Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Mulugeta Tesfaye

doi:doi:10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18

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Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Mulugeta Tesfaye^*

Published in Innovation (Volume 6, Issue 4)

Received: 1 October 2025 Accepted: 14 October 2025 Published: 26 December 2025

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Abstract

This study investigated farmers’ breeding practices, trait preferences, and dairy cattle performance in Arsi Negele town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia’s cattle genetic diversity is extensive and indigenous breeds are highly adaptable, productivity remains low due to limited genetic improvement and husbandry challenges. A cross-sectional survey involving 150 households from three urban kebele, data on herd structure, breeding systems, socio-economic status, and farmer preferences were collected through questionnaires, participatory appraisals, and direct observations. Results indicate that farmers predominantly prefer high-grade dairy cattle for improved milk yield and reproductive performance, in line with national breeding goals emphasizing high levels of exotic breed genetics. Artificial insemination (AI) and natural mating with improved bulls are practiced. However, AI service delivery faces constraints such as shortages of semen and limited farmer awareness. Cattle constitute the main livestock holding and a primary income source through milk and meat sales. Households display slightly larger family sizes than national averages, with gender-differentiated labor, notably female participation in milking and milk processing. Health management suffers from insufficient veterinary resources despite farmers’ good disease awareness, pushing many to rely on private providers. The study underscores local knowledge and willingness to improve productivity, but structural limitations in AI services, animal health, and feed resources hinder progress. Recommendations include improving semen supply chains, enhancing AI technician training, increasing farmer education on breeding, strengthening veterinary services, promoting feed conservation, and supporting gender-inclusive capacity building. Establishing community-based breeding programs and longitudinal studies are advocated to monitor genetic gains and socio-economic impacts, guiding sustainable interventions for dairy development in the area.

Published in	Innovation (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18
Page(s)	208-215
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Breed, Composition, Preference

References

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[3]	Workneh, A., Ephrem, G., Markos, T., Yetnayet, M., & Rege, J. E. O. (2004). Current state of knowledge on characterization of farm animal genetic resources in Ethiopia. In Proceedings of the 11th Annual Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (pp. 1–21). Ethiopian Society of Animal Production.
[4]	Rowlands, J., Nieves, C., Hanotte, O., & Workneh, A. (2006). Cattle breed distributions across districts as determined from cluster analysis of phenotypic data collected in the Oromiya region, Ethiopia. In proceedings of the 8th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
[5]	Azage, T., Tesfaye, M., Tesfaye, D., Worku, T., & Eshete, D. (2009). Transhumance cattle production system in North Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Is it sustainable? (IPMS Working Paper No. 14). International Livestock Research Institute.
[6]	Azage, T., Berhanu, G., & Hoekstra, D. (2010). Livestock input supply and service provision in Ethiopia: Challenges and opportunities for market-oriented development (IPMS Working Paper 20). International Livestock Research Institute.
[7]	Alewya, H. (2014). Comparative study of reproductive and productive performance of Holstein Friesian dairy cows at Holeta Bull Dam Station and Genesis Farms (Master’s thesis). Addis Ababa University.
[8]	Misganu, A. (2016). Review on production and reproductive performance of crossbreed dairy cattle in Ethiopia (Seminar paper). Jima University.
[9]	Masama, E., Kusina, N. T., Sibanda, S., & Majoni, C. (2003). Reproductive and lactational performance of cattle in a smallholder dairy system in Zimbabwe. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 35, 117-129.
[10]	Tesfa Gebremicheal. (2009). Reproductive performance of indigenous dairy cattle in south Wollo (MSc thesis). Mekelle University.
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[12]	Roessler, R., Drucker, A. G., Scarpa, R., Markemann, A., Lemke, U., Thuy, L. T., & Valle Zárate, A. (2008). Using choice experiments to assess smallholder farmers' preferences for pig breeding traits in different production systems in North–West Vietnam. Ecological Economics, 66(1), 184-192.
[13]	SPSS Institute Inc. (2001). SPSS user’s guide version 20.0. Cary, NC.
[14]	Central Statistical Authority. (2003). Statistical report on livestock and livestock products part V (A. Hassen, Ed.). Ethiopian Agricultural Sample Enumeration 2001/02. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[15]	Central Statistical Authority. (1996). Statistical report on livestock and livestock products part V (A. Hassen, Ed.). Ethiopian Agricultural Sample Enumeration 2001/02. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[16]	Ike. (2002). Urban dairying in Hawassa, Ethiopia (MSc thesis, University of Hohenheim).
[17]	Yoseph, M., Azage, T., & Alemu, Y. (2003). Milk production, composition and body weight change of crossbred dairy cows in urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in Ethiopia. In Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (pp. 185–192). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[18]	Zelalem, Y., & Ledin, I. (2003). Milk production, processing, marketing and the role of milk and milk products on smallholder farms’ income in the central highlands of Ethiopia. In Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production.
[19]	Fekadu, B., & Abrahamsen, R. K. (1994a). Present situation and future aspects of milk production, milk handling, and processing of dairy products in southern Ethiopia. In Food production strategies and limitations (pp. 1-20). Agricultural University of Norway.
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APA Style

