Abstract

The study was aimed to investigate the reproductive performance, breeding practice, and selection criteria of indigenous goat in West Omo and Bench–Sheko zone, Ethiopia. A single visit questionnaire survey and key informants for interviews were done with a total of 180 households. The data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the result as percentages and ranks for the results. Results from the study revealed that body size, color, and growth rate were the most selection criteria for male goats whereas twining ability, body size, and mothering ability were the selection criteria of female goats. Mating was predominantly uncontrolled and selection emphasis on both female and a male goat for the next breeding. The average age at first parturition was 15.1±0.21 month, average parturition interval 8.1±0.089 month; average weaning age of kid’s 4.5±0.1 month and about 73.4% of the goat was giving birth twin. The study therefore concludes that breeding bucks are kept by the majority of the farmers in the study area; this is due to using for breeding and fattening which are contributed to its increase within the flock. Body size, color, and growth for males and twining ability, body size, and mothering ability for females were the highly-rated traits of selection goats. Reproductive performance of goats was generally found to be better, might be due to having a good genetic and management system in the area. The farmers practiced weaning kids at an early age and which is increase kid crop percentage.

Keywords: Breeding; Reproductive; Flock; Selection Criteria; Farmers; Goat