Household characteristics and responses
Most of the respondents in Bordede (53.33%) and Mieso (46.67%) district were illiterate and the remaining got only primary school education and Kuran (Table 1). This proportion is lower than the report of
Solomon (2010) and
Yohannes (2006) who reported that 95% in Borena and 82% in Jijiga, were illiterate, respectively.
Herd composition
During the study it was found that camels, cattle, goats and sheep were the types of livestock reared by pastoralists in the study districts (Table 2). On average there were larger numbers of camels and goats both in Bordede (29.3, 23) and Mieso (15.4, 8.5) districts, respectively than other type of animal per household.
The findings of the present study on livestock composition were comparable with the studies of
Yohannes (2006),
Eyassu (2009) and
Ishag (2009).
Simenew et al. (2013) also concluded that camels, cattle, goats and sheep were the types of livestock reared by Somali pastoralists.
Feed and water resources
Feed resources
As presented in Table 3, the major feed resources for camel both in Bordede (56.7%) and Mieso (40%) districts were browse species. The current finding is in line with
Simenew (2014), who stated that feeding practices in Afar camel production system was browsing 43.6% and browsing and mineral supplementation 56.4%. In addition to this, as indicated by
Beruk (2000) the use of improved forage and supplementary feed by the pastoralists in the Afar region is insignificant, rather the primary feed sources of livestock in the region were the rangelands composed of indigenous species of grasses, shrubs and fodder trees.
As presented in Table 3 majority of the respondents in Bordede (68.3%) and Mieso (75%) did not provide supplementary feed for their camels. But the rest one provides mineral soil supplementation (soil salt). Soil salt, locally known as
haya, is used by 31.67% and 25% of the respondents in Bordede and Mieso respectively during the wet as well as the dry season. However, the respondents indicated that the frequent use was made in the dry season to compensate the feed shortage. If water is available in the area, provision of
haya in dry season is preferable; otherwise, more was used during availability of water in wet season. They feed
haya by taking the animals to salt area or by taking the salt to their homesteads. The respondents believed that the camels that lick salt get strong during the dry season and improve milk production. This type of feeding of salt was also reported by
Ahmed (2002) in the Somali region that herders travel to their potential salt rich areas when the dry season approaches or pastoralists transport salt to their dwelling sites.
Based on the data obtained all pastoralists were encountered feed shortage especially during dry period. Similarly,
Abidisa et al. (2017) reported that all households in Yabello district encountered shortage of feed especially during the dry period. Impact of feed shortage on camels was also provided by the respondents. Death of calf, reduced milk production, reduced the body weight and abortion.
Sources of water and watering frequency
According to the present study, the source of water for their camels is mainly River (53.3%) in Bordede and well water (51.7%) in Mieso district (Table 4). However, the availability of these water resources depends on the season and distance from the temporary settlements of pastoralists. The study conducted by
kedja (2007) in Mieso district indicated that the water sources for livestock’s include rivers (78%), springs (65%), ponds (36%), wells (18%), lake (7.5%) and pipe water (5%). The study of
Abdisa et al. (2017) in Yabello district indicated that 75.00% of the respondent’s source of water for their camel was form ponds and 80.83% of the respondent’s supply water once per week.
As shown in Table 4 about 36.7% of the respondents in Bordede district supply water once per week for their camel. This is in line to the report of
Ayanle (2019) majority of the respondents, 57.4% convinced that frequency of watering their camel is every ten days. However 35% of the respondents in Mieso district supply water once per two week, this result agree with the report of
Ayanle (2019) 40.0% of respondents water every fifteen days in Degahbour Woreda, Jarar Zone. This is due to the scarcity of water resources and also to reduce water loses by the animals, then the animals might develop physiological mechanism to use efficiently.
Most of the water sources are found about 1 to 30 km from pastoralists’ settlement depending on the season. As a result, the seasonal availability and distance of the water sources have implications on watering frequency.
Coppock (1994) reported that, there is high degree of water restriction of cattle during the dry seasons and animals may be watered once every three or four days in Borana.
As the survey result revealed that the main water related problems in the study area were water shortage (54.17%), poor sanitation (33.34%) and distance (29.17%) which influence the camel milk productivity. Water scarcity was the most series factor for camel production as per the majority of the respondents ‘opinion. It is a critical problem during the short rainy/dry season due to the fact that most of the family members became busy for searching water for their livestock and their home consumption. So, the pastoralist community as well the livestock supposed to move far distance to search and access to water, this result is in line with previous literature report
Wilson (1998).
Camel housing
As shown in (Table 5) majority of respondents in Bordede (61.67%) and Mieso (91.67%) kept camel overnight in
kraal (Yarded). The study indicated that most of the respondents in Bordede (68.33%) and Mieso (38.33%) did not clean the camel house. In Borona zone all of the camel breeders kept their animals in
kraal made up of thorny bushes to protect the animals from some predator
(Dejene, 2015).
Camel breeding
The mating type followed by most of the respondents was either herd mating or mating using selected camel bull by allowing it continuously with she camels for Both Bordede and Mieso district. The most mating time of camels both in Bordede and Mieso district was wet or rainy season (Table 6). Camel breeding starts at the beginning of the rainy season and continues throughout the season. Similarly Somali camels around Jijiga and Shinille are bred mostly during the wet season between April/May and September
(Tezera and Belay, 2002). This finding is also in agreement with those of
Dioli et al. (1992),
Tezera (1998),
Zeleke (1998) and
Farah et al. (2004) who stated that camels are bred mostly during wet season, however, some of them in dry season and few of them in both seasons.
The type of breeds found in the study area was local breeds and the breeding technique that the respondents follow was natural breeding technique. Culling is one the practice of camel herders and there were different reasons of culling, out of this the major one is health aspect (sickness), low milk production and other minor reasons such as older age and infertility
etc.
Camel health care
Disease problems
Majority of respondents both in Bordede and Mieso district have access to animal clinic but, respondents were asked to identify the prevailing diseases in their respective districts and the diseases are listed accordingly (Table 7). A number of camels have been lost due to diseases. Anthrax (60%), mastitis (30%) and brucellosis (18.33%) were the major diseases of camels in Bordede and the most important diseases in Mieso were Anthrax (31.67%), mastitis (31.67%) and camel pox (18.33%).
It is well known that disease is one of the most important factors that negatively affect camel production and productivity. Diseases pose a major threat to camel production and reproduction by causing mortality and morbidity in study area. The extent of losses due to diseases was very high as compared to losses due to other causes. The study conducted by
Yohannes (2006) indicated that camel pox (63.33%), anthrax (61.67%) and parasites (53.33%) were the major disease of camel in Kebribeyah woreda of Jijiga zone.