Tesfaye, M. (2025). Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Innovation, 6(4), 208-215. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18

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Tesfaye, M. Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Innovation. 2025, 6(4), 208-215. doi: 10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18

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AMA Style

Tesfaye M. Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Innovation. 2025;6(4):208-215. doi: 10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18

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@article{10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18,
  author = {Mulugeta Tesfaye},
  title = {Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia},
  journal = {Innovation},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {208-215},
  doi = {10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.innov.20250604.18},
  abstract = {This study investigated farmers’ breeding practices, trait preferences, and dairy cattle performance in Arsi Negele town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia’s cattle genetic diversity is extensive and indigenous breeds are highly adaptable, productivity remains low due to limited genetic improvement and husbandry challenges. A cross-sectional survey involving 150 households from three urban kebele, data on herd structure, breeding systems, socio-economic status, and farmer preferences were collected through questionnaires, participatory appraisals, and direct observations. Results indicate that farmers predominantly prefer high-grade dairy cattle for improved milk yield and reproductive performance, in line with national breeding goals emphasizing high levels of exotic breed genetics. Artificial insemination (AI) and natural mating with improved bulls are practiced. However, AI service delivery faces constraints such as shortages of semen and limited farmer awareness. Cattle constitute the main livestock holding and a primary income source through milk and meat sales. Households display slightly larger family sizes than national averages, with gender-differentiated labor, notably female participation in milking and milk processing. Health management suffers from insufficient veterinary resources despite farmers’ good disease awareness, pushing many to rely on private providers. The study underscores local knowledge and willingness to improve productivity, but structural limitations in AI services, animal health, and feed resources hinder progress. Recommendations include improving semen supply chains, enhancing AI technician training, increasing farmer education on breeding, strengthening veterinary services, promoting feed conservation, and supporting gender-inclusive capacity building. Establishing community-based breeding programs and longitudinal studies are advocated to monitor genetic gains and socio-economic impacts, guiding sustainable interventions for dairy development in the area.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
AU  - Mulugeta Tesfaye
Y1  - 2025/12/26
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18
T2  - Innovation
JF  - Innovation
JO  - Innovation
SP  - 208
EP  - 215
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7138
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18
AB  - This study investigated farmers’ breeding practices, trait preferences, and dairy cattle performance in Arsi Negele town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia’s cattle genetic diversity is extensive and indigenous breeds are highly adaptable, productivity remains low due to limited genetic improvement and husbandry challenges. A cross-sectional survey involving 150 households from three urban kebele, data on herd structure, breeding systems, socio-economic status, and farmer preferences were collected through questionnaires, participatory appraisals, and direct observations. Results indicate that farmers predominantly prefer high-grade dairy cattle for improved milk yield and reproductive performance, in line with national breeding goals emphasizing high levels of exotic breed genetics. Artificial insemination (AI) and natural mating with improved bulls are practiced. However, AI service delivery faces constraints such as shortages of semen and limited farmer awareness. Cattle constitute the main livestock holding and a primary income source through milk and meat sales. Households display slightly larger family sizes than national averages, with gender-differentiated labor, notably female participation in milking and milk processing. Health management suffers from insufficient veterinary resources despite farmers’ good disease awareness, pushing many to rely on private providers. The study underscores local knowledge and willingness to improve productivity, but structural limitations in AI services, animal health, and feed resources hinder progress. Recommendations include improving semen supply chains, enhancing AI technician training, increasing farmer education on breeding, strengthening veterinary services, promoting feed conservation, and supporting gender-inclusive capacity building. Establishing community-based breeding programs and longitudinal studies are advocated to monitor genetic gains and socio-economic impacts, guiding sustainable interventions for dairy development in the area.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Mulugeta Tesfaye

