of variance was applied for quantitative dependent variable by a single factor (independent) variable
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Citation: Golla K, Mekuriaw Y, Kassa B, Hailemelekot M (2020). On-farm monitoring of growth performance of indigenous goat in Amhara region of Ethiopia. Online J.