Borana Cattle Breed Production, disease, Economic Role, Drought, and Policy Constraints in Borana Zone, Oromia Sate, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the current status of the Borana cattle production system, its role in the household economy, and alternative economic options for major health problems and constraints in three districts of Borana Zone, Oromia State, south Ethiopia, where over 1 million cattle and 480,000 pastoralists are residing. The data was collected from December 2015 to February 2016 by interviewing 228 pastoral households, a field survey, three focus group discussions, and informal discussions with livestock experts in the study area at the zonal and district levels. The parameters assessed were family size, livestock holding, cattle management, purpose of cattle production, and economic role for the pastoralists and other alternative economic activities, drought resilience of the households, constraints of the production system, and health problems of cattle. Cattle production was found to be the most important economic activity for socio-cultural and religious purposes, integrated with sheep, goat, and camel production as a primary species and chicken, donkey, mule, and horse production as a secondary species. Crop production, horticulture, mining, petty trade, and the sale of firewood and charcoal were alternative livelihood activities. Few rich households were opting to diversify their cattle production practises to trade and house building in the towns for renting or enter into real estate. The mean age of the households was 49.61 ± 13.78. The number of male and female-headed households constituted 88.88% and 11.12%, respectively, and the overall mean household size was 8.36 persons. Three wealth classes were registered as poor (19.74%), medium (53.95%), and rich (26.31.57%), respectively, based on the number of cattle owned. The number of owners of cattle, sheep, goat, camel, chicken, donkey, horse, and mule was 41.76±46.61, 39.31±39.37, 30.94±34.20, 6.88±15.13, 3.22±5.86, 0.14±0.58, 0.09±0.38, and 0.09±0.38, respectively. Herding, housing, milking, calf rearing, watering, and selection for breeding were found to be the most important activities. Cattle were divided into two groups for herding: the ‘Warraa, or village, and the Furaa, or satellite herd, to cope with shortages of feed and water. The watering frequency was three days, and the animals were resistant to prolonged watering, feed shortages, and diseases. Cattle were kept mainly for milk, secondly for slaughtering during ceremonies and holy days, thirdly for cash income, and fourthly for socio-cultural and religious services. Drought, shortage of feed and water, loss of potential traditional grazing fields and watering sites due to conflicts, cultivation, livestock diseases, plant toxicity (Baroodaa), and inefficient emergency support during droughts and disasters were severe problems. Drought resilience and alternative economic options for the households were prioritised as keeping drought-resistant cattle, goats, and camels, drought-resistant crop production, cattle herd reduction, building houses and real estate in the urban centres, educating children, urbanisation, and shop-owning for the rich. Gold mining, petty trade, charcoal, firewood, water selling, and engaging in food for work safety net programmes were options for poor households, respectively.