International Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension Vol. 6(2), pp. 405-416, September, 2020. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2167- 0432 Research Article Evaluation of Production and Processing of Cow Milk in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Gondar District, Northern Ethiopia Mulu Demlie1, Mitiku Eshetu2, Samson Leta3 1Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia 2Department of Animal and Range Science, College of Agriculture, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia 3Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia The objectives of the study were to assess milk production performance and production constraints, milking and processing practices in urban and peri-urban areas of Gondar district, Northern Ethiopia. A total of 6 potential Kebels (Peasant associations) were selected purposively, namely Sayena -sabiya, Azezo Teklehaymanot and Mariam Deber from Peri-urban and Maraki, Ledeta and Gebrial Ketema from Urban areas. About 180 respondents who have dairy cows and produce milk were selected randomly from the total households. The average milk yield of local and crossbreed cows was 2.32 and 7.99 liters per cow per day, respectively. The major constraints of milk production in the study area were feed shortage, shortage of land, disease, low milk yield of local cows and lack of market access. About 82.78% of respondents practiced milk processing in to different milk products. In general, in Gondar district the demand for milk and milk products consumption was high but the milk yield of dairy cows cannot satisfy this demand, due to shortage of feeds and other related factors. Therefore, further work is needed to improve feed resources available to alleviate feed shortage in the study area. Keywords: Processing, Production, Urban and peri-urban INTRODUCTION Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa, with and milk products in urban areas. Rural household dairy an estimated population of 60.39 million cattle, 31.30 production system includes pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, million sheep, 32.74 million goat, 2.01 million horses, 8.85 and mixed crop-livestock producers. The system is not million donkeys, 0.46 million mules, and 1.42 million market oriented and most of the milk produced in this camels and 56.06 million poultry. Out of the total cattle system is only for home consumption. The level of milk population, the female cattle constitute about 54.68% and surplus is determined by the demand for milk by the 45.32% male with 98.24% local breeds, 1.54% hybrid and household and its neighbors, the potential to produce milk 0.22% exotic breeds. A total cow milk production for the in terms of herd size and production season, and access country was about 3.1 billion liters with the average to a nearby market (Mebrate et al. 2019). lactation period of about six months and average daily milk yield per cow is about 1.37 liters (CSA, 2018). *Corresponding Author: Mulu Demile, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Oda Bultum In Ethiopia, milk production systems can be categorized University, Chiro, Ethiopia. E-mail: into rural household, urban and Peri-urban production [email protected] 1Co-author: Mitiku Eshetu, E- systems (Kassa, 2019). Urban and peri-urban systems are mail: [email protected] 2Co-Author: Samson market oriented and make use of the high demand for milk Leta, E-mail: [email protected] Evaluation of Production and Processing of Cow Milk in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Gondar District, Northern Ethiopia Demile et al. 406 Milk and milk products are economically important farm et al. (2016) and production, handling, traditional commodities and dairy farming is an investment option for processing practices and quality of milk in Bahir Dar milk smallholder farmers. Milk is used for rearing calves and shed area was reported by Asaminew (2007).but still there children, and the surplus is soured for making different is the gap in the Amhara region in general and in Gonda`r fermented milk products. The major ones include: Ergo, district in particular. Therefore; the objectives of this finding Ayib, butter, Nitirkibie (melted butter or ghee), Arera were to assess cow milk production and processing (defatted sour milk, a by-product of butter-making and a practice in Urban and peri-urban areas of Gondar district. raw material for Ayib-making) and Aguat (whey). Most of the milk produced in the country is accordingly processed on-farm using traditional technologies that are generally MATERIALS AND METHODS not effective and efficient (Tsehay, 2001). Description of the Study Area Milk production is an important part of the farming system in north Gondar Zone in general, and in Gondar district in The study was conducted in Gondar district, north Gondar particular. The area has potential for milk production and Zone of Amhara