Goat production in Ethiopia contributes significantly to national export earnings and the livelihoods of rural households. In the past, a number of research works were conducted to evaluate and improve the performance of indigenous goats. However, systematically compiled information is not available concerning the level of performance of indigenous goats in the country. In this paper, level of performance for major economic traits of indigenous goats is reviewed and discussed. It is apparent from the information presented in this review that the performance of indigenous goat breeds of Ethiopia is highly variable between different management systems. Many of the research reports show that age at first kidding and kidding intervals appear to be shorter in the traditional systems while reproductive efficiency in terms of growth rate, carcass yield, milk yield, litter sizes and survival rate are higher under improved management systems. In terms of body weight and growth rate, lowland goats are not better than those in the other agro-ecologies. Though productivity of indigenous goats is generally considered as low, there is high potential among the indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds under improved management systems. They also produce skins suitable for production of high quality leather products.

Goat production in Ethiopia contributes significantly to national export earnings and the livelihoods of rural households. In the past, a number of research works were conducted to evaluate and improve the performance of indigenous goats. However, systematically compiled information is not available concerning the level of performance of indigenous goats in the country. In this paper, level of performance for major economic traits of indigenous goats is reviewed and discussed. It is apparent from the information presented in this review that the performance of indigenous goat breeds of Ethiopia is highly variable between different management systems. Many of the research reports show that age at first kidding and kidding intervals appear to be shorter in the traditional systems while reproductive efficiency in terms of growth rate, carcass yield, milk yield, litter sizes and survival rate are higher under improved management systems. In terms of body weight and growth rate, lowland goats are not better than those in the other agro-ecologies. Though productivity of indigenous goats is generally considered as low, there is high potential among the indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds under improved management systems. They also produce skins suitable for production of high quality leather products | T. Dereje, U. Mengistu, A. Getachew, M. Yoseph, 'A review of productive and reproductive characteristics of indigenous goats in Ethiopia', Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2015

A cross-sectional survey was carried out to characterize the pig production systems in four districts along the Kenya-Uganda border. Information was collected by administering structured questionnaires to 645 households in 32 randomly selected clusters. The study showed that the majority of the farmers owned very small pig herds (2.4±0.1) which were mainly tethered. Their main objective for pig keeping was income generation. Decisions on pig purchases were predominantly made by either women or by women and men in collaboration while day to day care of the animals was performed by women. Disease especially African swine fever (ASF) was considered to be the biggest risk to pig investment, while feeding was the biggest production constraint. Studies that look into cheaper locally available feed options should be undertaken to enable the farmers solve the feed constraint. Sensitization of farmers to adopt biosecurity measures would reduce disease risk especially ASF risk.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out to characterize the pig production systems in four districts along the Kenya-Uganda border. Information was collected by administering structured questionnaires to 645 households in 32 randomly selected clusters. The study showed that the majority of the farmers owned very small pig herds (2.4±0.1) which were mainly tethered. Their main objective for pig keeping was income generation. Decisions on pig purchases were predominantly made by either women or by women and men in collaboration while day to day care of the animals was performed by women. Disease especially African swine fever (ASF) was considered to be the biggest risk to pig investment, while feeding was the biggest production constraint. Studies that look into cheaper locally available feed options should be undertaken to enable the farmers solve the feed constraint. Sensitization of farmers to adopt biosecurity measures would reduce disease risk especially ASF risk | Noelina Nantima et al., 'Characterization of smallholder pig production systems in four districts along the Uganda-Kenya border', Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2015

Limited access to quality feeds and reliable feed supply are amongst the priority constraints of smallholder pig production in Uganda. Among the feeds given to pigs, sweetpotato (SP), banana and other root tubers residues are common. However, information on farmers’ perceptions and practices on the proper use of these residues for pig feeding is limited. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing those aspects, as well as to identify opportunities for better use of these residues in the pig-SP systems. A qualitative survey was undertaken in Masaka and Kamuli, two districts of Uganda with high pig population and SP production. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were undertaken with 80 small scale pig and SP producers and 24 key informants. Results from this study revealed that the majority of pig farmers in those districts use SP and other RTB crop residues as animal feed. During the rainy season, farmers scored high the utilization of SP crop residues, with the latter being the leading contributor to the pig diet especially in the rural area. SP crop residues are usually fed to pigs fresh without processing. Among the residues, fresh raw vines represent the largest part fed to pig (70%), as compared to roots and peels. The way these residues are offered vary, for example in peri-urban areas with easier access to commercial feeds, farmers feed the crop residues mixed with concentrates; whereas in rural areas with limited access to commercial feeds, crop residues tend to be given without supplementation. However, the full potential of SP and other RTB crop residues for pig feeding is not yet fully exploited as farmers accept that a large amount is wasted (37% in Masaka and 40% in Kamuli). In Masaka, the proportion of SP crop residues utilized at household level mostly for pig feeding was 40%, while in Kamuli was 52%. This study demonstrated that there is potential for better use of SP and other RTB crop residues as pig feed in the smallholder pig farming systems in Uganda, but the major constraint as pointed out by farmers is the poor access to technologies for preserving these resources. Therefore, there is a need for further exploration of strategies for conserving SP and other RTB crop residues during the harvesting period for use in pig feeding during times of feed scarcity.

Michel M. Dione et al., 'Perception and practices of farmers on the utilization of sweetpotato, and other root tubers, and banana for pig feeding in smallholder crop-livestock systems in Uganda', Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2015 | Limited access to quality feeds and reliable feed supply are amongst the priority constraints of smallholder pig production in Uganda. Among the feeds given to pigs, sweetpotato (SP), banana and other root tubers residues are common. However, information on farmers? perceptions and practices on the proper use of these residues for pig feeding is limited. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing those aspects, as well as to identify opportunities for better use of these residues in the pig-SP systems. A qualitative survey was undertaken in Masaka and Kamuli, two districts of Uganda with high pig population and SP production. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were undertaken with 80 small scale pig and SP producers and 24 key informants. Results from this study revealed that the majority of pig farmers in those districts use SP and other RTB crop residues as animal feed. During the rainy season, farmers scored high the utilization of SP crop residues, with the latter being the leading contributor to the pig diet especially in the rural area. SP crop residues are usually fed to pigs fresh without processing. Among the residues, fresh raw vines represent the largest part fed to pig (70%), as compared to roots and peels. The way these residues are offered vary, for example in peri-urban areas with easier access to commercial feeds, farmers feed the crop residues mixed with concentrates; whereas in rural areas with limited access to commercial feeds, crop residues tend to be given without supplementation. However, the full potential of SP and other RTB crop residues for pig feeding is not yet fully exploited as farmers accept that a large amount is wasted (37% in Masaka and 40% in Kamuli). In Masaka, the proportion of SP crop residues utilized at household level mostly for pig feeding was 40%, while in Kamuli was 52%. This study demonstrated that there is potential for better use of SP and other RTB crop residues as pig feed in the smallholder pig farming systems in Uganda, but the major constraint as pointed out by farmers is the poor access to technologies for preserving these resources. Therefore, there is a need for further exploration of strategies for conserving SP and other RTB crop residues during the harvesting period for use in pig feeding during times of feed scarcity