Livestock Development Institute, Holeta Livestock Development Center, Holeta, Ethiopia

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http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6210-449X

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APA Style

Tesfaye, M. (2025). Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Innovation, 6(4), 208-215. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18

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ACS Style

Tesfaye, M. Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Innovation. 2025, 6(4), 208-215. doi: 10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18

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AMA Style

Tesfaye M. Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Innovation. 2025;6(4):208-215. doi: 10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18

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@article{10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18,
  author = {Mulugeta Tesfaye},
  title = {Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia},
  journal = {Innovation},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {208-215},
  doi = {10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.innov.20250604.18},
  abstract = {This study investigated farmers’ breeding practices, trait preferences, and dairy cattle performance in Arsi Negele town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia’s cattle genetic diversity is extensive and indigenous breeds are highly adaptable, productivity remains low due to limited genetic improvement and husbandry challenges. A cross-sectional survey involving 150 households from three urban kebele, data on herd structure, breeding systems, socio-economic status, and farmer preferences were collected through questionnaires, participatory appraisals, and direct observations. Results indicate that farmers predominantly prefer high-grade dairy cattle for improved milk yield and reproductive performance, in line with national breeding goals emphasizing high levels of exotic breed genetics. Artificial insemination (AI) and natural mating with improved bulls are practiced. However, AI service delivery faces constraints such as shortages of semen and limited farmer awareness. Cattle constitute the main livestock holding and a primary income source through milk and meat sales. Households display slightly larger family sizes than national averages, with gender-differentiated labor, notably female participation in milking and milk processing. Health management suffers from insufficient veterinary resources despite farmers’ good disease awareness, pushing many to rely on private providers. The study underscores local knowledge and willingness to improve productivity, but structural limitations in AI services, animal health, and feed resources hinder progress. Recommendations include improving semen supply chains, enhancing AI technician training, increasing farmer education on breeding, strengthening veterinary services, promoting feed conservation, and supporting gender-inclusive capacity building. Establishing community-based breeding programs and longitudinal studies are advocated to monitor genetic gains and socio-economic impacts, guiding sustainable interventions for dairy development in the area.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices of Dairy Cattle in Arsi Negele Town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
AU  - Mulugeta Tesfaye
Y1  - 2025/12/26
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18
T2  - Innovation
JF  - Innovation
JO  - Innovation
SP  - 208
EP  - 215
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7138
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250604.18
AB  - This study investigated farmers’ breeding practices, trait preferences, and dairy cattle performance in Arsi Negele town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia’s cattle genetic diversity is extensive and indigenous breeds are highly adaptable, productivity remains low due to limited genetic improvement and husbandry challenges. A cross-sectional survey involving 150 households from three urban kebele, data on herd structure, breeding systems, socio-economic status, and farmer preferences were collected through questionnaires, participatory appraisals, and direct observations. Results indicate that farmers predominantly prefer high-grade dairy cattle for improved milk yield and reproductive performance, in line with national breeding goals emphasizing high levels of exotic breed genetics. Artificial insemination (AI) and natural mating with improved bulls are practiced. However, AI service delivery faces constraints such as shortages of semen and limited farmer awareness. Cattle constitute the main livestock holding and a primary income source through milk and meat sales. Households display slightly larger family sizes than national averages, with gender-differentiated labor, notably female participation in milking and milk processing. Health management suffers from insufficient veterinary resources despite farmers’ good disease awareness, pushing many to rely on private providers. The study underscores local knowledge and willingness to improve productivity, but structural limitations in AI services, animal health, and feed resources hinder progress. Recommendations include improving semen supply chains, enhancing AI technician training, increasing farmer education on breeding, strengthening veterinary services, promoting feed conservation, and supporting gender-inclusive capacity building. Establishing community-based breeding programs and longitudinal studies are advocated to monitor genetic gains and socio-economic impacts, guiding sustainable interventions for dairy development in the area.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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