Regional State, which is located 730 kms milk products. Even if the area has potential for production Northwest of Addis Ababa, it is a city and separate Woreda of milk and milk products, slim is known about the existing in Amhara Regional state, Ethiopia. It is located at12°36′N dairy production and processing practice. In order to Latitude and 37°28′Elongitude with an elevation of 2133 design relevant research that outfit to the area, it is meters above sea level. Gondar district contains 12 urban essential that researchers understand the existing and 11 peri-urban Kebels. The annual average situations. For the research to be effective and to meet the temperature is 19.1°C and average monthly temperatures need of the farmers and to devise appropriate vary by 4 °C. In the winter time records indicate that the development interventions, identification of problems and temperature during day reach 27.3°C while it falls to10.7°C understanding of the existing dairy production and during night. During summer average high temperature is processing in the area are vital. Furthermore, inquiry 23°C, while the average low temperatures is 13°C. Total regarding the feasibility of the emerging dairy cooperatives annual Precipitation averages 1161 mm. The predominant and identifying the problems and opportunities for the production system in these areas is mixed crop-livestock success of these cooperatives is an important area of farming and cattle are the most important livestock species study that need due attention. Handling, processing and reared in the area. Gondar had a total population of marketing of cow milk in urban and peri urban area of 207,044, of whom 98,120 were men and 108,924 women Dangila Town was reported by Bekele et al. (2015), (CSA, 2009). Production, Processing and Handling of Cow Milk in Dawa Chefa District, Amhara Region was reported by Kefyalew Study area Figure 1: Map of study area Evaluation of Production and Processing of Cow Milk in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Gondar District, Northern Ethiopia Study Population observed in our study is greater the value (5.26) reported in Yabello district of Oromia region, Ethiopia (Ahmed, The target sample population was the households who 2013). However, the mean household size observed in this own milking cows and produce milk. The livestock study is less than values found by Asaminew (2007) and population of the district is estimated to be 29,987 cattle, Gatwech (2012). The majority of the respondents’ ages 12,299 sheep, 4836 goats, 5816 donkeys, 613 horses and was in the range of 46-60 years, which was greater than 116 mules (Gondar Agricultural office, 2016). average age (40.74 years) of respondents in Gambella (Gatwech, 2012). Most (68.9%) of the households were Sampling and Sampling Procedure illiterate followed by read and write (31.1%).The Before commencing the actual study, preliminary survey educational status of respondents in the study area was was conducted to gather information relevant to the study. illiterate and read and writes with the proportion of 68.90 Both secondary and primary data sources were used. and 31.10%, respectively. Ahmed (2013) reported similar Primary data sources were household heads and dairy educational status of respondents in Yabello district of cooperatives in the study areas. The secondary data Oromia region, Ethiopia. sources were taken from Agricultural offices, from Gondar woreda and other relevant sources. Table 1. Family size, age category and educational status of household The sampling units were households keeping lactating Variables Urban Peri-urban Overall mean dairy cows. Based on the preliminary study a total of 6 (N=90) (N=90) (N=180) potential Kebels (Peasant associations) were selected Family 6.51 5.82 6.17 purposively based on cattle population i.e kebeles which size(mean) has high cattle population were selected. From peri-urban Age distribution 3 Kebels (Peasant associations) were selected namely, (%) Sayena-sabiya, Azezo-tekelehayemanot and Mariyam- 15-30 yr of age 15.60 7.80 11.70 Deber and 3 kebels (Peasant associations) from urban 31-45 yr of age 26.70 28.90 27.80 namely, Maraki, Ledeta and Geberial ketema kebeles; 30 46-60 yr of age` 35.60 40.00 37.80 respondents were selected from each kebels. A total of >60 yr of age 22.20 23.30 22.80 180 respondents who engaged in cattle production were Educational selected randomly from the six selected kebels with a status of HH simple random technique and individually interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. List of households Illiterate % 47.80 90.00 68.90 of the selected Kebels were obtained from Kebele officers, Read and write % 52.20 10.00 31.10 and Agricultural extension officers. N=number of Respondents; yr=years; HH= Household Data Collection Herd Structure Data collection was conducted from September to The mean cattle holdings per household in the study November 2016.