The study was conducted in Gamo Goffa Zone of Southern Ethiopia to characterize traditional cattle breeding practices and cattle trait preferences of the Gamo Highland and Gamo Lowland cattle types. Data collected through group discussions and individual interviews were synthesized and summarized using descriptive statistics. Indigenous cattle in the study area provide multiple functions, are well adapted to their production environments, and managed under traditional and subsistent modes of production. Farmers' cattle trait preferences slightly differ across highland and lowland sites. Whereas lowland farmers prefer carcass yield and traction capacity, cattle farmers in highland areas give more weight to adaptation, milk production and manure contributions. Common breeding system in all sites was pure breeding, although very few farmers residing in mid and highland areas exercise crossbreeding with introduced Holstein Friesian bulls for dairy improvement. The main reported selection criteria of farmers for breeding their animals were body size and conformation, milk production, fertility and breeding history of animals. Cattle breeding and management practices of the study area are traditional and low input.

Typical features, breeding objectives and morphological as well as biometrical characters of Begait sheep breed were studied in two districts (Setit Humera and Kafta Humera) of Ethiopia. Semi-structured questionnaires, recording body weight, linear body measurements and field observations were employed. Begait sheep breed is described as long and thin tailed (up to 50-cm long), with muscular body, short and smooth hair and polled for both male and female sexes. As reported by the respondents’ growth rate (0.21), tail length (0.20), appearance/conformation (0.19) and coat colour (0.18) were the most important traits in selecting breeding rams. For breeding ewes’ body size (0.27), age at first service (0.15), growth rate (0.14) and coat colour and tail (0.13) were their first, second, third and fourth traits, respectively. Sites and age had significant (P < 0.01) effect on body weight and most linear body measurements. Relatively, Kafta Humera had lower values in body weight and most of the linear body measurements than Setit Humera. The overall mean body weight and body length of female Begait sheep were 31.4 ± 0.4 kg and 62.5 ± 0.5 cm, respectively. The corresponding values for male Begait sheep were 34.5 ± 0.5 kg and 66.1 ± 0.5 cm, respectively. The existing traditional herding, breeding practices and trait preferences are the key breeding components that need improvement at smallholder farmers’ in Ethiopia.

Farmers in different cattle production systems have different trait preferences and breeding strategies that need an investigation before designing any sustainable breeding plan. The present study was undertaken to assess characteristics deemed desirable, breeding practices and productive performance of Fipa cattle in three districts of southwestern highlands of Tanzania, using a structured questionnaire. The majority of farmers perceived body size (91.7 percent), body conformation (85 percent), body colours (85 percent), disease resistance (87.5 percent), heat/drought tolerance (82.5 percent), draught power (87.5 percent), better carcass (84.2 percent) and fertility (70.8 percent) as the most important attributes of the Fipa cattle. Most (91.6 percent) farmers preferred pure breeding to cross-breeding in order to maintain the genetic purity of the strain. Mating practice was random among the majority (95.8 percent) of the farmsteads owing to non-availability of breeding bulls for each individual farmstead (43.3 percent) and also owing to grazing on communal rangelands (52.5 percent). Selection of breeding bulls was rarely rationally done. Age at first calving was 50 ± 1.3 months, while lactation length and calving interval were 7.1 ± 2.8 and 15.5 ± 0.6 months, respectively. Mean daily milk yield at peak was 3.35 ± 0.15 litres, while longevity was 10.78 ± 0.59, 14.56 ± 0.50 and 15.48 ± 0.55 years for bulls, cows and castrates, respectively. The farmers’ preference for certain attributes and the inherent performance variability should be deployed as the entry point for participatory establishment of improvement and sustainable utilization strategies of the strain.